ArticleBMC veterinary research2026
Veterinarians' attitudes towards the treatment and surgical management of brachycephalic dogs - a survey among small animal veterinarians in Austria.
Article in BMC veterinary research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe rising popularity of flat-faced dog breeds has intensified discussions around brachycephaly and its associated health risks. The structural shortening of the skull coupled with a lack of a concurrent reduction in the volume of the soft tissues in these breeds often results in chronic health issues, notably Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), which remains incurable but may be alleviated through corrective surgical interventions. In light of these challenges, veterinarians are increasingly called upon to provide informed guidance and support to pet owners navigating the complexities of brachycephalic breed care.
methodsUsing an online questionnaire distributed to practising veterinarians in Austria (N = 395), we explored small animal veterinarians' attitudes regarding the treatment and surgical management of brachycephalic dogs.
resultsVeterinarians estimated that signs of BOAS are the primary presenting issue in 41-50% of the brachycephalic dogs they treat. According to the majority of surveyed veterinarians, snoring (96%) and difficulty breathing (92%) are frequently observed by owners. 40% of respondents disagreed that the treatment of brachycephalic dogs is interesting from a medical point of view. A further 30% stated that treating brachycephalic dogs is no different for them than treating other dogs. Surgical interventions for BOAS are recommended more frequently than they are performed, and veterinarians who perform surgery or work in surgical practices are significantly more likely to recommend these procedures (p < 0.001). Moreover, 70% of the veterinarians identified financial constraints as a common reason why owners decline surgical options. The severity of clinical signs of BOAS did not result in significant differences in the likelihood of recommending surgery (p = 0.363).
conclusionsOur study highlights the complexity surrounding attitudes to brachycephaly in dogs within the veterinary profession. While a significant proportion of veterinarians recognise the prevalence of BOAS signs, there is notable uncertainty regarding the treatment of these dogs. To address this, it is essential to enhance educational efforts aimed at both veterinarians and owners, ensuring a better understanding of the condition and its management.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.