BOAS in the Boston Terrier: A Healthier Screw-Tailed Breed?

This study, published yesterday and co-authored by Francesca Tomlinson, Ella O’Neill, Nai-Chieh Liu, David R. Sargan, and Jane F. Ladlow, offers critical insights into the prevalence and risk factors of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in Boston Terriers. The findings enhance understanding of this condition, providing actionable data for further research. The research, involving 107 UK-based Boston Terriers, provides valuable insights into managing and mitigating BOAS in this breed.

Study Highlights

Boston Terriers showed a higher proportion of BOAS Grade 0 dogs (37.5%) compared to French Bulldogs (10%) and Bulldogs (15.2%). This suggests they are less affected by BOAS. However, several extreme conformation traits were identified as significant risk factors, including:

• Nostril stenosis
• Facial foreshortening
• Abnormal scleral show
• Increased neck-to-chest girth ratio

These findings emphasise the complexity of predicting BOAS risk based solely on physical conformation, due to considerable overlap between measurements in affected and unaffected dogs. Notably, Boston Terriers, despite their brachycephalic features, appear to experience BOAS less severely than other popular breeds such as French Bulldogs and Bulldogs.

The study evaluated respiratory function using whole-body barometric plethysmography, providing objective data to complement visual assessments. This quantitative approach further supports the importance of respiratory function grading as a reliable tool in clinical settings and for guiding breeding practices.

Importance of Respiratory Function Grading

The study highlights the utility of respiratory function grading as a more accurate diagnostic tool, offering a practical approach for guiding breeding and treatment decisions.

Acknowledgements

Boston Terrier community, the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH) staff, and contributors including Prof Clare Rusbridge, Dr Mark Reading, Dr Rachael Grundon, Ali Limentani, and Dr Olivier Restif for their expertise and support. Special thanks to Francesca Tomlinson for her infographics. We would also like to thank the Kennel Club Charitable Trust for their support in funding this research.

Conclusion

This research underscores the value of combining clinical and conformational assessments in improving outcomes for brachycephalic breeds.

For detailed findings, read the full article here.