The reverse sneeze in dogs is a disorder that can occur in our dogs, being very striking and apparently worrying, since it seems that the dog is about to drown. There are many doubts among the tutors who observe him, mainly about how to act.
Precisely for this reason, in this article on our site we will explain what a reverse sneeze is in dogs, what are the causes that cause it, the treatment that the veterinarian can prescribe or how to care for a dog that suffers from it. Read on to discover it all.
Dog sneeze
When our dog sneezes, surely, he is not sneezing for the reasons we normally attribute, because they are not usually the same causes that cause human sneezes than canine sneezes.
The most common reasons we sneeze include allergies, sinusitis or colds. On the contrary, sneezing in dogs is usually caused by the presence of foreign bodies, mites and dust in their nose. If we go to more worrying causes, there may be a tumor in the area and there may even be episodes of sneezing due to overexcitement and nervousness.
In this way, except in certain cases, sneezing should not be a concern, unless the frequency of sneezing and intensity is disproportionate. On the contrary, the constant cough should put us on alert, since it usually accompanies infections of the respiratory system, something that does not happen with sneezes. It is also not common for them to sneeze due to allergies, although this does not mean that it is not possible. Well, they usually have other symptoms, such as rashes or itchy skin.
We recommend these two other articles on why my dog sneezes a lot and Allergies in dogs so you can have more information on the subject.
What is reverse sneezing in dogs?
Surely you already knew that dogs sneeze, but do you know the reverse sneeze? Most dog guardians have never even heard of it, which is why when it appears, doubts and concerns arise about its causes and implications.
The reverse or inverted sneeze consists of a muscle spasm due to palatal or tracheal irritation that causes violent aspirations of air. It can happen that during a reverse sneeze, the animal snores and gives off strong snorts due to the rapidity of the breaths. In addition, they also tend to contract the chest with impetus. This phenomenon worries many guardians, as it can appear that their canine friend is drowning. It's usually not that big of a concern or serious.
Reverse sneezing usually appears in r dogs prone to respiratory conditions such as pugs or bulldogs, with a higher incidence in brachycephalic or snub-nosed dog breeds. Here you have more information about brachycephalic dog breeds.
Reverse sneezing and vomiting in dogs
Sometimes, when a reverse sneeze occurs, the animal adopts a posture and makes sounds that make us think that it is suffering from the typical retching that precedes vomiting. This is why it is called a gag reflex, however the reverse sneeze is not accompanied by vomiting, not really nausea or upset stomach, Well, it is something that only affects the trachea and the palate.
What can happen is that, if there is a foreign body that is causing said sneeze, it is expelled to the outside accompanied by a little saliva, which should not be confused with bile or vomit.
Difference between reverse sneezing and tracheal collapse
As we have mentioned, the reverse sneeze is not something that should cause us fear, since it is not serious unless there are complications, something very rare. However, there is another phenomenon that should make us very alert, it is tracheal collapse. Some differences are the duration, since the reverse sneeze lasts less and when the animal disappears it is as if nothing had happened. On the other hand, while the reverse sneeze is characterized by a strong aspiration, in tracheal collapse it usually produces a cough.
A tracheal collapse is a partial or total obstruction of the trachea, the result of the weakening of the muscular rings that form it. When this happens, the animal begins to present easily perceptible symptoms, among which are a sound that looks like a whistle, difficulty breathing, coughing and lethargy
Tracheal collapse can occur to different degrees, some of which will only require taking steroids or other outpatient treatments, while more severe ones may even require surgical interventionFor this reason, it is best to go to the vet as soon as you notice any worrying symptoms, because the sooner it is diagnosed, the better the prognosis.
Causes of reverse sneezing in dogs
There are various causes of reverse sneezing in dogs, but we can say that it is more frequent in dogs with flat or short snoutsThis is explained by the respiratory difficulties resulting from this articular anatomy. Why does it occur in these and not in other races? What exactly causes it?
Something remarkable is that it does not only occur in brachycephalic breeds, in which its appearance is explained by the fact that these breeds have an elongated palate, but we also find it in those races whose nasal passage is longer. In them there is more the reverse sneeze that is caused by a pharyngeal reflex or gag reflex.
These spasms tend to occur especially in a series of conditions, such as the presence of strong and pungent odours, dust in the environment, overexcitement or that the collar or leash has been pulled. It can also be due to an infection or virus, although it is not usually the most frequent, and in these cases they will be continuous and will get worse very quickly.
What to do if my dog has reverse sneezing?
If we notice that our dog regularly suffers from reverse sneezing, it is advisable to go to the vet to confirm the diagnosis and rule out a he alth problem more serious that we may be confusing with the reverse sneeze in dogs. It will also be convenient to know if it is a symptom derived from an infection or another he alth problem. The professional will solve all our doubts, will prescribe a treatment if he considers it appropriate and will advise us how to act and intervene.
Even so, you should know that a reverse sneeze should not last more than 1 or 2 minutes at most. In fact, it is normal that they only occur for a few seconds and that after them the dog acts completely normally.
Treatment for reverse sneezing in dogs: how to cure it
If we have detected reverse sneezing in our pet, we surely want to know if it has a solution and what to do about it. The first thing to bear in mind is that, although it is a very striking phenomenon, is not considered a disease as such, so it could not be speak exactly of a cure.
There are only treatments if the cause is the presence of tumors or infections. In the case of tumors, the veterinarian will be the one to determine what treatment is feasible and how to carry it out. If it is an infection, the treatment for reverse sneezing is usually based on antibiotics.
You can take a look at this post on our site about Tumors in Dogs to learn more about it.
How to treat reverse sneezing in dogs
We have already said that reverse sneezing, with few exceptions, is harmless and does not affect the he alth of our pet. But, it is normal that if we witness it we get overwhelmed and believe that our friend is having a bad time. Faced with this situation, we can take some measures that can alleviate them, such as:
- Massage your throat during the reverse sneezing episode.
- Cover your nose, carefully and for a very short time, as this will make you swallow saliva, which helps relieve the irritation of your trachea.
Even so the most important thing is that once we know that it is okay for our pet to sneeze, we stay calm and normalize the situation, because the stress will only get worse the episode.
