Dogs and Reverse Sneezing: What is it and What Can I do?

If your dog suddenly stops, extends its neck, and produces a loud snorting sound, you likely have just witnessed a reverse sneeze. Our Lexington vets explain paroxysmal respiration (reverse sneezing) in dogs and what causes it.

What is a Reverse Sneeze in Dogs?

Paroxysmal respiration, or reverse sneezing as it is more commonly called, is a condition that causes the dog to rapidly pull air in through the nose producing a loud snorting sound. It sounds a bit like your dog is trying to take a deep breath in while sneezing at the same time.

When a dog reverse sneezes they typically raise their head, extend their neck, and begins making a loud snorting noise. Most reverse sneezing episodes last for less than a minute but can be frightening for dog owners, and alarming for the pet.

Causes of a Reverse Sneeze in Dogs

Reverse sneezing is believed to be caused by inflammation or irritation of the nasal, pharyngeal, or sinus passages, and could be the dog's attempt at removing the irritant causing the issue. Some irritants believed to trigger reverse sneezing include:

• Dust
• Nasal mites
• Seeds
• Grass
• Pollen
• Smoke

Sometimes it can be caused by conditions such as masses or an elongated soft palate. In some cases, dogs may also begin to reverse sneeze when over-excited.

Harm of a Reverse Sneeze

For most dogs, the reverse sneeze is nothing to be overly concerned about. The sneezing usually only occurs for less than a minute and dogs return to their activities afterward. There are no health repercussions from it and your dog will probably just shake it off as if nothing happened.

There are some signs, though, that may point to an underlying health problem. If your dog has suddenly developed reverse sneezing, it’s always a good idea to have them examined by your veterinarian, just to determine the right diagnosis.

If you see the symptoms listed below along with the reverse sneezing then if can point to other conditions like asthma, heart disease, and tracheal collapse

All of the above symptoms deserve further investigation, if your dog is displaying one or more of these symptoms contact your vet right away.

Helping Your Dog Through a Reverse Sneezing Episode

Once your dog has been examined and given a clean bill of health from your vet, there are a few things you can do to help ease your dog through these episodes.

• Stay calm. If you appear calm it will help your dog’s anxiety and stress.
• Massage your pet’s throat to get them to swallow. This can sometimes help to stop the episode.
• Gently lift their head up and then down.
• Distract your pet with a toy, treat, or dinner.

We know that this condition can seem out of the ordinary, but for most otherwise healthy dogs it looks and sounds scarier than it actually is.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Is your dog making sound that seem like a reverse sneeze? Contact our vets in Lexington to have your dog examined.