The Effect of Tetanus Toxin Plus Decoy, Snoretox-1, at 3 Doses in 16 BOAS Dogs

Abstract: Background - BOAS Syndrome has no drug treatment option. Hypothesis/Objective - evaluate neuromuscular stimulant tetanus-toxin plus antibody-trapping decoy (Snoretox-1) in BOAS Syndrome. Animals - 14 BOAS Grade 2 or 3 dogs at home. Methods - injection bilaterally whilst under sedation into the centre of the rostral geniohyoid. 4 British Bulldogs received placebo then 50 Units/kg, 6 British Bulldogs received placebo then 25 Units/kg, and 6 Dogs (2 British, 2 French and 2 Pugs) 12.5 Units/kg without placebo. Dogs were graded utilizing the RFG scale, after a three-minute trot test, at multi-week intervals, until any improvement returned to baseline values. Results - All dogs at the 50 Units/kg and 25 Units/kg improved by at least one BOAS grade on the RFG scale. At 12.5 Units/kg some dogs had responses whilsts others did not. Non-parametric statistical analysis of the 50 and 25 units/kg dogs (Friedman χ² with Durbin-Conover post-hoc tests) showed that BOAS severity grade recorded after Snoretox-1 were significantly lower than after placebo at 12 weeks (p <.001), with return to baseline taking between 20 to 52 weeks. Feeding difficulty for up to 5 ½ weeks may occur with incorrect placement outside the rostral geniohyoid. Conclusions - Geniohyoid injection of the Snoretox-1 muscle toning therapeutic at 50 and 25 Units/kg decreased the severity of BOAS grading in BOAS dogs by one grade or more for a period of between 20 weeks and 52 weeks. Clinical Relevance - Snoretox-1 could offer a less invasive, well tolerated and effective treatment for BOAS.