Sneezing is a totally ordinary reflex action, however, when we observe that our dog sneezes a lot, it is normal for us to have doubts and ask ourselves why it happens and what we can do. In this article on our site we are going to explain what can cause our dog to sneeze a lot.
We will review the most common causes that are behind the appearance of sneezing fits so that, as caregivers, we are clear about how to act if we find ourselves in this situation. As always, the visit to the vet will help us find the exact diagnosis and, thus, this professional will be able to prescribe the most appropriate treatment.
What are sneezing in dogs?
Sneezing in dogs is like the ones people suffer, that is, they consist of a violent and sudden expulsion of air from the mouth and through the nose. They are indicating a nasal irritation and, as this irritation also causes a runny nose, it is likely that both signs occur simultaneously in the dog.
Occasional sneezing, such as those we humans can experience, are not worrying, but we should pay attention to situations in which violent sneezing occurs that does not stop or sneezing accompanied by other symptoms.
We should know that when the sneezes are very violent the dog will sneeze blood, the result of nosebleeds. Thus, if our dog sneezes a lot and bleeds it may be for this reason, in which case we will try to keep it as calm as possible.
If the sneezing does not subside or we do not know its cause, we should go to the vet. In addition, prolonged sneezing swells and congests the nose, making it difficult for the dog to breathe and sucks up the mucus that is produced.
Why does my dog sneeze a lot? - Causes
Apart from the totally normal occasional sneezes, there are several causes that can be behind sneezes that do not subside and are accompanied by other clinical signs. If you're wondering why my dog sneezes a lot, he keeps reading
Strange bodies
If our dog sneezes a lot it may be due to the presence of a foreign body inside his nasal cavityIn these cases, the sneezes appear in a sudden and violent way. The dog shakes his head and rubs his nose with his paws or against objects. Foreign bodies can be spikes, seeds, splinters, shrapnel, etc.
Sometimes these sneezes manage to remove the object, but if the dog continues to sneeze, even intermittently, a unilateral discharge may occurin the grave where he is staying, which is indicative that he has not been expelled.
Canine respiratory complex
Wonder why my dog sneezes a lot and coughs? It may be that he suffers from a disease that also usually causes a runny nose and altered breathing. With the name canine respiratory complex, reference is made to a group of conditions, such as the one popularly known by the name of kennel cough. In most cases they will be characterized by the presence of a dry cough, sometimes accompanied by retching, without any other symptoms and without affecting mood of the dog, that is, it would be a mild disease.
But care must be taken that it does not get complicated to the point of triggering canine pneumonia and pay special attention if the sick dog is a puppy, because they may also have a runny nose. A severe form of this complex presents with fever, anorexia, listlessness, productive cough, runny nose, sneezing, and rapid breathing. They are also highly contagious
Atopic dermatitis
Canine atopic dermatitis is an allergic skin disease that occurs when the body reacts by producing antibodies to different common substances, such as pollen, dust, mold, feathers, etc. If a dog sneezes a lot, it could be that he suffers from this allergy, which begins with seasonal itching and is usually accompanied by sneezing and runny nose and eyes. The dog rubs his face and licks his paws. The disease can progress, then appearing skin lesions, alopecia and skin infections. The skin eventually darkens and thickens. Ear infections also often develop.
Sneeze reversal
Although it is rare, it may happen that our dog sneezes a lot and chokes and it may be due to this disorder, which causes alarm when convey the feeling that the dog is out of breath. In fact, a noise is produced caused by the violent inspiration that the dog makes in its attempt to catch air. This can happen several times in a row.
It is actually caused by a laryngospasm or spasm of the glottis It can be solved by making the dog swallow, which we will achieve by massaging its neck, under the jaw. If the dog does not recover, we should go to the vet, since it could have a foreign body lodged in the larynx.
Oronasal fistula
In these cases you may think “my dog sneezes and vomits”, but what happens is that what he ingests is regurgitated through the nose. It can be due to a congenital fractured palate or an infection in a tooth, usually a canine. When it falls off, it leaves an opening that allows the passage of food and water to the nose In these cases the sneezes appear especially after eating and secretions are seen unilateral nasal.
Rhinitis and sinusitis
Rhinitis is a nasal infection and sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses, which are extensions of the nasal cavity. Both cause sneezing, foul-smelling nasal discharge, and nausea. There are multiple causes that cause them, such as bacterial infections, viral infections, tumors or even tooth infections.
Nasal tumors
In addition to sneezing, they cause a runny nose or unilateral bleeding and the dog slurps. Unfortunately, are usually malignant and more common in older specimens, especially of certain breeds, such as the airedale terrier, the basset hound, the bobtail or the German shepherd.
What can I give my dog if he sneezes a lot?
Under no circumstances should we medicate our dog on our own. Much less resort to drugs that we have in our medicine cabinet and that we are used to taking when we have colds or allergies, such as ibuprofen. On the contrary, if it seems to us that he sneezes a lot or shows some other sign of illness, we must go to the vet because the first thing, to be able to give him something, is to know what it's what's causing your sneezes.
Thus, the treatments will be different. For example, if the sneezing is due to a foreign body, the veterinarian will have to anesthetize the dog to look for it and remove it We should not delay the consultation, since, with Over time, the object will tend to move into the nasal cavity. Likewise, it is necessary to act quickly in the most serious cases of the canine respiratory complex. It may even require hospitalization of the dog for treatment.
On the other hand, if you tell the vet "my dog sneezes a lot and has snot, eye discharge and skin lesions", the treatment is likely to be complex, because if it is an allergy, it is difficult to prevent all contact with the trigger. Antihistamines, corticosteroids, fatty acids, shampoos, or immunotherapy may be prescribed. The oronasal fistula is not cured either with medication alone, but rather operating on the dog to correct the defect that favors regurgitation.
On the other hand, rhinitis is treated with antibiotics or antifungals, depending on the cause. Only the most complicated cases may require an intervention to clean the nasal cavity well. Finally, the treatment of nasal tumors is also complex. Many are incurable, although surgery and radiation therapy may improve survival. Benign ones are removed.
