Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome remains the most urgent welfare crisis in companion animal breeding, with regulatory and public awareness efforts intensifying in 2026.
Dogs with severe BOAS cannot breathe normally during rest or mild exercise, experience chronic hypoxia and sleep apnoea, and suffer from exercise intolerance that limits natural behaviour. Many owners normalise respiratory distress as breed characteristics. The welfare burden is lifelong and severe for the most affected individuals. Corrective surgery improves but rarely resolves the underlying anatomical problem.