Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome causes chronic suffering in flat-faced dogs, representing one of the most significant welfare crises in companion animals.
BOAS welfare is unprecedented in severity because the animals cannot perform the most basic physiological function normally. Dogs with moderate to severe BOAS cannot exercise, play or sleep without respiratory compromise. The chronic hypoxia from impaired breathing affects every body system. Many owners interpret the characteristic snoring and snuffling as cute rather than recognising it as a welfare signal of respiratory distress. The persistence and growth of brachycephalic breed popularity despite welfare evidence represents a major ongoing welfare crisis driven by aesthetic preferences.