Evaluation of a Treadmill-Based Submaximal Fitness Test in Pugs, and Collecting Breed-Specific Information on Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome

Abstract

Despite efforts of veterinarians and breeders, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is still a common problem in pugs, underlining the need for objective tests to identify and prevent breeding with affected dogs. In the current study, a submaximal, treadmill-based fitness test was evaluated as a tool to identify signs of airway obstruction not recognisable under rest conditions. In addition to this, different body conformation and measurements were assessed regarding their association with BOAS. A total of 62 pugs and 10 mesocephalic dogs trotted with an individual comfort speed on a treadmill for 15 min. Before and during the examination, dogs were examined for signs of respiratory distress, and a functional BOAS grading was applied. The influence of body conformation on BOAS grading was tested in a univariable and multivariable logistic regression model. During exercise, more respiratory noises were observed, and existing respiratory noises became more apparent in comparison to when at rest. In the multivariable logistic regression model, no factor had a statistically significant influence on BOAS classification. Submaximal fitness testing helped to identify signs of respiratory distress not apparent under resting conditions, and could be a valuable addition for identifying dogs with BOAS. Performing testing on a treadmill facilitates continuous observation of the patients, and enables standardisation of the test regarding the test environment, as well as provides an uninterrupted, steady workload.

The effect of the surgical treatment of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome on the thermoregulatory response to exercise in French bulldogs: a pilot study

“…During exercise, increased HR is the main determinant of cardiac output, oxygen uptake, and an index of cardiovascular workload ( 53 , 54 ). In accordance with previous studies conducted on brachycephalic dogs during exercise ( 38 , 46 , 47 ), the present study has also shown a significant increase in HR during ET. However, the rise of HR was significantly smaller after the surgery than before.…”

“…Nevertheless, in BOAS, the exercise intensity is far below submaximal: e.g., the workload used in the study of Wall et al ( 42 ) and in Mach et al ( 47 ) was set far below submaximal which is between 60 and 80% of HRmax (i.e., HR between 180 and 240 bpm) ( 48 ). The exercise testing protocol in BOAS was designed to ensure a minimal workload inducing a 40% increase in the HR compared to the resting HR ( 42 , 47 ). In the French bulldogs diagnosed with BOAS+ included in our study and requiring surgical treatment, their owners reported that the dogs had problems with exercise intolerance, as even a 10-min walk in the summer was a problem for them.…”

“…The present study showed that the mean increase of RT in dogs before surgery after the end of ET was 0.60°C, which is consistent with the study of Aromaa et al ( 46 ), in which the mean increase in body temperature after submaximal exercise in French bulldogs was also 0.60°C, although dogs in their study were subjected to more intensive exercise (1,000 m walking or trotting). For English bulldogs, Lilja-Maula et al ( 38 ) reported the mean increase in body temperature after the end of submaximal exercise of 0.43°C, and Mach et al ( 47 ) reported that the mean increase in body temperature after submaximal exercise in pugs was 0.5°C.…”

Proposed Protocol for Field Testing of Endurance Fitness of Young Labrador Retrievers

“…Although no tests are available for young dogs, some fitness tests for adult dogs have been published [ 58 , 59 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. Most of the published fitness tests are laboratory types performed on a treadmill, or if they are actual field tests, they do not specifically measure endurance fitness but focus more on overall physical fitness [ 58 , 59 ].…”

BrachySound: Machine Learning Based Assessment of Respiratory Sounds in Dogs

“…The submaximal, standardised fitness test was evaluated for Pugs in 2022 at the Clinic of Small Animals of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany 42 . The participants trotted at their individual comfort speed for 15 minutes on a treadmill in a room with controlled air conditions.…”