Big or small, blonde or brown, spotted or plain, hairy, or even bald, our pets come in different sizes and shapes. Many dogs and cats are bred to look a certain way, either for aesthetic reasons or to perform their work better. The skulls of our pets are no exception, and through selective breeding, three main types of skulls have developed. These are the mesocephalic skull, the brachycephalic skull, and the dolichocephalic skull. To be able to give your pet the care they require and monitor their health, it’s important to have basic knowledge of their build. In this article, we will discuss the basic differences between the three skull types and what implications this might have for your pet.
Mesocephalic
From all skull shapes, we speak of mesocephalic when the skull is in proportion. It has an intermediate length and width. Mesocephalic is also called square-skulled, and basically means a normal skull shape. Some examples of dog breeds with a mesocephalic skull are Beagles, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Corgis. For cats, examples are the Domestic Short hair and the Egyptian Mau. There are no known additional health risks or issues associated with mesocephalic skulls.
Brachycephalic
Dogs and cats that have a face with a pushed in appearance, often also referred to as flat-faced or snub-nosed, have a brachycephalic skull. We speak of brachycephaly when the shape of the skull is shorter than typical for the species. Brachycephalic is a latin word and, when translated, means short (brachy) head (cephalus). There are a few theories as to why they started breeding brachycephalic dogs, with one being that it was to achieve strong jaws for fighting and hunting. Another theory is that they are bred like this because it resembles human infant-like features, which attracts us as humans.
A few examples of dog and cat breeds that have a brachycephalic skull are the Pug, Bull Mastiff, French Bulldog, English Bulldog and Chihuahua. For cats, there are the Persian, Exotic Short Hair, and Himalayan. Dogs and cats with significantly shortened skulls can suffer from brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome, which often results in breathing difficulties and an increased risk of hyperthermia due to the fact they are unable to sufficiently cool themselves down.
Other issues that may arise in pets with a brachycephalic skull are frequent infections of the cornea, an impaired ability to fully close the eyelids, tear deficiency, entropion in which the eyelids curl inwards, which in turn may result in corneal ulcerations, pigmentary keratitis, problems with the lacrimal glands (tear glands), and having an underbite. When teeth are not aligned properly due to an underbite, this may result in dental disease and/or difficulty chewing and chronic pain in the mouth.
Besides the general health problems that may arise within breeds that have a brachycephalic skull, there are also genetic issues that are more prevalent within certain breeds that are connected to having a brachycephalic skull. An example of this is syringomyelia, which is a very painful neurological condition. This condition is often seen in toy breeds with a brachycephalic skull, like the Chihuahua and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
If you own a pet with a brachycephalic skull, always keep a close eye on their health and be very mindful when exercising them to prevent heatstroke. If you wish to let your brachycephalic pet travel by airplane, keep in mind that airlines often have strict rules in place about when (time of the year) and how they need to travel (crate size). These rules are additional to the laws and regulations that countries set in regard to pet imports and exports. There are also many airlines that will not fly snub-nosed pets at all.
Dolichocephalic
Dolichocephaly is when the skull is longer than typical for the species. Examples of cats with a dolichocephalic skull are the Siamese and Abyssinian. In dogs, a dolichocephalic skull can be seen in breeds such as the Collie, Dachshund, Saluki, Greyhound, and Whippet. Many dogs with a dolichocephalic skull were bred for hunting. For example, the typical sight hound has a long snout, which helps enhance their horizon scanning. A long snout also benefits when sniffing and tracking. While there are not as many health issues associated with a dolichocephalic skull as with a brachycephalic skull, there are still some health problems to look out for.
Because the Dolichocephalic skull is narrow, eye formation problems may occur. The longer nose can also make them more vulnerable to fungal diseases of the nose, and overbites tend to be more frequent within breeds that have a dolichocephalic skull. When teeth are not aligned properly due to an overbite, this may result in gum injuries, abnormal wear of the teeth, damage to the teeth, and puncturing of the hard palate. If the misalignment is severe enough, this can interfere with normal eating and drinking.
Head shapes
Whether your dog has a mesocephalic, brachycephalic, or dolichocephalic skull, we hope that through this article we have informed you about the differences between the three main skull types and what this may implicate for your pet when it comes to their health, everyday care, and even traveling. We understand that pet care and traveling can be especially stressful for owners that have a snub-nosed pet, and we would be happy to discuss any questions or worries you may have regarding pet care or flying with their snub-nosed family member.
If you would like to know more about our pet sitting, dog walking, pet relocation and dog training services, feel free to reach out. We will be happy to help.