To other Boston Terrier owners.....

[Az Boxr Lovr]

Hi all. I'm wondering if any of you every had this problem with your BT. Scampy has VERY small nostril openings. He always sounds like he is congested. Actually, sometimes it sounds like he is a little pig! Sometimes when he is running around with Joe, I have to pick him up to calm him down. He needs to catch his breath and slow his breathing down. He will be going in to be neutered in a few weeks and the vet wants to widen the nostril openings. He said this happens fairly frequently in Bostons and that it is not a major operation. He said he has know BT tht actually pass out from not being able to get enough air. Have any of you ever heard of this or had this operation on one of your pups? I'm really wondering what to expect. Oh, and don't forget to check out his pix in my gallery. He really is a cutie! Thanks in advance for any help.
Cheryl, Joe and Scampy

 

[momstaxi]

What a cute pup!! Sorry I can't answer your question but just wanted to tell you your baby is so precious. I had a BT when I was a young child. He died when I was 10 but i still remember how cute he was
Michele

 

[Az Boxr Lovr]

Michele...thanks for the compliment on Scampy. He is just too darn cute for his own good.

 

[conn]

HA!!! What a cutiepie!!! I know this operation is quite common in french bulldogs as they often have small nostril openings. We are lucky in that Biggie's breathing is quite good but I have friends who recently had their dog (2yearold) in for something else and while she was there they did widen her nostrils...i cannot tell you what an amazing difference it has made with her breathing...she had a few small stiches in each nostril when we saw her (which was a few days after the vet appt) and that was really it. You may want to try an internet search on the following for some info:
Stenotic nares
brachycephalic dogs
good luck

 

[atodd]

We have a 5 yr old Boston and this is the first I've ever heard of a nostril widening operation...our Reggie's snorting and other 'pig-ish' sounds are just part of what makes a Boston a Boston. I'd think a vet would only preform this surgery if there was something extreme causing a need for it - like maybe their normal breathing is compromised to the extent it could be life threatening. The one thing we have encourntered is, that at times, his breathing seems to get 'out of synch' with its normal rythym (only way I can think to describe it) and he goes into a Arnold Horshack-like (from 'Welcome Back Kotter') gasping state for a 30 seconds or so before resuming a normal breathing pattern. This typically isn't associated with any physical activity - just cmes out of nowhere. I'd say it happens about 5 times over the course of a year - I've mentioned it to the vet and it's never been a cause for concern on her part. Anyone else experience anything like that I've attempted to describe? Should we be worried?

 

[Az Boxr Lovr]

Thank you so much everybody for your responses. Conn, thanks for letting me know that this is common with French Bulldogs as well. It did help to give me piece of mind hearing about your friends dog. atodd...what your described with the pig like sounds is what happens to Scampy several times a day. Sometimes I have a hard time breathing just waiting for Scampy to get back to his regular breathing rhythm. I just feel so badly for him. I have an appointment for his surgery on June 26. I will post again to let everybody know how the surgery helped Scampy.
Thanks again!
Cheryl and Scampy the pig/BT!!

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

My first boston Bluto had this problem but not quite to that extreme. Mia the 2 yr old has no problems like this at all...everything on my girl is big! I tell everyone she is big boned and we walk away quickly!

Dora & the Zoo Crew

 

[atodd]

Good Luck

Cheryl-

Best of luck to you and Scampy - I'm sure all will go well. Please do post as to her outcome and progress.

-atodd

 

[Az Boxr Lovr]

Hi all. Well tomorrow is the big day. Scampy will be neutered and will have his nostrils widened as well. Please say a quick prayer for our boy. I will post again as soon as we get him home.
Thanks,
Cheryl

 

[frankied]

Cheryl
We will be saying a prayer and you and Scampy will be on our minds! Best of luck! (((((good vibes)))))

Christa