Sleep apnoea more common in short-snouted dogs, study finds
Short-snouted dogs, such as pugs, are more likely to suffer sleep apnoea.
A new study has concluded that short-snouted dogs are at higher risk of developing sleep apnoea than those with longer snouts.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Helsinki, showed that brachycephalic dogs, such as pugs and French bulldogs, often suffered from recurring episodes of sleep-disordered breathing- similar to sleep apnoea found in humans.
During sleep-disordered episodes the muscles of the upper airway relax, causing an airway obstruction. This results in sleep interruptions and daytime fatigue.
Research into sleep apnoea in humans has shown it to have a significant effect on wellbeing, including connections with cardiovascular disease, systemic inflammation and hypertension.
However, knowledge of the effects of sleep disorders on dogs is scarce.
The study compared the sleep of short-snouted and long-snouted dogs using a portable neckband system, originally used in diagnosing human sleep apnoea.
Using this method they measured the dogs’ breathing events during sleep, finding that short-snouted dogs registered more sleep-disordered events than dogs with long snouts.
The neckband method was found to be a useful method to study sleep breathing. Its use is currently limited to patients involved in research, but it may provide further opportunities for sleep apnoea research in future.
In short-snouted dogs, sleep-disordered breathing may also be recognised if they are snoring, suffering apnoeic episodes during sleep, not able to sleep or are sleeping in a sitting position or with their chin elevated.
Doctoral researcher Iida Niinikoski, of the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said: “Sleep apnoea places people at considerable risk of conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Sleep affects the body’s immune system, hormone secretion and metabolism. Sufficient, sound sleep is vital for quality of life. For these reasons and others, we are interested in canine sleep too”
The full paper has been published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
