Differences in selected blood parameters between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Comparative Pathology
• Animal Physiology

Background:

• Brachycephalic dogs exhibit unique cranial anatomy predisposing them to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
• BOAS is characterized by periodic apnoea, increased inspiratory resistance, and impaired thermoregulation.
• Objective markers for assessing BOAS severity are currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare selected blood parameters between brachycephalic (BC) and non-brachycephalic (NC) dogs.
• To explore the potential of blood parameters as future indicators for BOAS severity grading.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of blood biochemistry, complete blood cell counts, and red blood cell (RBC) indices.
• Assessment of RBC hydration, deformability, and markers of intermittent hypoxia (glutathione, NO production).
• Analysis of blood markers for metabolic changes and stress, including plasma lactate, cholesterol, triglycerides, and cortisol.

Main Results:

• BC dogs had significantly higher reticulocyte counts and middle-fluorescence immature reticulocytes.
• Elevated plasma NO-derived NO/NOx and higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were observed in BC dogs.
• BC dogs showed lower intracellular reduced glutathione, higher plasma lactate, lower cholesterol and triglycerides, higher cortisol, lower eosinophils, and a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Conclusions:

• The brachycephalic phenotype is associated with systemic oxidative and metabolic alterations in dogs.
• Identified blood parameters warrant further investigation as objective indicators for BOAS severity.