The effect of the surgical treatment of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome on the thermoregulatory response to exercise in French bulldogs: a pilot study

Žgank, Žiga (avtor), Nemec Svete, Alenka (avtor), Lenasi, Helena (avtor), Vodičar, Janez (avtor), Erjavec, Vladimira (avtor)

Introduction: Due to altered anatomy of the upper respiratory tract, brachycephalic dogs exhibit increased airway resistance and reduced surface area for evaporative heat loss, predisposing them to respiratory and thermoregulatory problems, a syndrome referred to as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Compared to non-brachycephalic dogs, brachycephalic breeds are more susceptible to heat-related injuries even at low ambient temperatures and relatively low physical activity levels. Surgical treatment alleviates clinical signs, potentially improving dogs’ thermoregulatory ability with BOAS. Our study aimed to investigate the thermoregulatory response in French bulldogs before and after the surgical correction of BOAS, respectively. Methods: Thirteen dogs were exposed to dynamic exercise on a treadmill and the dynamics of their rectal temperature (RT) and heart rate (HR) was measured. The experiment was performed in two independent sessions, before and after the surgical treatment. The test consisted of two consecutive 5-min walks at a speed of 2.5 km/h, first at an inclination of 0% and the second at an inclination of 5%, and a 30-min recovery period. Rectal temperature and HR were measured before the start of the test (t0), at the end of the first (t1) and the second part (t2), and 15 min (t3) and 30 min (t4) in the recovery. Results: A significant increase in RT and HR was observed during exercise and recovery compared to the resting values, implying that the exercise intensity was sufficient to challenge the thermoregulatory response. The increase of RT was significantly lower during both parts (t1: p = 0.004; t2: p < 0.001) of exercise after the surgical treatment than before the treatment. Although a trend of lower RT after recovery was observed compared to before the surgery, it did not reach statistical significance. Similarly to RT, the HR was significantly lower during exercise after the first (p = 0.020) and the second part (p = 0.011) of exercise after the surgery compared to before the surgery but did not reach significance in the recovery. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of BOAS can improve thermoregulation during exercise in French bulldogs with BOAS.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: airway obstruction, craniofacial abnormalities, dogs, brachycephalic dogs, BOAS, thermoregulation, temperature, treadmill, exercise test, folded flap palatoplasty, vertical wedge rhinoplasty
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: VF - Veterinarska fakulteta ; MF - Medicinska fakulteta ; FŠ - Fakulteta za šport
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2023
• Št. strani: 9 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 10, art. 1229687
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-151617
• UDK: 636.7.09:615
• ISSN pri članku: 2297-1769
• DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1229687
• COBISS.SI-ID: 168132611
• Datum objave v RUL: 12.10.2023

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Frontiers in veterinary science
• Skrajšan naslov: Front. vet. sci.
• Založnik: Frontiers Media S.A.
• ISSN: 2297-1769
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3969402

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P4-0053
• Naslov: Endokrini, imunski in encimski odzivi pri zdravih in bolnih živalih