Should I take my dog to the vet for reverse sneezing?

Dogs often sneeze because of various reasons. It can simply be an allergic reaction or a viral infection. Many a times, dogs love this antic too. They do sneeze when they are really excited about something. Many dog health experts have to say that sneezing is the mechanism of the dog’s system to let out the stress. We cannot agree more, excitement needs more room.

Playtime and excitement sneezes are totally okay, and there is nothing for a pet parent to panic about. However, sometimes, the sneezes tell something else. In the event that the dog is showing little traces of blood in the sneezes or if the sneezing is not just stopping, a visit to the vet in person is highly critical.

What is reverse sneezing?

Reverse Sneezing is an act of dogs in which they do just the opposite of sneezing. With a startling and loud noise, they try to pull in more air into their systems. Typically, when a dog is doing this reverse sneezing, he would take the position where his head would be bent forward and the elbows of forelegs would be apart. Reverse sneezing is found to be more common in small sizes of dog breeds, such as a Beagle or a pug.

Reverse sneeze occurs in dogs when their soft palate get irritated. It is that muscle area in the roof of their mouths that aids in their breathing and other functions like swallowing and vocalization. This irritation leads to spasms in the muscle of the soft palate, eventually narrowing the trachea. Thus, to breathe in more air, the dog extends his neck as a means to expand the chest. The reduced trachea hampers this inhalation. So, the dog exerts great force to use its nose for inhalation, which is the backward sneeze.

Causes of Reverse Sneezing

Just like a sneeze, reverse sneezes are also acts to expel irritants from the nasopharynx (as against from the nose or trachea while sneezing or coughing) and attain comfort.

Most common causes of irritation in the soft palate, and reverse sneezing, are:

• Allergic reactions
• Household scented products like perfumes, air fresheners
• Forceful pulling on the leash
• Being overly excited
• Intolerance to exercise
• A foreign body or a mass stuck in the throat causing discomfort
• Nasal mites
• Long soft palate, commonly found in brachycephalic (short-snouted) breeds
• Eating or drinking hastily

When should I visit a vet?
 

If the reverse sneezing act is infrequent, it is not considered anything serious. It doesn’t need any specific treatment or medicine. However, a pet parent must make themselves aware of the difference between a reverse sneeze and a choking or coughing sound. The latter must be checked by a professional animal doctor. In case of frequent episodes of reverse sneezing in dogs, a veterinarian will run some tests, such as an x-ray of the chest, to come to the underlying cause.

If you are still concerned about your dog’s reverse sneezing, you can try some tips that might help in stopping an episode. Some experts suggest that by partially covering the nostrils and make your dog swallow, the stuck irritant comes loose. A gentle massage on the throat will do the same thing. In case of chronic problems of reverse sneezing, the doctor will begin the appropriate treatment soon after diagnosing the root cause of the problem.

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