# Clinical Evaluation and Systematic Classification of Endoscopic Gastrointestinal Findings in 176 French Bulldogs with Brachycephalic Airway Obstructive Syndrome

## TL;DR

French bulldogs with breathing issues often have gastrointestinal problems, and more severe digestive symptoms correlate with worse gastrointestinal lesions.

## Contribution

Systematic evaluation of gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in French bulldogs with brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome reveals common and clinically relevant associations.

## Key findings

- Gastrointestinal endoscopic abnormalities are very common in French bulldogs with BAOS.
- More severe digestive signs correlate with more severe gastrointestinal endoscopic lesions.
- Laryngeal granulomas are significantly associated with regurgitation in these dogs.

## Abstract

This study described the presence and severity of gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in French bulldogs with upper airway obstruction syndrome and evaluated possible associations between digestive signs and other clinicopathological data. Researchers worked with 176 electronic medical records and used validated scores to assess respiratory and digestive signs. In addition, a summative score from individual gastrointestinal endoscopic abnormalities was used. The results showed that gastrointestinal endoscopic abnormalities are very common among French bulldogs with brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome, and the more severe the digestive signs, the more severe the gastrointestinal endoscopic lesions. The systematic evaluation of gastrointestinal endoscopic abnormalities is easy and safe to perform and adds valuable information for the clinical management of French bulldogs with upper airway obstructive syndrome.

The respiratory consequences of brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome (BAOS) are well known; however, brachycephalic dogs may also present with alimentary tract signs. The electronic medical records of 176 French bulldogs with BAOS were reviewed to classify the gastrointestinal endoscopic findings, and to evaluate the associations between clinicopathological data, endoscopic respiratory, and digestive findings. Dogs that did not undergo endoscopic examination of both airways and the upper digestive tract were excluded. The type and frequency of respiratory and digestive signs were assessed according to a previously described grading system, in addition to gastrointestinal histopathological findings. Video documentation was reviewed to assign a score to each gastrointestinal endoscopic finding (EGF) and to obtain a total EGF score. All dogs showed at least one EGF. The median total EGF score was 5 (range 1–9). A significant association between the score from digestive signs and the total EGF score was found. In addition, laryngeal granulomas were significantly associated with regurgitation. No associations were found between gastrointestinal histopathological findings and the scores from respiratory or digestive signs. Overall, gastrointestinal endoscopic findings and laryngeal granulomas are common among French bulldogs with BAOS. Therefore, a systematic endoscopic approach to alimentary signs is desirable to determine the most appropriate treatment.