Regional airway fat distribution and its association with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome severity in pugs with varying body condition.

Laryngeal fat accumulation is significantly associated with severe BOAS in pugs.

This study examined the relationship between body condition score (BCS), regional airway fat distribution, and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) severity in 49 pugs. Dogs were stratified by BCS (non-obese: 4-5/9, n=17; obese: 7-9/9, n=32) and BOAS grade (II or III). Computed tomography imaging quantified fat volumes in the tongue, pharynx, larynx, and total upper airway, normalized to skull size. Results demonstrated a significant positive association between BCS and tongue fat (p=0.028). Notably, dogs with grade III BOAS had significantly greater laryngeal fat compared to grade II cases (p=0.034). While obesity is known to exacerbate BOAS, this research specifically identifies laryngeal fat accumulation as a key anatomical factor associated with severe disease. The findings support weight management as a therapeutic intervention and suggest targeted approaches to reduce laryngeal fat deposition may help mitigate upper airway obstruction severity in obese pugs. Further investigation into genetic influences on regional fat distribution and development of targeted treatment strategies is recommended.

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