8-10 months for Frenchies, Pugs and Bostons, and 10-12 months for Aussie and British Bulldogs is the best time to consider surgery for two reasons:
Firstly it can be tied in with desexing, and if performed at this time as an add on to desexing, is costs significantly less. Secondly – and most importantly, the palate has had time to grow to it’s maximum length, reducing the chance of needing a second surgery (which is extremely unlikely), with reduced chance of secondary changes having occurred such as everted laryngeal saccules and redundant pharyngeal mucosa.
French Bulldogs (Frenchies) in particular however are very prone to early everted laryngeal saccules, and we find in our clinic that even at six months of age, about 30% already have this with the chance increasing in loud snorers. The good news is these can be easily corrected.
Secondly, redundant pharyngeal mucosa. The mucosa at the back of the mouth slowly thickens over months and years in dogs with non corrected airways, and this exacerbates their breathing concerns. This can never be corrected and is the main reason early intervention to prevent this progression is so important. It is for this reason that delayed surgery results in less success.
Hence 8-12 months (dependent on the breed you own) is the ideal time to assess and if appropriate, correct concerns. Results slowly reduce from 8-24 months, but after 24 months (two years) results reduce far more significantly. If your dog is older than two years, it is however still very worthwhile correcting concerns. Although the reduction in noise and snoring may not be as assured, we can at least still reduce the chances of the situation getting much worse into the future.