Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS), also referred to as brachycephalic airway disease (BAD) and brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS), is an inherited condition in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. The breed is prone to it, due to the comparatively short length of the Cavalier's head and a compressed upper jaw.

The term "brachycephalic" or "brachiocephalic" means short-nosed and refers to dogs with short muzzles, noses, and mouths. "Brachy" means short and "cephalic" means head. The throat and breathing passages in brachycephalic dogs often are undersized or flattened. The head's soft tissues are not proportionate to the shortened nature of the skull, and the excess tissues tend to increase resistance to the flow of air through the upper airway (nostrils, sinuses, pharynx and larynx).

Elongated Soft Palate

-- what it is

The palate is the roof of the mouth. It is divided into two parts, the anterior bony hard palate, and the posterior fleshy soft palate. The soft palate separates the nasal passage from the oral cavity. An elongated soft palate is too long for the length of the mouth, so that its tip protrudes into the front of the airway and may get sucked into the laryngeal opening where it may obstruct the normal passage of air into the trachea.

-- symptoms

The most common and recurrent symptom of an elongated soft palate is noisy breathing. Occasionally, the dog will make snorting sounds, which is due to the tip of the palate flapping into the trachea during respiration. This is called the "Cavalier snort" or a "reverse sneeze". The dogs also are more likely to snore, gag, or retch, and in severe instances, they may collapse if the airflow is obstructed completely.

-- diagnosis

In severe cases, the palate usually is examined with the dog under light general anesthesia, using a laryngoscope. An elongated palate will obstruct the view of the larynx when the tongue is depressed. The veterinarian may take an x-ray to determine the length of the palate and airway.

-- treatment

If the palate is only moderately elongated and does not totally block the trachea, snorting may be relieved by forcing the Cavalier to breathe through its mouth instead of its nose. This may be done by holding the dog's head down and mouth open with one hand while blocking air from entering the nose with the other hand.

Treatment for recurring blockage of airflow is surgical removal of excess tissue from the palate by a veterinary surgeon. Post surgery prognosis is good for young dogs. They generally may be expected to breathe much easier, with significantly reduced respiratory distress, and display more energy and stamina. Older dogs may have a less favorable prognosis.