

Small breed dogs have small throats which make them more prone to reverse sneezing. Which dogs are at a higher risk of reverse sneezing?Īny dog could potentially have reverse sneezes, but some dogs tend to be more at risk than others.

Irritants, such as allergens, infections, and mites can cause mucus which may lead to reverse sneezing. This means the body pulls air in towards the lungs, which creates the reverse sneezing sound.Īimee Johnson, DVM, graciously shared this video which shows classic reverse sneezing…. paroxysmal respiration), the body forces air through the nose during the inhale. the nasopharynx). During a reverse sneeze (i.e. What is reverse sneezing in dogs?Įveryone is familiar with sneezing due to a cold, allergies, or just getting something as simple as dust or pollen up your nose. During a regular sneeze, your lungs force air out through the nose to dislodge whatever is causing the irritation.Ī reverse sneeze is a similar concept but in reverse. In this situation, the irritation is commonly in the back of the nasal passages or the back of the dog’s throat (i.e. Nelson I was pretty confident this was a case of reverse sneezing but recommended X-rays to be on the safe side. windpipe), Muffin didn’t cough as would be expected if she had a collapsed trachea in dogs. Her gums were pink and moist, which meant she was getting enough oxygen, and her other dog vital signs were normal too. Her lungs sounded healthy and I didn’t hear a heart murmur in dogs on her exam. Muffin’s physical exam showed that she was a healthy, happy dog. His wife had left that morning for a family emergency so he was in charge of taking care of Muffin. He went on to say that Muffin had gone on her usual routine walk and was sniffing one of her favorite spots in the neighbor’s flower bed when she stopped suddenly and started gasping with her head and neck outstretched. The episode had lasted about a minute, but it seemed like an eternity for her dad. Muffin, however, seemed oddly unconcerned after her near death episode. She trotted happily into the clinic and greeted us with her typical exuberance.Īs I went over the history, Muffin’s owner frantically asked me if his dog was going to be ok. Nelson came rushing in with his 5-year-old Maltese, Muffin. We advised that the dog needed to be seen immediately. About ten minutes later, Mr. Last spring, my office received an alarming call about a dog who was gasping for air.
