BOAS in dogs – signs and what vets do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. It is a breathing problem linked to the short, flat shape of some dogs’ heads.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

BOAS stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome and is linked with breathing trouble in flat-faced dogs.^[1] Heatstroke or a sudden increase in breathing difficulty can lead to collapse and is an emergency.^[1]

Signs

Noisy breathing, including snuffles
Snoring
Difficulty breathing
Excessive panting, even when resting
Unable or unwilling to exercise
Struggling in hot weather
Difficulty eating
Regurgitation or vomiting
Blue-coloured skin
Collapse

Causes and risk factors

Pug
Pekingese
French Bulldog
Shih Tzu
Boston Terrier

How a vet finds out

Physical examination
Endoscopy
CT scan

How vets treat it

Surgery
Diet change
Weight management
Rest

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“BOAS is usually diagnosed based on your dog’s symptoms and an examination. Your vet may ask you to walk your dog for a few minutes to see if exercise brings on or worsens their symptoms.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What does BOAS mean?

BOAS stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.^[1]

How might a vet diagnose BOAS?

A vet usually diagnoses it from your dog's symptoms and an examination; they may also ask you to walk your dog for a few minutes to see whether exercise brings on or worsens the signs.^[1]

When is it an emergency?

Heatstroke or a sudden increase in breathing difficulty can lead to collapse and is an emergency.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages