Brachycephalic

How it works

Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, which moves air across moist surfaces in the airway. A shortened muzzle leaves less of that surface and a more crowded airway, so the same panting shifts less heat. The practical consequence is that these dogs reach trouble at temperatures other dogs tolerate comfortably, and they can do so during activity that looks unremarkable. Many are also affected by narrowed nostrils and an elongated soft palate, which add to the load.

What it looks like

Three dogs walk the same route on a warm afternoon. Two are panting steadily and comfortable. The French bulldog is struggling, and nothing about the walk was different for them except the airway doing the cooling.

Commonly confused with

Heatstroke

Brachycephalic describes a physical structure that makes cooling harder. Heatstroke is the emergency that can result. Being flat-faced raises the risk substantially and is not itself the condition.

Related terms

Where this comes up