Achoo!
Is your dog sneezing a lot? No matter how cute it may look to see your fluffy friend sneeze, sometimes it might be a cause for concern. Extreme variations can happen with sneezing, from harmless adorable to severe concerning sneezing. Very often, dogs use sneezing as a communication method to notify us that they are excited or playing.
However, even the most experienced pet parents cannot distinguish the reasons for sneezing. In consultations with many veterinarians, we have made this mini-guide to help you find out the most common reasons for sneezing or when to take your dog to a vet.
Do not underestimate these signs. Early detection means that half of the job is done.
When Should I Start Getting Worried if my Dog is Sneezing?
Pet parents can get upset even for the most minor health issues. If there are no other symptoms of illness and discomfort, a few sneezes will not affect the general health of your puppy. Some of the most common symptoms that can get quite serious are:
- Breathing problems
- Blue gums
- Drowsiness
- Signs of pain or irritation, such as pawing at their nose
- A persistent cough
- Persistent, frequent, or uncontrollable sneezing
- Sneezing excessively
- Nose bleeds or sneezing blood
- If they’re off their food
- A high temperature
- A thick or colored discharge from their nose
- If you can see something stuck up their nose
Do not take any action before consulting with your vet.
Is Sneezing Caused by a Kennel Cough?
If your dog has a kennel cough, it will have a runny nose, distinctive persistent cough, that sounds very unpleasant, something like a goose’s honk. Kennel cough could be very contagious to older geriatric dogs and little puppies. Anyway, contact your vet before you start to panic.
Why Does My Dog Sneeze While Playing?
Occasional sneezing sometimes means a way of communication to show that they are feeling playful, excited, or happy. They often use these “play sneezes” to let you know they are not being aggressive and just want to have fun. You can quickly note these sneezes along with wagging the tails, pricking up the ears, or licking.
If this is the case, then you and your dog are lucky. This is just them talking and saying “notice me, human”.
Is Something Stuck Up in My Dog’s Nose?
If your dog starts sneezing a lot after a walk, the next thing you might ask yourself is this.
The affected dogs might have something stuck up in their nose if they have excessive sneezing and paw their nose. Puppies are very curious, and they have a fantastic smell sense to explore everything. The most common objects that can get stuck up in their noses while snuffling around are grass seeds, food, blades of grass, or leaves.
Immediately contact your vet if you suspect something got stuck in your dog’s nose after the walk in the countryside.
Sneezing Caused by Allergies
Like us, puppies can get quite sensitive to pollen, perfume, cleaning products, hairspray, cleaning products, and dust. You may find them manifesting this with irritation, fever, sneeze, itchy and runny nose, cough, or weeping eyes.
If you use spray products every day, make sure to use them in different rooms to prevent your puppy from sneezing.
Seasonal allergies
Is your dog sneezing a lot only during walks or when the window is open? There is a high chance this might be a seasonal allergy.
Watery eyes, or scratching and licking the fur due to itchiness are one of the possible signs.
If this is the case, you should consult with your veterinarian to treat this health issue and get medication.
Food allergies
Ask yourself simple questions before you even think of the reason for sneezing. For example, is your dog sneezing a lot after the last eating?
Usually, food allergies affect the coat, digestive system, or skin, but they can often cause sneezing. You can easily manage it with high-quality ingredients and protein sources.
In more serious cases that affected the dog’s immune system, allergies can be cured only with immunotherapy or antihistamines.
Sneezing Caused by a Nasal Infection
Bacterias, fungus, or viral infections can be an alarm for a visit to the vet. Discharge from the nose, coughing, and lack of appetite are some of the most common signs for nasal infections.
The Canine Influenza Virus causes runny eyes, lethargy, difficulty breathing, fever, coughing, and upper respiratory tract infections. Most of the time, this disease is mild and self-limiting, but it can get worse, and treatment might be necessary.
Rooting around in the soil can cause several fungal infections, accompanied by nose bleeding, pain, and creamy or green-colored discharge from the nose.
The joy while digging holes or sniffling around sometimes has its price, and the general well-being can be affected.
Sneezing Caused by Nasal Mites
Digging holes it’s not always fun and games, and sometimes puppies can pick up tiny bugs from the grass, which can cause irritation and inflammation. Reverse sneezing, heavy, noisy breathing, and bloody discharge are the signs of sneezing frequently caused by these pests.
Sneezing Caused by a Nasal Tumor
It is uncommon, but sneezing can signify nasal tumors. Usually, nasal tumors occur in older dogs, with the consequences of blood discharge from one or both nostrils, lack of energy, weight loss, coughing, or loud breathing.
These ongoing sneezes may worsen as time passes by and the bigger the tumor gets. Therefore, your vet may recommend chemotherapy or other treatments.
Sneezing and Brachycephalic dogs
Several flat-faced or brachycephalic dog breeds are more prone to sneezing due to their anatomic characteristic and compression of the dog’s nasal passages. Pugs, Boston Terriers, and English Bulldogs are most likely to have the symptoms of occasional sneezing.
What Is Reverse Sneezing in Dogs?
This is an interesting harmless phenomenon, intermittent and occasional, and there is not a need to worry.
Any kind of swelling, irritation, or obstruction in your dog’s mouth, nose, or throat can produce strange noise, also known as a reverse sneeze. This is a spasm that lasts until it is dislodged or removed. Some veterinarians describe it as a sneezing, snorting, or honking sound.
Some brachycephalic or overweight dogs very often have this problem.
A single episode of the dog sneezing a lot can last for even a minute and can get quite dramatic and uncomfortable. When multiple episodes happen, you should get concerned and call your vet.
What are the Prevention and Treatment for a Sneezing Dog?
Prevention is the best cure; therefore, make sure you keep your dog up-to-date with vaccinations, limit allergens, regularly vacuum your dog’s living room, and limit aerosols in the household. In other words, try to control the environment in every possible way.
If your dog sneezes once in a while, do not be concerned.
However, if sneezing continues and is accompanied by other symtomes, you should take a trip to the vet to see what might be wrong. Your vet might prescribe you an antibiotic if they consider it is caused by bacteria. Corticosteroids are also included in the treatment process, such as prednisone or some antihistamines.
FAQ:
Conclusion
We all want the best for our furry friends, therefore, do not make conclusions too quickly. Maybe your puppy just wants to let you know that it is super happy to see you or play with him. Although, if you notice some unusual condition or behavior, immediately call your vet. Prevention is always the best cure!
*photo by natalia_anyukhina – depositphotos