Brachycephalic Airway Care
Arthur is currently available for BOAS assessment and surgery at Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre in Mount Waverley.
Expertise in BOAS assessment and surgery
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) has been a significant focus of Small Animal Surgery Specialist Dr Arthur House's clinical work for more than 20 years.
Arthur works across the spectrum of BOAS, with particular experience in complex cases, including dogs with severe airway obstruction or ongoing breathing difficulties following previous surgery.
Arthur’s approach
Dr Arthur House assessing the respiratory function of a French Bulldog after a game of fetch.
Individualised assessment and surgical planning
BOAS can affect dogs differently. Arthur considers each dog's respiratory function, clinical history and airway anatomy to understand what may be contributing to their breathing difficulties.
Every dog is different, so treatment is tailored to what they actually need.
BOAS surgical procedures
Brachycephalic airway surgery
BOAS surgery may involve one or more procedures, depending on the location and severity of a dog's airway obstruction. Arthur’s BOAS surgical procedures include:
Ala-vestibuloplasty for nostril stenosis
Opening the outer and inner nostril to improve airflow.Modified folded palatoplasty
Managing the length and thickness of the soft palate.Everted saccule excision
Removing tissue that is reducing the space available to breathe.Tonsilliotomy for enlarged tonsils
Reducing enlarged tonsils that are contributing to airway obstruction.Laser-assisted turbinectomy (LATE)
Removing excess nasal tissue to improve airflow through the nose.
Respiratory Function Grading
Dr Arthur House conducting an RFG assessment at the Dogs Victoria 24/7 Health Day, 2026.
Australia's Chief Assessor for the RFG Scheme
Arthur is Australia’s Chief Assessor for the Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) Scheme, a non-invasive assessment of respiratory function in brachycephalic dogs.
Arthur uses RFG as part of his BOAS assessments, giving an objective measure of each dog's respiratory function.
Advancing BOAS surgical care
Arthur presented a Meet the Expert session at the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS), focused on building a BOAS surgical service beyond palate and nostril surgery and the broader approach required to diagnose and manage these cases.
Dr Arthur House presenting on BOAS at the 2026 ECVS Meet the Expert programme.