Anesthetic Considerations for Brachycephalic Breeds

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (anesthesia/analgesia) University of Wisconsin-Madison katrina.lafferty@wisc.edu

A Face Only a Mother Could Love: Anesthetic Considerations for Brachycephalic Breeds Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (anesthesia/analgesia) University of Wisconsin-Madison katrina.lafferty@wisc.edu

Some of the most popular breeds in the country fall into the category of “brachycephalic.”

This translates to mean “short head.” According to the 2022 AKC list of most popular breeds, brachycephalic dominated. Frenchies ranked #1, bulldogs were #6, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels at #14, boxers came in at #16, and Shih Tzus at #20. Brachycephalic breeds generally have a skull that is as wide (or wider) than its length. Breeds such as Boston terriers, Shar Peis, English bulldogs, French bulldogs, pugs, Shih Tzus, Lhasa apsos, boxers, Pekinese, Persian cats, British shorthaired cats, and Scottish fold cats fall into this category.