Reverse Sneezing

Many people ask me about this, wondering whether their dog has a serious problem. I found this in my email box, and it's a good explanation of the problem!

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Today's tip was written by PAW volunteer and adopterLynne Keffer. By the way, you can now access theMerck Veterinary Medicine manual online at http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

Have you ever been startled by your dog exhibiting snorting, honking and gasping noises? Have you felt helpless while you watched your canine friend appear to be struggling to breathe?

What you probably witnessed is the condition in dogs
known as reverse sneezing. It actually has nothing to
do with sneezing, but is a spasm caused by an
irritation of the soft palate. The soft palate is a
soft, fleshy tissue extension off the hard palate, or
roof of the mouth. Small dogs in particular can
exhibit this behavior and certain breeds may be
predisposed to it. It has sent many a distraught owner
to the vet in panic.

Some animals can have this condition for their entire
lives, or it may develop as the dog ages. During the
spasm, the dog will usually turn her elbows outward
and extend her neck while gasping inwards with a
distinctive snorting sound. Gently massaging the
throat area or pinching the dog's nostrils shut so she
must breath through her mouth can help shorten the
episode. Sometimes taking the dog outside in the fresh
air stops the spasm. Once the attack ceases, all goes
back to normal.

(Another technique sometimes used to stop a bout of
canine reverse sneezing: behavior specialist Sarah
Wilson suggests trying to get the dog to swallow,
touching the back of the tongue if that is safe.)

It is thought that the pharyngeal spasm can be caused
by a number of irritants, including dust and pollen,
or household chemicals. Moreover, some dogs can
launch an episode after eating, drinking or running
around, or while pulling on the leash.

If your dog experiences this behavior fairly
frequently and the episodes are severe, a trip to the
vet is in order to determine other possible causes,
which can include viral infections, polyps, excessive
soft palate tissue, and nasal mites. However, many
cases of reverse sneezing appear to have no
identifiable cause.