Former “Breeding Machine” Dog Puts Horrific Past Behind Her, Now Eager to Find a Forever Home
When you meet Freya, a 5-year-old English Bull Staffy, for the first time, you’ll be instantly smitten by her bubbly personality. But once you learn her backstory, your heart will be filled with pity for all she endured in her past.
For many years, sweet Freya was under the care of abusive people who viewed her as nothing more than a mere breeding machine. Freya, a cross between the English Bulldog and American Staffordshire Terrier, spent all her time confined to a hard surface where she was expected to churn out one litter of puppies after another, a routine that took a toll on her overall health.
When the Coral Springs Humane Unit came to her rescue, the years of abuse and neglect were apparent. Freya had developed agonizing pressure sores — also known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers — which occur due to restricted mobility (lying in the same position) for a prolonged period. Plus, she had skin allergies and suffered from breathing difficulties.
Thankfully, the Humane Unit ensured Freya received surgical treatment for these pressure sores. She was also spayed and treated for her other underlying health issues, including undergoing a soft palate surgery to address her breathing struggles (learn more about this below).
Freya’s Ready for a New Beginning
Freya is currently in the caring hands of Lady Luck Animal Rescue in Lake Worth, FL. She’s healed both emotionally and physically (yes, she has a clean bill of health) and is now ready to be snatched up in the arms of a forever family that will spoil her with a lifetime of love.
Freya is potty trained, gets along well with children and other dogs, and is a sucker for spacious yards where she can run and play to her heart’s content. This 41-pound sweetheart of a dog isn’t exactly the best at leash walking due to her traumatic past experiences, so she’ll appreciate it if her new owner is patient and dedicated to her leash training.
Freya is truly deserving of a loving forever home that will appreciate and adore her to bits, given all she’s overcome. If you’d like to offer this resilient furry beauty a forever home, please visit Lady Luck Animal Rescue’s website for the adoption process.
FAQs About Soft Palate Surgery for Dogs
What is soft palate surgery for dogs?
The soft palate is the soft part (soft tissue) located at the back of your dog’s mouth roof. In normal cases, the soft palate isn’t elongated or thickened with excess tissue. However, in some dog breeds — specifically brachycephalic dog breeds such as Boston Terriers, Pugs, English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus — this palate often has abnormalities.
According to experts from Hillside Veterinary Surgery, the soft palate in these short-headed breeds usually has excess tissue and is abnormally long (it extends down to the epiglottis in the throat). Consequently, this interferes with proper airflow, leading to difficulty breathing.
Dogs with abnormal soft palates are highly susceptible to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), a progressive obstructive airway condition that affects a dog’s ability to breathe, exercise, sleep, and play comfortably. Besides the soft palate malformations, brachycephalic breeds with BOAS also have everted laryngeal saccules, that is, tissues in the vocal cords pulling inwards into the trachea, causing partial airway obstruction.
Over time, BOAS worsens the harder your dog tries to breathe, as the straining puts more stress on the already compromised airway. In severe cases, BOAS leads to laryngeal collapse and extreme respiratory distress.
Soft palate surgery — medically referred to as soft palate resection or staphylectomy— is aimed at correcting the abnormalities present in a dog’s soft palate. This usually includes shortening the soft palate to a normal length and removing any excess soft palate tissue. Soft palate resection is highly effective in improving the affected dog’s breathing and overall quality of life.
Source: @hillsidevetsurgery
Is soft palate surgery for dogs safe?
Yes, research shows that soft palate surgery is highly safe and effective in correcting soft palate abnormalities in dogs.
How much is soft palate surgery for dogs?
The price of soft palate surgery varies from one veterinary provider to another. Generally, though, this procedure costs not less than $1,000.
“We live in the South Central US and the hospital that our regular vet referred my EB [English Bulldog] to charges around $1,000, while another hospital in our city that is open 24/7 for emergencies and has several specialists on staff charges between $3,000 and $4,000,” shared user @Goldengirl in a Reddit discussion post on the cost of soft palate surgery in dogs.
Cost of soft palate surgery for dogs
As noted earlier, the price of soft palate surgery in dogs varies from one veterinary provider to another. But generally, the cost is no less than $1,000.
How much does soft palate surgery cost for dogs?
This largely depends on the veterinary provider. Generally, though, soft palate surgery for dogs costs $1,000 and above.
Recovery time for soft palate surgery dog
Experts say the recovery time for soft palate surgery varies from one dog to another, depending on how well they receive post-operative care. Generally, though, most dogs recover fully between 2-4 weeks.
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