Owner Reveals Before and After of Boston Terrier’s Nose Job: ‘Still Snores’

A committed dog owner turned to nose surgery for the pup to help her breathe better, resulting in a happier dog over two years later

Paulina Nguyen knew there was a possibility for surgery, especially since Boston terriers are brachycephalic dogs. These dogs have shortened snouts or faces that appear flat. As a result, they have narrow nostrils and smaller airways.

“We didn’t know when we picked her up when she was 10 weeks old,” Nguyen told Newsweek. “But over time, we noticed her breathing was weird and took her to a vet who confirmed her nostrils were very small.”

As a puppy Nellie would run around, snorting or breathing out of her mouth. It made her owners upset seeing her having difficulty, which is why there was no hesitation about getting the surgery for Nellie. She felt that it was her responsibility to ensure Nellie had a great quality of life.

Nellie received stenotic nares laser surgery when she was about 7 months old. This is one of two options for stenotic nose surgery, the other being when a vet uses a scalpel. There is typically less bleeding with the laser procedure as the laser cauterizes the wound and also has a faster recovery process.

Nguyen said Nellie was also spayed at the time of surgery to avoid her getting anesthesia a second time. Before the surgery, Nellie had bloodwork done to confirm there would be no complications with the anesthesia.

As far as how the process went, Nguyen said it was quick. They dropped her off in the morning and by the afternoon, Nellie was back in their care. Nellie wore a soft cone to prevent her scratching at the stitches. They would apply ointment if her nose was dry and she was back to her usual self the following day.

Nguyen’s TikTok video, which was posted to the account @nelliethegremlin on December 5, showed the different stages of surgery. Her nostrils were very close, almost touching the center nose bridge. The after photo is a day and night difference.

The surgery was over two years ago at this point and Nguyen said there have not been any issues since.

“She is a very hyper dog, so she runs around a lot and we’ve definitely noticed no more snorting or wheezing when she’s playing,” Nguyen said. “However, she still snores!”

The surgery was done in 2021 and cost Nguyen about $1,400. This surgery can cost between $500 to $2,000, depending on the location, severity, and type of procedure.

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