Has your furry friend ever made that strange honking, snorting sound that sounds like they’re gasping for air? The first time my dog Bella had a reverse sneezing episode, I nearly panicked and thought she was choking! But after a quick vet visit, I learned this weird noise has a name: reverse sneezing.
If you’ve frantically googled “how do i get my dog to stop reverse sneezing” at 2 AM (like I did), you’re in the right place I’ve gathered everything you need to know about this common but alarming condition, plus simple techniques to help your pup when it happens
What Exactly IS Reverse Sneezing in Dogs?
Before we talk about stopping it, let’s understand what’s actually happening during a reverse sneeze. Unlike a regular sneeze where air is forcefully pushed OUT, reverse sneezing involves your dog rapidly pulling air IN through their nose, making that distinctive snorting or honking noise.
Technically called “paroxysmal respiration” reverse sneezing occurs when your dog’s soft palate (that soft part on the roof of the mouth) gets irritated and spasms. This causes a temporary narrowing of the trachea making it harder for your pup to inhale normally. During an episode, you’ll notice your dog
- Standing still with their neck extended
- Head tilted backward
- Elbows pointing outward
- Nostrils flared
- Mouth closed with lips pulled back
- Making loud, rapid inhalations
Most episodes last between 5-30 seconds, though some can go on for up to a minute or two. While it looks and sounds scary, reverse sneezing is usually harmless and will stop on its own.
Common Causes: Why Is My Dog Reverse Sneezing?
Just like us humans, dogs sneeze to clear irritants from their nasal passages. Similarly, they reverse sneeze to expel irritants from their soft palate or throat. There’s a bunch of potential triggers, including:
- Allergies (pollen, dust, etc.)
- Excitement or overexertion during play
- Strong odors like perfumes, cleaning products, or air fresheners
- Pulling too hard on a leash while wearing a collar
- Eating or drinking too quickly
- Foreign objects like grass, dirt, or other debris
- Nasal mites (less common)
- Elongated soft palate (more common in brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, etc.)
I noticed Bella’s episodes often happened after she’d been sniffing around in tall grass during spring, which made me suspect seasonal allergies were her trigger.
7 Ways to Stop a Reverse Sneezing Episode
While most reverse sneezing fits resolve on their own within a minute, watching your dog struggle can be stressful for both of you. Here are seven simple techniques you can try to help shorten an episode:
1. Gently Massage Your Dog’s Throat
One of the most effective methods is to gently rub your fingers up and down your dog’s throat This can help relieve the irritation causing the spasm I found this works great with Bella – a few gentle strokes and she usually stops within seconds.
2. Briefly Cover Their Nostrils
This might sound counterintuitive, but gently pinching your dog’s nostrils closed for just ONE second (no longer!) causes them to swallow, which can help stop the episode. Be very gentle and don’t hold their nose closed for more than a second, or you might cause them to panic.
3. Blow a Small Puff of Air into Their Face
Another trick is to gently blow a small puff of air toward your dog’s face. This can disrupt the cycle of rapid inhalations and trigger swallowing. Make sure it’s just a gentle puff – you’re not trying to blow out birthday candles here!
4. Offer a Quick Treat or Food
The action of swallowing food can help realign the back of your dog’s throat and end the episode. If your dog isn’t too distressed, try offering a small treat.
5. Press Down Gently on the Tongue
CAUTION: Only do this if you’re absolutely certain your dog won’t bite! If your dog’s mouth is partly open during the episode, you can gently press their tongue down with your fingers to help open the breathing passage. But honestly, I’ve never tried this one with Bella since the other methods work fine.
6. Move to Fresh Air
If you suspect the reverse sneezing is triggered by dust, smoke, or other airborne irritants, carrying your dog outside to fresh air might help. Keep calm while doing this – your panic could make your dog more anxious.
7. Stay Calm and Offer Reassurance
Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply stay calm and speak soothingly to your dog until the episode passes. Dogs pick up on our emotions, so your panic might make things worse. A calm “It’s okay, buddy” can go a long way.
When Should I Worry About Reverse Sneezing?
Most of the time, reverse sneezing is totally normal and harmless. But there are certain situations where you should consult your vet:
- If it’s your dog’s first reverse sneezing episode (just to confirm that’s what it is)
- If episodes occur frequently (like multiple times per day)
- If episodes last longer than a minute or two
- If your dog shows other symptoms like difficulty breathing, weakness, or blue-tinged lips
- If your dog seems distressed before or after episodes
When I first took Bella to the vet for her reverse sneezing, they suggested I record a video of an episode to help with diagnosis. This is super helpful since many dogs won’t reverse sneeze during a vet visit!
How Vets Diagnose and Treat Reverse Sneezing
If you do end up at the vet, here’s what you can expect:
Diagnosis Process
- Physical examination to check heart and lungs
- Questions about potential triggers or allergies
- Review of any videos you’ve taken of episodes
- Possibly blood tests for baseline evaluation
For persistent cases, your vet might recommend:
- Chest X-rays
- Sedated oral and nasal exam
- Rhinoscopy (camera inserted in the nasal cavity)
Treatment Options
For occasional reverse sneezing, no treatment is usually necessary. But for frequent or severe cases, your vet might prescribe:
- Antihistamines like cetirizine for allergies
- Steroids like prednisone to reduce inflammation
- Anti-parasitic medications if nasal mites are detected
- In rare cases involving anatomical issues (like an elongated soft palate), surgery might be recommended
Preventing Future Episodes
While you can’t prevent all reverse sneezing episodes, there are steps you can take to reduce their frequency:
- Identify and avoid triggers – I realized Bella’s episodes were often triggered by certain air fresheners, so I stopped using them
- Switch to a harness instead of a collar to reduce pressure on the throat
- Use air purifiers to reduce airborne allergens
- Avoid exposure to smoke, perfumes, and strong cleaning products
- Keep your home clean to minimize dust and other irritants
- Maintain regular vet check-ups to address any underlying issues
Final Thoughts
Reverse sneezing can be scary to witness the first time, but remember – it’s usually just your dog’s way of clearing irritants from their throat. Most episodes resolve quickly without intervention, and even frequent episodes typically aren’t dangerous.
The techniques I’ve shared have helped Bella tremendously, and I hope they’ll help your pup too. If you’re ever in doubt about your dog’s breathing or if episodes become frequent, don’t hesitate to contact your vet.
Does your dog reverse sneeze? What techniques have worked best for you? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
Disclaimer: While I’ve researched this topic thoroughly and shared my personal experiences, I’m not a veterinarian. The information in this article isn’t meant to replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s health.
What does reverse sneezing look like?
As opposed to normal sneezing in which there is airflow out through the nose, in reverse sneezing the airflow is inward and the opening (glottis) to the windpipe (trachea) is closed.
The dog will typically be in a standing position with the neck extended, the head tilted backward, and the elbows pointing outward. The nostrils are usually flared, the mouth closed, and the lips pulled back. Episodes can last from a few seconds to minutes and can recur at variable intervals.
Which dogs are typically affected?
It can occur in dogs of any age and equally in both males and females, neutered or intact. Any breed can be affected though it is reported more frequently in dogs under 15 kg than in medium to large dogs. It is also more common in brachycephalic breeds.
How to stop reverse sneezing in dogs
FAQ
How do I get my Dog to stop sneezing?
There are a few techniques you can try to relieve the symptoms, including: Most of the remedies for an attack of reverse sneezing help by encouraging the dog to swallow. The combination of sharp inhalations and natural swallowing can clear out the irritants in the dog’s throat.
Why do dogs reverse sneeze?
Dogs most commonly reverse sneeze to expel an irritant from the soft palate or throat. This is similar to how dogs sneeze to remove irritants from their noses. Anything that irritates the soft palate can lead to a reverse sneezing episode, including a blade of grass, pollen, or dirt.
Can a dog stop sneezing on its own?
Treat it like a case of the hiccups, or even just a bout of “normal” sneezing—it will stop on its own in time. Use past experience as your guide if your dog has had reverse sneezing before. If the episodes usually last 10-20 seconds, you might only try to stop an episode that lasts more than 30 seconds, for instance.
Does reverse sneezing cause vomiting in dogs?
Sometimes a reverse sneeze can cause vomiting or regurgitation, especially if your dog ate or drank too fast. However, if your dog vomits after reverse sneezing frequently, you should take them to a vet. Will Reverse Sneezing in Dogs Stop on its Own? Reverse sneezing usually stops on its own.
How do veterinarians treat reverse sneezing?
In frequent or severe cases of reverse sneezing, your veterinarian may prescribe medications to treat the underlying cause or provide symptomatic care. For example, if allergies trigger reverse sneezing episodes, the veterinarian may prescribe anti-histamines, such as cetirizine, or steroids, such as prednisone.
Why is my dog sneezing a lot?
They can be prone to tracheal collapse, where the windpipe is weak and can fold in on itself. This can then manifest as coughing or reverse sneezing. Reverse sneezing can be a symptom of other problems with the respiratory tract, like polyps, nasal tumors, or other respiratory illnesses. Dog reverse sneezing can be mistaken for coughing.
What can I do to help my dog stop reverse sneezing?
When should I worry about reverse sneezing?