A video of a dog’s reaction to smelling food for the first time after surgery melted people’s hearts.
A French bulldog named Kygo recently underwent surgery for a condition known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, or BOAS. The surgery helps alleviate the breathing difficulties of brachycephalic dog breeds—like English bulldogs, pugs and Boston terriers—an article from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine said.
The “nose job” surgery, as his owners called it on the dog’s TikTok account @its.me.kygo, involved opening his nostrils, reducing the soft palate and then removing laryngeal saccules to prevent further obstructions. And 24 hours postsurgery, Kygo’s entire life changed as he rediscovered his sense of smell.
In last week’s TikTok video, which amassed over 7.5 million views and 1.6 million likes, Kygo intently sat next to his owners as they ate. He looked up with eyes full of amazement because the food smells wafted through his nostrils for the very first time since surgery.
@its.me.kygo/TikTok
He wasn’t begging for a nibble of their food, as many dogs might have done. Instead, he tilted his head higher, embracing all the delicious aromas in a new way he hadn’t experienced before. His nostrils flared in and out in amazement.
Now, he’s a smelling machine and can’t get enough whiffs of everything around him.
Newsweek reached out to the owners via email for additional information and comment.
What Do the Comments Say?
With over 5,770 comments, the TikTok video started a debate among viewers. Many fell in love with Kygo’s precious reaction, calling him the “goodest sniffer.”
“Sniffing in HD now,” wrote a viewer, while another pointed out: “The way he looked at you after the first sniff was like, ‘Omg, you right!'”
A third user commented: “He looks like he’s suspicious about his newfound sense of smell.”
However, others believed this clip shined a light on the dangers of breeding dogs. They claimed the surgery could have been avoided.
“The fact we have to perform this surgery on some breeds in the first place is HIGHLY upsetting,” a person said.
The article from Cornell said BOAS is a genetic condition, and these dogs, which have difficulty breathing, require surgical therapy or have a hypoplastic trachea, should not be considered for breeding.
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