A bout
of reverse sneezing in dogs can be very frightening for owners who don't understand what's happening to their pets.
Since excess mucus may make it difficult for your dog or cat to breathe through its nose, it may experience what is known
as reverse sneezing.
While your dog might seem as if he's about to croak
when reverse sneezing, it's usually not nearly as bad as it sounds.
When Silver examined the animal in person, he found it wasn't suffering from seizures at all but rather something
called reverse sneezing.
Reverse sneezing only lasts for about a couple of minutes or less, so if Fido experiences episodes that are frequent or severe, it could be indicative of a more serious issue.
Nasal polyps (small, benign growths in the nasal passage) can cause
recurrent reverse sneezing, as can masses, foreign bodies (pieces of grass or plants, for example) or infections.
○ Eye problems: best for keratoconjunctivitis sicca but also may help in other eye conditions ○ Neurologic disease: especially epilepsy and seizure cases ○ Respiratory tract: laryngeal paralysis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, asthma, and
possibly reverse sneezes ○ Urinary issues: incontinence, recurring urinary tract infections ○ Immune system: immune function boosts & autoimmune conditions
Dogs will
sometimes reverse sneeze from excitement, being tugged on a leash, sudden temperature changes, or from allergies or post nasal drip, though sometimes a cause can not be determined.
Though reverse sneezing itself is harmless and won't harm your dog, if it's a common occurrence, check with your vet to rule out potential underlying causes.
Treatment is usually not needed
for reverse sneezing, and in most cases, once the mucus or foreign matter is removed from the nasal passages, the honking reflex will stop.
However, some puppies will have a lower incidence
of reverse sneezing when they mature as their bone size may increase and nasal passage widens.
While dogs
experiencing reverse sneezing or tracheal collapse might make similar noises, the former is a much less serious condition than the latter.
More of a question within a comment: My 3 - year - old Yorkie / Miniature Schnauzer has recurring battles
with reverse sneezing and now she seems to have caught either a cold or Bordetello from a play mutt.
While reverse sneezing — formally known as pharyngeal gag reflex — normally doesn't need veterinary attention, tracheal collapse often requires surgery.
Another condition that causes a honking cough is
called reverse sneezing, but this condition is not a health problem and is in fact harmless.
This behavior is known
as reverse sneezing, and doesn't impose a health threat because the dog is actually drawing air through the mouth and nose.
Unlike more serious problems found in brachycephalic (short - faced) dogs,
reverse sneezing in Shih Tzu is quite common and is not life - threatening.
Although it is a mild — almost harmless — condition,
reverse sneezing can be alarming for paw - rents to see.
What are the side effects of
reverse sneezing?
Reverse sneezing is literally sucking air into the nose (as compared to normal sneezing where there is an outward spray of nasal vapor).
Reverse sneezes are also known as a pharyngeal gag reflex, or paroxysmal respiration.
Sinusitis and other kinds of respiratory problems can lead to
reverse sneezing as well.
Lastly, what is the difference between collapsing trachea &
reverse sneezing?
Reverse sneezing is usually set off by a gamut of irritants or allergens, such as pollen, dust, mites, viruses, post-nasal drip, nasal inflammation, perfumes and household cleaners.
* Whenever possible, do try to record a video of your pooch sneezing to show your vet — this will help him / her determine if it truly is
a reverse sneeze or something that requires immediate attention.