Strange Breathing From Dog?

[Noomi]

When Cooper is relaxing, usually after he's had a good play in the backyard, he starts to breath heavily, kind of like he's got snot in his nose. That's what it sounds like, anyway. He exhales very deeply and makes these strange snorting noses in his throat.

He does it all the time now, he seems fine but I wonder if he's actually sick, or has some form of doggy asthma?

Anyone know what might be wrong?

 

[Sallow]

Maybe it's time to have a vet check him out.

 

[Wolfsister77]

It is possible it could be reverse sneezing which is harmless but I would not want to diagnose your dog. Even though I worked in a Vet clinic long ago, I am not a Veterinarian and I think you should call them and ask or take your dog in just to be sure everything is o.k.

 

[April]

Could be a sinus infection...but, of course I am no vet.
I agree with the others...get him to the vet, he may need antibiotics.

 

[strollingbones]

perhaps some more info...what breed.....etc and so forth....heavy? any known health problems?

 

[Sallow]

perhaps some more info...what breed.....etc and so forth....heavy? any known health problems?

Here's the thing.

Dogs are not human. They can't really tell us where it hurts..and many times try to mask ailments.

Seeing something different in behavior and health should at least trigger some concern..and very possibly a vet visit.

 

[Neurotika]

sometimes that can be a breed specific problem as well. but..any respiratory issues need a vet check asap.

 

[strollingbones]

here is the thing......some breeds this is uncommon....some breeds its a sign of distress......that is why i ask the breed

 

[strollingbones]

and that reverse sneeze stuff is scarey i would try to film the dog....with sound.....cause they will never do it in front of the vet...

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

Reverse sneezing is the first thing that came to my mind. If you Google "reverse sneezing dog" you will find videos of dogs reverse sneezing. That way you can get an idea if that's what it is or not. And reverse sneezing is generally no big deal.

But, of course, when in doubt, go to the vet. And Bones, is right, try to get some video to bring along if you decide you need to go to the vet.

 

[Luissa]

How long has it been going on?
I would call your vet and describe the symptoms, if he thinks it is kennel cough you can't bring him in the vet around other dogs. It probably isn't, but just in case it is good to call first.

 

[Noomi]

Sounds like he has something stuck in his throat, like he's trying to make himself vomit.

I checked YouTube, I think he's reverse sneezing. It just looks scary when he does it, I'm worried he'll choke. How come he can't sneeze the normal way?

 

[waltky]

I agree with Sallow: Maybe it's time to have a vet check him out....

... and mention the 'reverse sneezing' (never heard of it before)...

My guess he is a Pug, or one of the bulldog or other short-snouted breeds...

... God forbid he has distemper.

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

Sounds like he has something stuck in his throat, like he's trying to make himself vomit.

I checked YouTube, I think he's reverse sneezing. It just looks scary when he does it, I'm worried he'll choke. How come he can't sneeze the normal way?

Have you ever been startled by your dog exhibiting snorting, honking and gasping noises? Have you felt helpless while you watched your canine friend appear to be struggling to breathe?

What you probably witnessed is the condition in dogs known as reverse sneezing. It actually has nothing to do with sneezing, but is a spasm caused by an irritation of the soft palate. The soft palate is a soft, fleshy tissue extension off the hard palate, or roof of the mouth. Small dogs in particular can exhibit this behavior and certain breeds may be predisposed to it. It has sent many a distraught owner to the vet in panic.

Some animals can have this condition for their entire lives, or it may develop as the dog ages. During the spasm, the dog will usually turn her elbows outward and extend her neck while gasping inwards with a distinctive snorting sound. Gently massaging the throat area or pinching the dog's nostrils shut so she must breath through her mouth can help shorten the episode. Sometimes taking the dog outside in the fresh air stops the spasm. Once the attack ceases, all goes back to normal.

(Another technique sometimes used to stop a bout of canine reverse sneezing: behavior specialist Sarah Wilson suggests trying to get the dog to swallow, touching the back of the tongue if that is safe.)

It is thought that the pharyngeal spasm can be caused by a number of irritants, including dust and pollen, or household chemicals. Moreover, some dogs can launch an episode after eating, drinking or running around, or while pulling on the leash.

If your dog experiences this behavior fairly frequently and the episodes are severe, a trip to the vet is in order to determine other possible causes, which can include viral infections, polyps, excessive soft palate tissue, and nasal mites. However, many cases of reverse sneezing appear to have no identifiable cause.

There lives a small Chihuahua Beagle mix, Cynthia Louise, who possesses a certain PAW volunteer. Cindy was extremely prone to severe middle-of-the-night reverse sneezing episodes when she first came into the PAW program, sending her terrified then-foster mom (now devoted adopter) to the vet in alarm. The vet anesthetized her (Cindy, not her mom) and explored the little dog's sinus cavities as best she could to see if anything was embedded in her sinus passages. Nothing was found, and after a short course of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, Cindy recovered completely.

In hindsight, it seems quite likely that the time of year, autumn, with its accompanying proliferation of allergens, combined with the stress of being in a new household, may have contributed to Cindy's pronounced reverse sneezing. Since the initial episodes subsided, the little dog has had only one or two minor incidences.

Reverse sneezing appears a lot worse than it is, generally posing no health threats whatsoever. Typically, an episode of reverse sneezing will end soon on its own. Nevertheless, understanding and recognizing the syndrome can go a long way toward helping dog owners and their dogs cope with it.

Dog Tip: Reverse Sneezing

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

I agree with Sallow: Maybe it's time to have a vet check him out....

... and mention the 'reverse sneezing' (never heard of it before)...

My guess he is a Pug, or one of the bulldog or other short-snouted breeds...

... God forbid he has distemper.

Learn something new every day, eh? I have five dogs and seven cats so if I went to the vet every time someone sneezed (or reverse sneezed) I'd be broke. But I've made a point to learn about symptoms that require immediate attention by a vet. Reverse sneezing isn't one of them.

 

[gallantwarrior]

My dachshund was doing something like this. I found out that when she was staying with my friend, he was letting her make a 'nest' in some fiberglass insulation he had laying around. He thought is was cute how she burrowed into it. Does your dog have access to anything that might cause respiratory irritation, or allergies?
After I removed the fiberglass, my dog quit making that noise.

 

[Skull Pilot]

and that reverse sneeze stuff is scarey i would try to film the dog....with sound.....cause they will never do it in front of the vet...

When our dog does that my wife holds his mouth closed and blows in air into his nose. It seems to work.

 

[strollingbones]

I agree with Sallow: Maybe it's time to have a vet check him out....

... and mention the 'reverse sneezing' (never heard of it before)...

My guess he is a Pug, or one of the bulldog or other short-snouted breeds...

... God forbid he has distemper.

Learn something new every day, eh? I have five dogs and seven cats so if I went to the vet every time someone sneezed (or reverse sneezed) I'd be broke. But I've made a point to learn about symptoms that require immediate attention by a vet. Reverse sneezing isn't one of them.

amen sister amen...

one thing...if the dog has been doing this a while.......and is alive.....i wouldnt worry about it...too much...but i would record it and show it to my vet.....most people with a lot of pets cut corners.....i.e. i only test one dog a year for heart worms....we dont have that much trouble here with them...and if one dog has them....all of them will have them....i generally know when a problem is large or small but i will admit there are times i want to hear it from my vet

 

[Noomi]

He only started doing it recently, so I would assume it has something to do with the dry grass and the pollen around, as its spring time here. Its summer in five days so hopefully he improves.

 

[Connery]

My dog exhibited something similar to what you describe. I took her to the vet for her check up and it turned out to be symptomatic of something more serious. There was no treatment regarding the breathing. I put her to sleep recently she was 17 years old or thereabouts, she was a rescue and the age was approximate.