The Shape of the Nasal Cavity and Adaptations to Sniffing in the Dog (Canis familiaris) Compared to Other Domesticated Mammals: A Review Article

Dogs are a good starting point for the description and anatomical analysis of turbinates of
the nose. This work aimed at summing up the state of knowledge on the shape of the nasal cavity
and airflow in these domestic animals and dealt with the brachycephalic syndrome (BOAS) and
anatomical changes in the initial airway area in dogs with a short and widened skull. As a result
of artificial selection and breeding concepts, the dog population grew very quickly. Modern dog
breeds are characterized by a great variety of their anatomical shape. Craniological changes also
had a significant impact on the structure and physiology of the respiratory system in mammals.
The shape of the nasal cavity is particularly distinctive in dogs. Numerous studies have established
that dogs and their olfactory ability are of great importance in searching for lost people, detecting
explosives or drugs as well as signaling disease in the human body. The manuscript describes the
structure of the initial part of the respiratory system, including the nasal turbinates, and compares
representatives of various animal species. It provides information on the anatomy of brachycephalic
dogs and BOAS. The studies suggest that further characterization and studies of nasal turbinates and
their hypertrophy are important.