Chiniah’s story: A sweet and sour thank you card 9 months after surgery
Chiniah, a 4 year old Japanese Chin, had surgery to widen her narrow nostrils (Fortunately, her soft palate & saccules were normal).
9 months after surgery, her owner BD sent a sweet and sour thank you card. I am sharing the entire text not to brag or make anybody sad, but as an attempt to educate other pet owners.
“Last summer, you operated on Chiniah’s nostrils. She still snores and rubs her face in the azalea bush but is far less stressed than she was with difficulty catching her breath. Thank you so very much for your kind and caring manner with me on the phone and with Chiniah.
Oh how I wish I could go back in time for Chiniah's sister, Chinelle. She was such a precious angel. After a perfect yearly physical checkup, she started breathing and sounding like her airways were obstructed a few weeks later. We rushed her to the emergency in the middle of the night. Over the next two weeks, she suffered going back-and-forth from my family vet in oxygen to the emergency clinic. $5000 later, the emergency doctor said there was nothing they could do and that they had no idea why she was breathing so heavily and loudly. She was euthanized in my arms and knowing what I know now I bet you could have fixed her. She was three years old.”
Moral of the story: PLEASE have your dog (and rarely your cat) looked at if they are struggling to breathe. Narrow nostrils in pets with a flat face, and other related issues, can be corrected with surgery.