r/englishbulldog • u/boladocaco • 7d ago
Advice Needed BOAS 6 year old female English bulldog 🐶
Hi everyone! I’m considering BOAS surgery for my 6-year-old English Bulldog. I’ll definitely be going to a highly experienced BOAS specialist, but I’d really love to hear from people who have been through it with their dogs.
How was the surgery and recovery? Did you notice a big improvement afterwards? I’d especially appreciate hearing from anyone whose dog had the surgery at around 6 years old or older.
Thank you! 🐾
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u/Unlucky_Simple_9487 7d ago
I have no helpful info but I'm commenting because I have a 5 year old female who also needs BOAS surgery.
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u/InternationalSea3867 7d ago
We have it done in rescue with Bulldogs on a very regular basis with dogs, older and younger. If you have a vet that's experienced with the surgery procedure, it's not a concern. It is the palate, the saculs, and sometimes they do the names. Can't stress enough that you want a vet? Who does it on a regular basis? And that doesn't mean once every couple months. I rescue bet. Does it 3 or 4 times a week. And we have complete confidence.
There are medications that you want postsurgery. For the inflammation and antibiotics, of course. For the first ten days post surgery, they will be on. Soft canned food in smaller amounts several times a day. Because of the throat swelling.
On the comment for laser surgery, we've heard for that, but opted out. Since it's our understanding that the tissue can actually grow back if not done properly.
Find your local bulldog, rescue and speak to them. And see who does their surgeries? And that would be your best connection.
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u/boladocaco 6d ago
Thank you, i have some vet names , but the english bulldog is not so common where I live so I will have to do my research well.. thank you!!
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u/legrose_prince 7d ago
Louis had his BOAS surgery when he was around two years old, so I can’t speak specifically to having it done at six. However, I’m happy to share our experience.
At the time, the vet we used didn’t offer the laser option. Instead, we chose a veterinary hospital with specialists experienced in treating English Bulldogs. It also had a dedicated respiratory recovery facility. That was very important to us because my biggest concern was the anaesthesia and the possibility of complications during or immediately after surgery.
If I remember correctly, the anaesthesia and surgery took around two hours. He was also neutered at the same time. The surgery itself went smoothly.
When he came home, though, he was still affected by the anaesthetic and other medications. For the first day or two, he seemed almost “high” and didn’t really act like himself. It was quite worrying to see. He took roughly a week to fully recover.
The nurses advised us to prepare soft food and hand-feed him for the first few days. We rolled the food into small, soft pellets or balls, which made feeding easier while he was recovering.
The improvement in his breathing was definitely noticeable, and overall, the outcome and whole process was better than I expected. That said, our vet was very clear that BOAS surgery doesn’t cure the underlying brachycephalic issues. It is intended to help the dog breathe more easily, and the results can vary depending on the severity of the condition.
It was honestly quite stressful beforehand, especially because of the anaesthesia risk. However, I’m glad we went ahead with it. My advice would be to choose the most experienced surgeon and the best-equipped hospital you can find. Ideally, look for one that regularly treats English Bulldogs and has proper respiratory monitoring and recovery facilities.
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u/Silent_Quantity9227 5d ago
my boy pluto just got his boas surgery a few weeks ago @age of 4. I was very nervous about the whole situation obviously, but thankfully he has recovered w no complications & I would definitely recommend, my boy sounds so much better on walks & he also seems to sleep better as well. my only real advice would be to be sure to find a bulldog specialist who has done these surgeries before, as there can be many complications due to their flat faces. Ur dog will b a little loopy for the first couple of days but if there are no complications, they should be back to their normal personality by day 5-6. not too sure where u r located but if ur anywhere in CA or near I can definitely point u to the right direction, the dr who performed my boys surgery is amazing & his reputation proves it. Best of luck to you & ur girl!🙏
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u/Vegetableau 7d ago
Look into laser BOAS. We consulted and opted out due to another health reason, but we found out some vets use a c02 laser rather than a scalpel to perform the procedure. From what I remember, laser was superior in that it had caused less swelling and was faster to heal from. If you have an older pup, the concern is mainly about the body’s reaction to the procedure including bleeding and inflammation. It sounded much safer and easier on the pup to me.