You're walking through the park with your adorable pug, wearing his collar as normal, and yet all of a sudden, your dog starts slowing down and making a noise that sounds like was drowning. You clearly get scared… what's wrong?
Actually, he's not drowning. The pug's best human friends may panic when he begins to perform an action called a "reverse sneeze."Although it is annoying, fortunately this is not fatal for the dog but is part of itsracial nature. The important thing as caregivers is to understand what is happening and why, to give our pet the best quality of life.
Continue reading the following article on our site where we will expand all the information, causes and solutions, about the reverse sneeze. In this way, we will dispel the popular statement " my pug is drowning".
Brachycephalics…why do they drown?
Pugs are a breed of dog known as brachycephalic They have been bred to have a uniform lower jaw, a more compact upper jaw, and a short and almost totally flat face and nose. This characteristic that differentiates them and makes them special among all the breeds in the world, makes them very cute but, at the same time, it causes respiratory problems. All pug handlers notice the consistency and variety of noises their little pet makes. They do not breathe properly and most of them snore when they sleep.
Among respiratory illnesses or conditions is "drowning," which from now on, we shouldn't call it that because your dog isn't really choking. The expert name for this condition is " reverse sneeze", which all pugs experience from time to time.
This problem expresses itself almost as choking and it is normal to see the dog extend its neck and arch its back. If we speak colloquially, with a sneeze the dog would expel the air with an exhalation, but with this reverse sneeze that air is being inhaled. As air enters the dog's system, the pug makes a sound that may sound like a heavy cough or a deep snore with a snort. These episodes, which can last up to a minute, come and go quite quickly and occur throughout the dog's life.
The pug and other brachycephalic dogs have a shortened nasal passage and a raised respiratory system that gives them general breathing difficulties Also However, by possessing this type of anatomy, your pug dog is prone to irritation of the soft palate and throat. This irritation is also one of the causes of this type of "sneeze".
The reactivators
For example, if your dog is diagnosed with allergies, his reverse sneezing will be more frequent. There are irritants (such as dust, pollen, cleaning products, and perfumes) that can cause these types of reactions and make them worse. This will vary from dog to dog. Pugs tend to get very excited about play and exercise, and this could also lead to an episode. Similarly, desperate eating and drinking can also trigger it.
In general, it will not be strictly necessary to take your dog to the vet for reverse sneezing, but if he is allergic and the attacks become constant and heavy, it will be necessary to take him for aantihistamine-based treatment.
How to help?
- If your pug dog has a collar, donate it. It is best for these breeds to have a harness or bib because it decreases pressure on the throat area. What happens with the collar is that when you go for walks with it and for some reason you pull on it, you could cause the episode.
- If the episodes are too frequent or severe, you can relieve the pressure by placing a thumb over the nostrils.
- At the time of the attack the best thing you can do is help him calm down by speaking in a calm voice (as if he had an asthma attack) and try to avoid overexcitement. Then gently massage her throat to help stop the sneezing and gently pinch her nostrils with your thumbs to encourage her to swallow. Also, this will relieve throat irritation.
- Try to get him to drink as much water as possible to eliminate irritation.
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about it when your pug gasps for breath. This is a condition that comes with the dog from birth and, although you can help improve it, reduce it and make life easier, you will not be able to eliminate it completely. Fortunately and as we mentioned before, the reverse sneeze does not pose a life-threatening threat to your dog
