- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Does this scene sound familiar? Your dog suddenly starts making loud snorting sounds—over and over again, in quick succession. Chances are, you’re experiencing the infamous “reverse sneeze.” During a reverse sneeze, your dog may stand with their elbows apart, head pulled back, and eyes slightly bulging as they snort, honk, or gasp repeatedly. Basically, it will sound like your dog is sneezing inward, rather than out.
Reverse sneezing looks and sounds scary the first time you encounter it—but it’s a fairly common and harmless respiratory event for dogs that doesn’t require a trip to the vet. Formally known as paroxysmal respiration, the average reverse sneezing spasm will last between several seconds to a minute.
To get to the bottom of things, we chatted with Rover’s Veterinary Medical Advisor, Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, Chief Veterinarian at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital in Ontario. We discovered the causes behind this perplexing canine behavior, how to identify it, and perhaps most importantly: how to tell the difference between a harmless sneeze and something more serious.
What Causes Reverse Sneezing?
There’s no single cause for a reverse sneeze, so let’s dive in and take a look at the wide variety of triggers which would be setting off the infamous backwards sneeze:
1. Rapid air intake
Let’s start with the basics–what actually causes the noisy sound of a reverse sneeze? What is happening to your dog in that moment? A reverse sneeze is pretty much what it sounds like: a sneeze that happens in reverse! Whereas with a regular sneeze air is rapidly pushed out through the nose, in a reverse sneeze, air is rapidly—and noisily—pulled in through the nose. It occurs in spasms lasting anywhere from a few seconds up to a minute and sounds like snorting, snuffling, and even gagging.
Because of the sounds their dogs make while reverse sneezing, many people mistakenly think their dog is choking. “It looks really dramatic and everyone thinks they’re having an asthma attack,” Dr. Greenstein says. “But it will happen in little bursts, and will usually subside on its own.”
2. Normal changes in breathing patterns
If you’ve ever laughed so hard has set off a sneezing or coughing fit, you’re on your way to grasping this one. Reverse sneezing often occurs when dogs wake up from a nap, or after eating, when their breathing pattern may have rapidly changed.
3. Environmental irritants
Like regular sneezing, the backwards sneeze can be triggered by an irritation or inflammation in the nose, throat, or sinuses. Irritants can become trapped in your dog’s airways—anything from dust to an inhaled hair–can also be to blame. Some dogs experience more frequent reverse sneezing in springtime when the air is full of pollen and other allergens. Dr. Greenstein also tells us that other dogs reverse sneeze more in the winter, when sudden temperature changes between outdoors and indoors cause the nasal passages to contract. So reverse sneezing is something to be aware of all year round.
4. Pressure to your dog’s airway
Another common cause of reverse sneezing is pressure on the throat and neck. A too-tight collar, or straining against the leash, can irritate the throat and lead to a reverse sneeze. That’s just one more reason to consider a harness for your dog.
5. Exercise or over-excitement
Some dogs reverse sneeze after exercise, or when they’re overexcited. This is particularly common among brachycephalic, or short-nosed, breeds like pugs, shih tzus, boxers, and bulldogs. When they get worked up, these dogs may inhale their elongated soft palates into the throat, triggering an episode of reverse sneezing. Because they have smaller windpipes and and narrow airways, toy breeds like Yorkshire Terriers and Pekingese are also commonly affected.
Treatment for Reverse Sneezing: What to Do
Reverse sneezing is super-common, and it won’t hurt your dog. However, some dogs become anxious during a reverse sneezing episode, and a lengthy episode may be uncomfortable.
According to Dr. Greenstein, one of the best things you can do is remain calm. If you get anxious, your dog’s anxiety will increase, too. Which only further aggravates the situation. So, stay calm, and show your dog there’s nothing to panic about.
In the vast majority of cases, there’s no need to intervene. Reverse sneezing doesn’t last long, and your dog will be perfectly normal after it stops.
Reverse Sneezing vs. Tracheal Collapse & Other Noises
Our dogs make all kinds of respiratory noises that can set off warning bells in our human ears. Some issues will sound remarkably similar to a reverse sneeze, complicating a confirmation of the condition.
Since sorting out these reactions can be tricky (especially for first-time pet owners), we’ve laid out some of the most common sounds your dog may make:
- Coughing: The occasional cough is nothing to worry about. A cough becomes more concerning, however, when your dog can’t seem to stop. This can signal an infection or virus, which require help from your vet.
- Snorting: Flat-faced breeds are known to snort from time to time because of their smaller nasal passages. Snorting is especially pronounced during exercise or excitement.
- Wheezing: This will sound like a strained whistling sound as your dog breathes. Wheezing indicates an airway blockage, and can be triggered by asthma, allergies, or foreign particles in the nose.
- Gagging and choking: This may sound like your dog is trying to vomit and cough at the same time. Your dog may open their mouth widely, but other than some saliva, nothing will be expelled from the stomach. This could signify kennel cough, pneumonia, or laryengeal paralysis, which will need to be assessed by a vet.
When to Consult Your Vet
As mentioned, reverse sneezing rarely requires veterinary treatment. However, if episodes increase in frequency or duration, you should call the vet just in case. You should also seek treatment if your dog’s reverse sneezing is accompanied by other respiratory symptoms or if they have any unusual discharge from their nose.
Occasionally, chronic reverse sneezing can be a symptom of more serious issues. As Dr. Greenstein puts it, “significant reverse sneezing is a symptom, rather than a diagnosis. And like anything else, you would treat it based on what’s causing it.”
The following conditions
- Tracheal collapse: Tracheal collapse is a disease of the windpipe that makes it hard for air to reach a dog’s lungs. Affected dogs will experience persistent bouts of coughing and respiratory distress that sound similar to a reverse sneeze. Unlike a reverse sneeze, though, dogs with tracheal collapse may also have labored breathing, even after their sneezing episode has ended.
- Kennel cough: Reverse sneezing is among the symptoms of kennel cough, a fairly common and mostly harmless respiratory condition. This illness can become problematic, however, in vulnverable puppies, seniors, and immunocompromised dogs.
- Upper respiratory infection: Along with sneezing and coughing, dogs with an infection will often experience nasal discharge, watery eyes, low appetite and energy, trouble breathing, and fever.
- Nasal tumor: While rare, tumors that develop in the nose can cause reverse sneezing. Affected dogs will often experience nasal discharge (sometimes with blood), weight loss, lack and energy, and may breath loudly.
- Nasal mites: Again, these are very rare, Dr. Greenstein tells us. Mites cause irritation and inflammation, and affected dogs may have thick, bloody discharge and heavy breathing.
Making Your Dog Comfortable
As you can see, reverse sneezing is nothing to lose sleep over. Most dogs will experience episodes of reverse sneezing at some point in their lives. For the vast majority of dogs, this is a common, temporary, and harmless reaction with no lasting after effects.
Of course, it still sounds unsettling to our human ears! You can usually ease a sneezing dog’s discomfort by clearing his environment of offending triggers and keeping him calm. But if the condition persists or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, it’s time to put in a call to your vet.