Reverse sneezing in dogs

Have you ever heard of reverse sneezing? This phenomenon, however curious it may seem, is quite common in dogs and sometimes even in cats. In fact, there are many dog ​​owners who have observed it in their four-legged companions without knowing what it was. For a person who does not know that reverse sneezing exists, its manifestation can be frightening because he does not understand very well what is happening to his dog and may even think that he is drowning. Is reverse sneezing dangerous in dogs? How and why does it manifest itself? How can I help my dog ​​if he has reverse sneezing? We'll tell you about all this in this Tasty Pet post.

How does reverse sneezing manifest itself?

Although the "classic" sneeze consists of a strong exhalation of air (passes from the inside to the outside of the body) through the respiratory tract, the reverse sneeze, as the name suggests, is the opposite process. Instead of going out, the air enters the body forcefully through large, followed and in many cases compulsive inhalations. Reverse sneezing can occur in all dogs, but some breeds are more prone, such as Gills (boxer, pug, French bulldog, Boston terrier, English bulldog, etc.). Among these breeds, the smaller ones are more affected, because they have a smaller trachea and throat.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, so that you can see with your own eyes what a reverse sneeze looks like and therefore know if your dog has also manifested it sometimes , we leave you here a video of a French bulldog for whole shot.

When reverse sneezing occurs, it is because the dog suffers a spasm in the throat and soft palate and begins to suck in air. Aside from the noise, the physical posture that dogs adopt when they sneeze backwards is quite surprising. They tend to stand with their elbows apart, bow their heads and extend their backs. Reverse sneezing can be caused by many different reasons, from an allergen such as pollen, dust or mites, to a strong emotion, a sudden awakening, excessive physical exertion or a collar that is too tight. If our dog suffers a lot from reverse sneezing, it is convenient to identify what is causing it to avoid it as much as possible.

Is reverse sneezing dangerous in dogs?

As impressive as it may be, we must remember that, barring complications, reverse sneezing is not dangerous. It's something natural in dogs and we need to leave them alone, not overwhelm us (much less overwhelm them), and stay close in case they need our help. But normally everything should be fine.

How to help my dog ​​who suffers from reverse sneezing?

The classic reaction to a reverse sneezing attack in our dog is to think that he is choking, having an asthma attack or something more serious and we become very alert. Dogs are used to having reverse sneezes, it is something intrinsic to their species, just like the classic sneezes or yawns for us. Can you imagine if every time you allowed yourself a simple sneeze or yawn, all the people around you looked at you with a worried face or jumped on you to try to help you? It would certainly be even more overwhelming than the sneeze or yawn itself. Therefore, the best behavior could be to ignore our dog at this moment, so as not to communicate our nervousness to him (no matter how much they tell us that it is the most normal thing in the world, it always makes an impression) and watch from afar that things are not get worse.

It is perfectly understandable that some people cannot resist and feel the need to approach their dog to try to help him. In this case, you can try a light throat massage from the outside to help the dog relax. Another option is to place a hand on the muzzle and gently pinch the nose to close the vent. It will trigger a saliva swallowing reflex that can stop the spasm.

In which cases should I consult a veterinarian?

It is a great classic in emergency veterinary consultations. Some owners in the midst of a panic attack take their dog for a reverse sneeze because it is very spectacular and they don't really know what is happening to him. In reality, reverse sneezing episodes are very short, usually lasting a few seconds to a few minutes. So short that by the time they get to the consultation it's over. If you suspect that your dog is having an unusual reverse sneeze , what you can do is record a video of what is happening and show it to your vet at the next visit to make sure everything is going well.

What might be concerning is if your dog has reverse sneezing so often or frequently that it is affecting his quality of life. In this case you can go to the vet to help find the trigger and therefore a solution. What may sometimes seem like a simple reverse sneeze could be caused by a foreign body in the airway, infection, polyps, or tumors, and it is best to consult your vet to rule out these causes.