Sydney vet pioneering new treatment for dogs

Media Release

A Sydney vet has pioneered the use of new technology to help some of Australia’s most popular dogs breathe a little easier.

Dr Sam Kovac, founder and owner of Southern Cross Vet with three practices across Sydney, has invested in a state-of-the-art system called the Caiman, found only in human operating rooms, and has pioneered keyhole surgery techniques including world class endoscopy for squish faced breeds who often have breathing problems.

They include pugs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, and the popular Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

“These brachycephalic breeds often suffer from underlying health issues because of their characteristic snort and snuffle,” Dr Kovac said.

“Often you can hear them making a lot of noise in parks, a sign of struggling to breathe and they can’t keep up with their canine companions.”

Dr Kovac said the breeds had been bred to have shorter and shorter snouts, resulting in the structures in the upper airways not shrinking and contributing to stuffiness and impeding air flow into the lungs.

“The consequence of this anatomy giving their cute look is that our brachys need to breathe deeper and with more force, leading to increased negative pressure (like a vacuum) in the throat,” he said.

“This is bad as it can cause collapse of the throat airway that can be irreversible and contribute to heatstroke and premature death.”

Dr Kovac uses an Aesculap Caiman – a sealing and cutting instrument used in human operating rooms. It is almost non surgical and inserted down a dog’s throat to removes excess palate tissue and widens the airway in just minutes.

This results in much easier breathing that reduces their stress, gives them more energy and speeds their recovery after park runs.

“My aim is to bring veterinary medicine in line with human medicine with advanced animal welfare, we owe it to our companions” Dr Kovac said.

Since introducing the Caiman to his surgeries Dr Kovac, Australia’s leading expert on dogs with shorter snouts, has been inundated with enquiries pet owners from all around Australia.

You can find more information here:  https://southerncrossvet.com.au/

Dr Sam Kovac, a Sydney-based general practice vet, believes in extending the lifespan of animals through ground-breaking treatments. He founded Southern Cross Vet, with clinics in St Peters, Bellevue Hill, and Surry Hills.