How to Recognize Reverse Sneezing

One of the most concerning things for a pet owner is watching their pet deal with reverse sneezing. This sudden, rapid and repeated inhalation which is followed by a snorting or gagging sound seems to be very concerning and uncomfortable but the good news is that it is not harmful in most cases. Knowing what to do and what to look for can help to reduce the stress levels of both a dog and their human.

What to look for

For dogs reverse sneezing can be common. It is caused by irritation or the inflammation of the nasal, pharyngeal (the part of the throat behind the mouth but above the esophagus) or sinus passages and is most common after a period of over-excitement. It is probably a way to help a dog remove dust, powders, pollens or other irritants from its respiratory system and is not harmful to healthy dogs. Most dogs are normal both before and after an episode but many dogs can have chronic episodes of reverse sneezing throughout their lives and smaller breeds of dogs are the most susceptible since they have smaller throats and windpipes. Reverse sneezing is very rare in cats.

When an episode of reverse sneezing occurs a dog will all of a sudden stand still and extend its head and neck. Unlike a regular sneeze, which expels air through the throat and nose, a reverse sneeze pulls air in through the nose. A loud snorting noise will then be heard almost like the dog is choking or having some sort of asthma attack. This can last only a few seconds or several minutes and can be very alarming to their human. In most cases your dog will be fine after this but there are a few things that you, their human, can do to help these pass much more smoothly. One of the more common remedies is to hold the dog’s nostrils closed for a second while lightly massaging their throat or lightly blowing on their face. This can help them to swallow and can stop the spasms that result from reverse sneezing. It is also important for their human to keep calm and if possible the dog should be placed in as cool of an area as can be.

What you can do

In most cases no medication will be necessary for reverse sneezing but if the issue becomes chronic or if your veterinarian believes that it is triggered because of allergies an antihistamine could be used. If allergies are believed to be the trigger it would be a good idea to see if there is anything in the home that your dog could be allergic to. The most common things are body care products like perfumes or things like carpet cleaners. They can also be triggered by environmental changes or even if their collar is too tight.

If reverse sneezing becomes a chronic issue speak with your veterinarian about it. If so it would also be helpful to keep track of when it happens, what the dog is doing when it happens as well as the environment around it. That information may be helpful in finding a cause and preventing further episodes. Knowing after all is half of the battle.

http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/what-happens-when-a-dog-reverse-sneezes/

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/12/03/reverse-sneezing.aspx

https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/reverse-sneezing-dogs-it-normal

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. — Milan Kundera