A survey of perianesthetic management of brachycephalic dogs identifies wide variation across United States veterinary practices despite well-documented risks.

Standardized perianesthetic protocols for brachycephalic dogs are urgently needed to reduce wide practice variation and improve patient safety.

This cross-sectional survey study evaluated perianesthetic management practices for brachycephalic dogs across United States veterinary practices. An online survey distributed to 32,626 veterinary professionals between December 2025 and January 2026 yielded 1,386 responses (4.3% response rate). The majority of respondents (67.6%) practiced within general small-animal settings, with elective neuter procedures representing the most frequent indication for anesthesia in brachycephalic patients. Using generalized structural equation models, researchers identified substantial variability in perianesthetic protocols, influenced by practice type (general practitioner vs. specialist) and years of clinical experience. Key areas of variation included previsit medication administration, antiemetic and prokinetic drug use, intraoperative monitoring modalities, preoxygenation practices, and recovery protocols. Specialists and more experienced clinicians tended to employ more standardized and comprehensive approaches compared to general practitioners and less experienced veterinary professionals. The study highlights that despite well-documented anesthetic risks associated with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome—including airway obstruction, regurgitation, aspiration pneumonia, and hypoxemia—no consensus-based standardized protocols currently guide perianesthetic care across practice settings. The authors conclude that the observed heterogeneity in clinical practice underscores a critical need for evidence-based, standardized perianesthetic guidelines specifically designed for brachycephalic dogs to improve patient safety and outcomes across all practice types.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.