Analysis of the knowledge profile of brachycephalics dogs owners in relation to respiratory and sleep disorders

• Grant number: 24/08287-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: December 01, 2024
• End date until: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Paola Castro Moraes
• Grantee: Sofia Fávaro Bevilacqua
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brachycephalic Air Obstructive Syndrome (BOAS) was neglected for a long time, as it was considered normal for brachycephalic breeds to present signs such as snoring, choking and exercise intolerance. With the increase in veterinary surgical clinical demand for brachycephalic dogs due to its popularity and, in this way, advancement of studies in the area, BOAS began to be more discussed and, slowly, it gained importance not only among veterinarians, but also between the owners. It is compared to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) syndrome in humans, which also has anatomical factors that cause upper air obstruction similar to those previously described in brachycephalic dogs. Sleep disorders in dogs can include many abnormalities such as sleeping with opened mouth (including with objects in their mouth), sitting or in elevated positions, sleep fragmentation, occurrence of apnea, which causes hypersomnolence during the day. Therefore, it is important to analyze the owners point of view about these changes, since they are responsible for the life and well-being of their animals, in addition to being the ones who report the changes to the veterinarian. The objective is to analyze the knowledge profile of owners regarding sleeping and breathing disorders related in these animals. The earlier the identification of such events, the greater the possibility of intervention, whether clinical or surgical, by the veterinarian and, consequently, the improvement of life's quality of these animals. So, it will be created forms through an online platform, published on social networks, in order to achieve greater reach in the region of application and obtain a greater number of responses from the dog owner's community.