i brought my new boston, stella, home 2 months ago, she was 5 months then. my vet did a health check on her and gave her a clean bill but informed me that she had a pinched right nostril. as this is my first small dog and first dog with a short muzzle, i never knew such a thing could happen. he told me to watch and listen to her breathing over the next month or so to assess whether her breathing was labored or not. over the past 2 months stella and i have had a very active life, we go for big walks daily and love to fetch ball and play with other dogs. i don't feel her breathing is labored as she never pants but she does tend to breath loudly sometimes and snores when sleeping. again she is my first boston and i don't know what is unusual or not. she is now set to visit the vet to be spayed in the next 2 weeks and the vet is wanting to open up her nostril which he says is a simple "snip" to the tune of $500.00 - can anyone give me some advice or has anyone else had a dog with a pinched nostril????

Hello Stella's Mom, sorry to hear about her condition... knowing that my lil boy duke himself snores which i hear is normal, and might have other conditions later not pertaining to the snoring i've purchased insurance which covers 90% of duke's vet bills. depending on where you live, i say check out VPI pet insurance.

Good luck and hope stella i is in good health

hi, this is a problem that does happen in the boston terrier. when i went looking for a puppy i asked what hte hereditory problems of the breed were. the pinched nostil was one of them. the breeder advised me to look at hte pup if the nostrils were pinched before purchasing. my boston doesn't have it but i know one that had beed operated on. your pup may not have any problems yet but it can cause serious problems. fainting, suffication are possiblities. stress and excersise may cause problems on later days. when tempurtures rise the breathing may become stressfull. an oxigen difficioncy is a possibility.
the dog that i know had no problems after the nose job. i'd advise operate. why risk the chance of complications?

Unless BOTH nostrils are pinched and the puppy has a clear, snotty discharge or shows signs of easily becoming tired or has to open it's mouth to breath then DO not get the surgery!

Vets have found a new money maker in their little "snips".

The surgery is ONLY lifesaving when the puppy can not breath through its nostrils and it is effecting it's health by having to breath though its mouth or has a nasel discharge upon any exercise or excitement.

Dr Jeannie Thomason
Veterinary Naturopath, Companion Animal Nutrition Consultant, Natural Pet Care Educator, Breeder/Exhibitor of Champion Boston Terriers

my lala is 9 months she also has snorting, caughing, and snoring.. i find no issue with what is "considered" to be a feature of the breed!! if it dont impeed the amimals normal activities dont mess with it!! don't let the vet rip off your pups nose or you.....howard

thanks for all the feed back!

i have spoken with my breeder and gotten a second opinion from a different vet and have decided not to do the surgery on stella's nose.

she shows no signs of gasping, heavy breathing or discharge when active.

this week she meet my buddy's dog "rocky" who is huge mixed breed 2 year old male...... they played, wrestled, chased and ran so hard for about an hour and again..... nothing.

there was some good panting but her breathing would return to normal within minutes and the best part.... when we got home she slept for hours!

Glad to hear that everything is great with stella.

I myself take duke to the dog park about 2 times a week around 3 or 4 pm... by 8pm he's knocked out and snores the night away...

i was told by someone that the best dog is a tired dog...

I love BT's haahaha

good on ya! glad that there are no problems! my bt runs like the wind and pants then too. very normal!