Reverse Sneezing?

[Megan]

Hi - Brooks has been doing this weird thing lately where it sounds like he is wheezing - it lasts for a few minutes and then he is fine. I believe my parents Yorkie does the same thing, but I just want to make sure its okay!! I did give him his heartguard today and hope its not an allergic reaction or something. Anyone else run into something like this?? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Brooks is 4 months old.

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

It sounds like reverse sneezing my pointer mix does it. To be on the safe side next time your at the Vet bring it up,or if it gets worse I would take him in.

[2fbh0gfp1tgnd]

My friends Spitz did that... she had a collapsed trachea. I have heard her do it but without hearing your dog its a shot in the dark. (PS, hers was bad and she lived 14 years.) It was like she was trying to suck in air and it makes a weesy noise, not coughing.

[Megan]

Yeah, he was just at the vet today...but I didn't mention it because it happened when he was really little, then went away..and now its back..it only happens for just a minute or so...and then he's fine. If he keeps it up, I'll call the vet. How do you get a collasped trachea?

[Tamara & Giada]

I have a dog that does this too, and she is very healthy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's probably nothing; my miniature poodle did it all the time throughout her 16 years. I'd talk calmly to her for a minute, and it would stop. It's more common among small breeds. Here's what I found on a yorkie website about it:

Reverse sneezing is a common phenomenon in dogs. In a regular sneeze, your dog pushes air out through the nose; however, in a reverse sneeze, air is pulled rapidly into the nose. Episodes of reverse sneezing are characterized by repeated spasms of sucking air inward through the nose, several times. During a reverse sneeze, your dog will make rapid and long inspirations, stand still with his elbows spread apart, extend his head, and his eyes may bulge. He’ll make a loud snorting sound, which might make you think he has something caught in his throat. and during this time. Each reverse sneezing episode generally lasts for one to two minutes, and then the dog appears completely normal. Most episodes seem to happen when the little dog gets excited and start breathing rapidly or when he first goes out into cold outside air. If you distract the dog, pick him up, stroke his throat or otherwise get his attention, the sound usually stops at once, leaving absolutely no after effects."

It wouldn't hurt to mention it to the vet, and if it happens often (more than once or twice a week, say) I would definitely get him checked out again. But it's probably nothing.

[Oliver]

yep, my chihuahua does this and she's fine :)

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Hi Megan.....I have this issue with Blake on occassion...Usually it occurs when he get's stressed or "over excited"...This is some info for you from Veterinary Partners.com...Hope that it helps....

Reverse Sneezing (Pharyngeal Gag Reflex)

Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM

Reverse sneezing is a disconcerting event in which a dog makes unpleasant respiratory sounds that sound like it is dying -- or will die in the next few minutes. Reverse sneezing sounds similar to the honking noise made by a dog with a collapsing trachea, but reverse sneezing is a far simpler condition that usually does not need any treatment. It is called reverse sneezing because it sounds a bit like a dog inhaling sneezes. The sound the dog makes can be so scary that many owners have rushed in a panic to emergency clinics in the middle of the night. 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.

The most common cause of reverse sneezing is an irritation of the soft palate and throat that results in a spasm. During the spasm, the dog’s neck will extend and the chest will expand as the dog tries harder to inhale. The problem is that the trachea has narrowed and it’s hard to get the normal amount of air into the lungs.

Anything that irritates the throat can cause this spasm and subsequent sneeze. Causes include excitement, eating or drinking, exercise intolerance, pulling on a leash, mites, pollen, foreign bodies caught in the throat, perfumes, viruses, household chemicals, allergies, and post-nasal drip. If an irritant in the house is the cause, taking the dog outside can help simply because the dog will no longer be inhaling the irritant. Brachycephalic dogs (those with flat faces, such as Pugs and Boxers) with elongated soft palates occasionally suck the elongated palate into the throat while inhaling, causing reverse sneezing. Small dogs are particularly prone to it, possibly because they have smaller throats.

Reverse sneezing itself rarely requires treatment. It appears a lot worse than it is, generally posing no health threats whatsoever. Typically, an episode of reverse sneezing will end soon on its own. Nevertheless, understanding and recognizing the syndrome can go a long way toward helping dog owners and their dogs cope with it.

If the sneezing stops, the spasm is over. Oftentimes, you can massage the dog’s throat to stop the spasm; sometimes it’s effective to cover the nostrils, which makes the dog swallow, which clears out whatever the irritation is and stops the sneezing. If the episode doesn't end quickly, you can try depressing the dog’s tongue, which opens up the mouth and aids in moving air through the nasal passages. Treatment of the underlying cause, if known, is useful. If mites are in the laryngeal area, your veterinarian may use drugs such as ivermectin to get rid of the mites. If allergies are the root of the problem, your veterinarian may prescribe antihistamines. Because reverse sneezing is not a severe problem, do not worry about leaving your dog home alone; if it occurs when you're not there, the episode will most likely end on its own.

If reverse sneezing becomes a chronic problem rather than an occasional occurrence, your veterinarian may need to look up the nasal passages (rhinoscopy), and may even need to take a biopsy to determine the cause of the problem. Sometimes, however, no cause can be identified.

Some dogs have these episodes their entire lives; some dogs develop the condition only as they age. In most dogs, however, the spasm is a temporary problem that goes away on its own, leaving the dog with no after-effects.

[Megan]

Thanks everyone!! I will keep an eye on him and mention it to the vet if he keeps it up. It just sounds so scary! Luckily I went through this with Mimi (yorkie), so I knew it wasn't serious. Thanks again for the input!

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

Wow! Thanks for the post on this. Bindi (our Maltese) has done/does this about once a month. Scared the heck out of me the first time but it lasted only about 30 seconds/ a minute max. Holding her and comforting her seemed to stop it. I never realized it had a name! She's never seemed any worse for wear but its nice to put a name to it.Thanks :)