A reverse sneezing episode can be a fearful moment for dog owners if they have not encountered one before. A dog that reverse sneezes will take long and rapid inhales of air, while extending their head and neck, which is often accompanied by a loud snorting sound. This will make it seem like the dog is in distress because there is something stuck in their nose or throat. However, reverse sneezing is in most cases harmless, and the dog is not choking, even though it may seem like it.
What is Reverse Sneezing?
Reverse sneezing, also called paroxysmal respiration, is when a dog rapidly inhales air into their nose. This differs from a regular sneeze, whereby the air is rapidly pushed out of the nose. Reverse sneezing is an involuntary respiratory reflex that is triggered when the soft palate gets irritated. The irritation will make the muscles of the soft palate spasm, which results in the trachea becoming temporarily more narrow. Due to the narrowed trachea, breathing will be more difficult for the dog, and they will attempt to inhale through their nose, resulting in the typical snorting noise heard when dogs are reverse sneezing. When reverse sneezing, dogs will also extend their neck as they expand their chest to breathe.
While reverse sneezing can look fairly dramatic, it is not harmful to your dog, and there are no ill side effects. Dogs that go through a reverse-sneezing episode will be completely normal afterwards. A reverse sneezing episode generally lasts seconds to a minute, though in rare cases may take longer. If your dog frequently reverse sneezes, a vet should see your dog to determine why they have frequent episodes, as in rare cases, the causes of reverse sneezing may be more serious, such as a nasal tumour.
Causes
Reverse sneezing is triggered when the dog’s soft palate becomes irritated. Examples of irritants to the soft palate are:
- Scent of household chemicals such as cleaning products
- Allergies
- Strong odours like perfume
- Secretions
- Foreign objects in the nose
- Overexcitement
- Polyps or nasal tumours
- Pulling on the lead
- Nasal Mites
- Elongated soft palate, such as often seen in brachycephalic breeds
Dogs with narrow nasal passages, as often seen in dolichocephalic breeds, are also more commonly affected by reverse sneezing.
Treatment
When your dog is having a reverse sneezing episode, you can calm them down by gently stroking their neck or head. There are several techniques one can try to stop an episode. Giving them something to lick may induce swallowing and can help clear out any irritant and stop the reverse sneezing. One can also try gently blowing in the dog’s face for a few seconds to make them swallow. Massaging the dog’s throat to induce swallowing can also stop a spasm. Most episodes last shorter than a minute, though in rare cases a longer duration is possible. Reverse sneezing in most cases does not require intervention from a veterinarian. However, if your dog is having frequent episodes, a vet visit is warranted as the underlying cause will need to be found.
Conclusion
We speak of reverse sneezing when a dog rapidly inhales air into their nose, which is often accompanied by a snorting sound. Reverse sneezing is triggered by the soft palate getting irritated. While reverse sneezing is in most cases harmless, a vet visit is warranted if the episodes are frequent, as the causes of the soft palate becoming irritated can vary, and in some causes will require intervention.
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