What is brachycephalic?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Brachycephalic means short-headed: dogs and cats bred with a flat face and short muzzle, such as the Pug, Shih Tzu, French Bulldog, Bulldog and Persian cat. The squashed airway makes breathing and cooling harder, so these pets overheat more easily, a real risk in Indian summers. Several Indian airlines refuse them in the hold.
Also called flat-faced, snub-nosed, short-nosed, brachycephalic breeds.
Key facts
- In a large UK study, flat-faced dogs had about 2.1 times the odds of heat-related illness of medium-nosed dogs. Scientific Reports (2020)study
- French Bulldogs had 6.49 times the odds of heat-related illness of Labradors in the same UK vet records. Scientific Reports (2020)study
- Cambridge's vet school lists French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, Japanese Chins, Boxers and Boston Terriers as brachycephalic breeds. University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Air India's pet page bars flat-faced breeds from the cargo compartment. Air India
- SpiceJet refuses snub-nosed and short-muzzled dogs outright, because they are prone to heat stroke and breathing difficulty. SpiceJet
What does brachycephalic mean for breathing?
The skull is shortened but the soft tissue inside is not, so the nose, throat and windpipe are crowded and narrow.
The problems this causes are grouped as BOAS, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. Cambridge's veterinary school, which runs a BOAS research programme, lists the signs: snoring and snorting from a blocked upper airway, a high-pitched wheeze when the voice box is narrowed, pinched nostrils, difficulty eating, regurgitation and reverse sneezing. Some dogs stop breathing for moments in their sleep, which Cambridge calls life-threatening.
Cambridge grades BOAS from 0 to III using a 3-minute trotting test; grades II and III count as clinically affected and need management such as weight loss or surgery. Not every flat-faced dog is badly affected, but the noise many owners think is normal, the snore and snort, is a sign of obstruction.
Why are flat-faced pets at risk in Indian heat?
Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, and a narrow airway pants badly. A UK study found flat-faced dogs had about twice the odds of heat-related illness.
If Heavy panting, drooling, a bluish tongue or gums, or a temperature above 39 °C
These are heat warning signs in a BOAS dog. Move it somewhere cool, cool it with water and call a vet at once. University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine
If A midday walk in May in Delhi or Chennai
Walk a flat-faced dog only in the coolest hours, keep walks short and carry water. French Bulldogs had 6.49 times the odds of heat-related illness of Labradors in UK data. Scientific Reports (2020)study
If A power cut with no fan or AC
Have a plan: a cooler room, wet towels to lie on, an inverter for a fan, or a neighbour with power.
If The pet is overweight
Extra weight makes breathing harder; Cambridge lists weight loss as part of managing BOAS. Ask your vet for a target. University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine
Can a brachycephalic pet fly within India?
Only in the cabin on some airlines, and never in SpiceJet's hold. Rules as published by each airline, checked 21 October 2026.
| In the cabin | In the hold | |
|---|---|---|
| Air India Air India | Allowed within the cabin weight limit; its indemnity form advises against flying short-headed pets above 20 °C | Not carried |
| Akasa Air Akasa Air | Allowed within the cabin limit | Not carried; Akasa publishes its own list of flat-faced dog and cat breeds |
| SpiceJet SpiceJet | Not offered: SpiceJet carries dogs in the hold only | Snub-nosed and short-muzzled dogs refused |
IATA does not recommend flying snub-nosed dogs in the hot season. Check the airline's current rules before booking.
Which pets count as brachycephalic?
Among dogs common in India: the Pug, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, French Bulldog, Bulldog and Boxer. Akasa Air's list also includes the Boston Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Affenpinscher, Japanese Chin and English Toy Spaniel, and among cats the Persian and Exotic Shorthair.
Breed alone does not decide how badly a pet is affected: Cambridge notes that not every flat-faced dog shows signs, while extra weight makes any airway problem worse. Your vet can check the airway and tell you whether your pet needs extra care in summer.
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Questions owners ask
Is a Shih Tzu brachycephalic?
- Yes. Cambridge's vet school lists the Shih Tzu among brachycephalic breeds, and Akasa Air includes it on its list of flat-faced breeds that fly only in the cabin. Like other short-nosed dogs, a Shih Tzu needs walks in the cooler hours and a cool place to rest in Indian summers.
Why do flat-faced dogs snore?
- Their shortened skull crowds the soft tissue of the nose and throat, partly blocking the airway. Cambridge's vet school describes low-pitched snoring and snorting as signs of upper airway obstruction, part of BOAS. If your dog snores loudly, struggles on walks or sleeps sitting up, ask your vet to check its airway.
Can I fly my Pug on an Indian airline?
- Possibly in the cabin, if it is within the airline's weight limit. Air India and Akasa Air do not carry flat-faced breeds in the hold, and SpiceJet refuses snub-nosed dogs outright. Air India also advises against flying short-headed pets if the temperature may exceed 20 °C.
Are flat-faced cats affected too?
- Yes. Persian and Exotic Shorthair cats have the same short skull, and Akasa Air lists them as brachycephalic breeds. Keep them cool in summer and watch for open-mouth breathing, which is a warning sign in a cat. Ask your vet if your cat seems to struggle for breath.
Keep reading
Related terms
More in breeds and anatomy
- Body condition scoreA body condition score (BCS) rates a pet's body fat by look and feel, usually on WSAVA's 9-point scale: 1 is emaciated, 9 is severely obese, and the ideal sits around 4 to 5. You check how easily the ribs can be felt, whether there is a waist from above, and whether the belly tucks up from the side.
- DewclawsDewclaws are the extra toes with claws that sit a little above a dog's foot, on the inner side of the leg, most often on the front legs. Because they do not touch the ground, walking never wears them down, so they need regular trimming. Left long, a dewclaw can curl round and grow into the toe pad, which hurts.
- Double coatA double coat is two layers of fur: a soft, dense undercoat close to the skin and a longer outer coat of guard hairs. Huskies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Pomeranians have one. The undercoat insulates against heat as well as cold, so vets advise brushing it out regularly rather than shaving the dog in an Indian summer.
- Indie dogAn indie dog is India's native dog: the free-living type often called the Indian pariah dog, INDog or desi dog, rather than a pedigree breed. It is usually medium-sized, short-coated, prick-eared and curl-tailed, alert and territorial. Genetic research finds Indian village dogs show little European ancestry, making them one of the world's older dog populations.
- MicrochipA pet microchip is a tiny identification chip, about the size of a grain of rice, injected under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades. It holds a unique number that a scanner reads, linked to your contact details on a database. It is not a GPS tracker. Most countries you might move a pet to require an ISO-standard chip.
- Senior petA senior pet is in the later part of its expected life. For cats, vets' guidelines say senior means over 10 years. For dogs it depends on size: AVMA counts giant breeds as seniors from about 6 to 7 years and small dogs from about 8 to 11. Old age is not a disease, but seniors need closer checks.
- Spay and neuterSpaying and neutering are surgeries that stop a pet breeding. Spaying a female removes the ovaries and usually the womb; neutering or castrating a male removes the testicles. Besides preventing litters they lower some health risks, such as womb infection in females. The right age depends on species, breed and size, so your vet decides the timing.
Keep exploring
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine: BOAS: recognition and diagnosis (opens in a new tab)
- Air India: Travelling with pets (opens in a new tab)
- SpiceJet: Terms and conditions of carriage: carriage of live animals (AVI) (opens in a new tab)
- Akasa Air: Pets on Akasa: policy and FAQ (opens in a new tab)
- Air India: Declaration / Indemnity Form for Carriage of Pets (opens in a new tab)
- Akasa Air: Identifying brachycephalic Dog & Cat Breeds (file dated 21 Oct 2022) (opens in a new tab)
Show all 9 sourcesShow fewer
- IATA: Traveler's Pet Corner (opens in a new tab)
- Scientific Reports (2020): Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Veterinary Evidence (2022), RCVS Knowledge: Heatstroke and brachycephalic dogs: is there an increased risk? (Knowledge Summary) (opens in a new tab)