Reverse Sneezing in Dogs

Reverse sneezing is known as paroxysmal respiration. It’s far more widely referred to as reverse sneezing because what happens is very similar to sneezing except your pup is pulling air in through their nose rather than pushing it out. Sneezes can be quite powerful on the way out so it’s no shock that reverse sneezing that be quite debilitating in the moment for your pup. They will often stand still with their neck outstretched and head raised while you hear a snorting noise as a result of the air being sucked in.

It might seem like something very dramatic and when dogs have reverse sneezing fits, you might begin to worry, but the reverse sneeze itself doesn’t hurt your pup or cause any lasting damage. It may sound like they’re choking or have something caught in their airway but reverse sneezing can last up to a minute. Your pooch is still taking air in so you don’t have to worry about them choking.

There are several causes of reverse sneezing in dogs, some much less concerning than others. Any kind of irritation in the back of the throat, nose or even the sinuses, can trigger a reverse sneeze or even a fit of reserve sneezing. Irritation of these areas can be caused by:

An irritant is anything that might aggravate these sensitive areas. Certain breeds of dogs are more likely to reverse sneeze than others. Brachycephalic breeds will very commonly reverse sneeze and you may not be able to pinpoint the irritation that’s causing it.

When we breed flat-faced dogs, their tissue is compressed into a smaller space. The soft palate at the roof of the mouth can extend down into a dog’s throat when the face is so flat, meaning it has nowhere else to go. This can irritate a dog’s throat because it makes breathing a little bit more difficult. This is why flat-faced dogs tend to snore a lot and are more likely to reverse sneeze more often.

Breeds of dogs that tend to reverse sneeze quite often include:

If your dog reverse sneezes, it’s not usually a cause for concern. There’s no need to rush them to the vet after they do it once or even if it happens on occasion. If it’s easy to figure out what caused their reverse sneezing episode, then it may just be something to keep an eye on. You may want to contact your vet if it seems to be frequently recurring. While for the most part, a reverse sneeze is not usually something serious or indicative of something underlying, it can be symptomatic of a few issues that require vet attention.

If it’s not just a one-off or an occasional occurrence, then you should give your vet a call to discuss whether you need to bring your beloved pet in for tests to establish what’s causing the reverse sneezing.

For the most part, reverse sneezing doesn’t need any treatment at all, however in some cases, your vet may want to further explore the cause. This will usually only happen if the reverse sneeze occurs often enough to compromise their welfare. A vet may need to sedate your pup to establish the cause through an x-ray or a rhinoscopy. During a rhinoscopy, a camera is inserted into the nasal cavity so they can get a better look for any obstructions or any cause of the reverse sneezing. Your vet may also want to run blood tests to make sure your pooch is healthy otherwise.

Depending on what they find will determine the treatment. It may just be a course of antibiotics to treat an upper respiratory infection. If they have a collapsed trachea, they may need a treatment of cough suppressants and steroids. For foreign objects or growths within the nasal cavity and throat, surgery may be advised. Surgery can also be an option for flat faced dogs who need help with their breathing. They can have their nostrils widened or to correct brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (Boas) which is common in these breeds, they may need more intensive surgery to remove extra tissue and help them breathe easier.

Usually, a reverse sneeze won’t last very long and you won’t have to do anything about it. Talking calmly to your pup to make sure they stay relaxed and help ease them through their episode may help. It’s usually over within 30 seconds to a minute so they should calm down themselves after this. You can stroke them to keep them calm or some owners find that gently rubbing their throat can help stimulate them and soothe any irritation that causes the cough.

You can also try covering one of both nostrils with your fingers for a few seconds if this doesn’t cause them to panic. The lack of air being pulled in through their nose will cause them to swallow which should end the reverse sneezing fit. Once they’re able to exhale through their nose instead of just pulling air in.

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