New Injectable Treatment Helps Flat-Faced Dog Breeds Breathe Better
新型注射療法協助扁臉犬種改善呼吸問題
Brachycephalic breeds, such as Pugs and French Bulldogs, are beloved for their flat faces, but this physical trait often causes Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
短吻犬種，例如巴哥犬與法國鬥牛犬，因其扁平的面部特徵而備受喜愛，但這種特徵常導致短吻犬呼吸道症候群(BOAS)。
Many of these dogs struggle to breathe, often requiring expensive and invasive surgery to clear their airways.
許多這類狗狗呼吸困難，往往需要昂貴且具侵入性的手術來暢通呼吸道。
Recently, researchers from RMIT University and the biotech firm Snoretox have developed a promising new treatment called Snoretox-1.
最近，來自皇家墨爾本理工大學(RMIT University)與生物科技公司Snoretox的研究人員研發出一種名為Snoretox-1的潛力新療法。
This injectable therapy uses a modified tetanus toxin to increase muscle tone in the geniohyoid muscles at the base of the mouth, helping to stabilize the airway during inhalation.
這種注射式療法利用改良的破傷風毒素，增加口腔底部頦舌骨肌的肌張力，有助於在吸氣時穩定呼吸道。
Unlike traditional surgeries, this treatment does not require general anesthesia, making it a potentially safer and more accessible option.
與傳統手術不同，此療法無需全身麻醉，使其成為一種更安全且更容易取得的選擇。
In a recent clinical trial involving British Bulldogs, the therapy showed immediate success; dogs that previously struggled to walk for three minutes were able to complete brisk exercise with significantly reduced respiratory effort.
在最近一項涉及英國鬥牛犬的臨床試驗中，該療法展現了立即性的成效；過去連走路三分鐘都困難的狗狗，現在能夠完成快步運動，且呼吸負擔顯著減輕。
While the treatment is still in its early stages of development, it recently earned an Innovation Award, signaling a hopeful future for flat-faced dogs.
儘管該療法仍處於研發初期，但它最近榮獲創新獎，為扁臉狗的未來帶來了希望。
Researchers believe that if further testing confirms its safety and efficacy, this technology could eventually have wider applications in both veterinary and human medicine.
研究人員認為，若進一步的測試能證實其安全性與有效性，這項技術未來或許能在獸醫與人類醫學中獲得更廣泛的應用。
