Generally, sneezing happens when we need to get rid of something stuck in our noses. The same goes for dogs. With a dog’s nose as a susceptible area, getting rid of the irritant in the nose becomes more important. This irritant could be anything from a blade of grass, dust, or allergen. However, look out for excessive or uncontrollable sneezing. Read on to find out if your dog sneezing a lot and whether that sneeze needs medical attention.
Why Is My Dog Sneezing A Lot?
Why is my dog sneezing so much? Dogs sneeze due to a couple of reasons. The most prominent of them is because some minute particles like dust and fine particles are stuck, and they want to get rid of them. Sneezing is common, but what if you notice your dog continuously sneezing? You might wonder why your canine buddy is sneezing continuously and how to alleviate that irritant or cause. There can be a few reasons they are sneezing without a break.
#1 Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
If you notice them sneezing more often when a sudden temperature change, the wind blowing through a window, or rain, then there is a high chance that it may be seasonal allergies in dogs. Simple medications can be used to bring the cause and symptoms under control. At times, pollen could also be an irritant. A doctor can prescribe a different medication based on the signs and severity.
#2 Food Allergies in Dogs
Mainly, when you spot your dog sneezing and coughing frequently after a meal, something in that meal could cause this issue. Food allergies in dogs mostly impact their skin coat, digestive tract, and bowl, but sneezing could also be noticed in some cases. In such cases, do adhere to the diet that your dog’s vet has prescribed. Their diet should not contain toxic allergens like chocolate, xylitol, nuts, etc.; more rich fiber and protein are needed. Gradually switch to another meal chart if you see a particular routine that needs to be fixed. Don’t change meals and routines too often, as it could also upset their digestive tracts.
#3 Unknown Foreign Objects
It is not common yet possible if your dog sniffs in smaller objects that could get stuck in their nasal canal, like broken pieces, foxtails, etc. On noticing that they inhale some foreign object, try to inspect with a torchlight to see if it is safe to remove with a tweezer. This depends on the inhaled item’s toxicity level and how badly stuck it is. If you try to remove the object, do it in the presence of a vet or paramedic and with the help of a tweezer gently and carefully pull it out. A vet might do a minor operation to remove the stuck piece. It is advisable to visit a vet as soon as you spot it.
#4 Tumors in Dogs
Nasal Tumors in dogs can make them sneeze more often than needed. The sneezing worsens as the tumor grows and multiplies. It might also come along with other respiratory symptoms like wheezing, lethargy, and runny nose, followed by other symptoms. The tumor’s location and size can be identified using different imaging techniques. The sooner the prognosis, the better the survival rate. The only way of relief is medications and chemotherapy.
#5 Dental Disease in Dogs
If your dog keeps sneezing it might be because of Dental disease in dogs. Tooth infection, inflamed gums, infected roots, or similar dental issues, if left unattended or unknown for a long time, can cause sneezing and affect adversely. Infections cause inflammation, and that could risk overall immunity.
#6 Dog Communication
They use their tail to convey themselves by wagging or tucking them between their legs and sneezing. Play sneezing is a part of Dog communication. It indicates that they enjoy their time and are excited about a particular activity. Play sneezing happens as a result of curled lips. Their lips tend to curl when they are playful. Unlike sneezing from the lungs, a play sneeze is more like a snort. If your dog is in the company of another dog, then it may be a sign of happiness and fun.
What Is Reverse Sneezing in Dogs?
Reverse sneezing in dogs is a phenomenon where your canine buddy inhales and exudes their breath so rapidly that it may seem that they are having trouble breathing. It mostly happens due to an external irritant or stimuli. Their mouth would be fully or partially closed to allow airflow through the nasal passage. During a reverse sneeze, your dog will take various positions and angles, like extending the neck, turning its head, rapidly hunching their backs, or sucking in its abdomen.
When your dog tries to get rid of an irritant, they reverse sneeze. It might seem more alarming because of all that choking and gasping reflexes, but they might need gentle caressing and pats to calm them down. This will help them to swallow easily and ease any spasms. However, if your dog reverse sneezing a lot then, visit your vet. A vet might prescribe some antihistamines if the cause is due to pollen or anything more serious.
Nasal Mites in Dogs
If your dog enjoys digging deep into soil and dirt, mites could be an issue. Well, whose dog doesn’t love it? Nasal Mites in dogs are prone to entering their nasal way while digging, playing, and sniffing around the soil and dirt area. Once they enter, symptoms like itching the face, sneezing, and mucus discharge are common. It is also said that it can be transferred from dog-to-dog as well. Treatment can only be done after a rhinoscopy and mite detection.
What Can I Give My Dog For Sneezing?
Worrying what can I give my Dog for sneezing? There will be some time until a vet can see your dog. During that period, some first aid for dogs would be helpful to ease the pain. Follow these steps:
- Inspect their nose for material, and anything stuck in it.
- Wipe out any visible nasal discharge with a soft, damp cloth.
- Calm your pet down with gentle stroking.
- Use a tweezer to gently pull it from their nasal canal if it isn’t too far in.
- Generally, a tweezer might not help as it might have already gone further into their respiratory tract. In such cases, scoping removal is opted for by veterinarians.
Meanwhile, prevention is better than cure. So, keep the area clean, pollen, and dust-free as much as possible. Using humid and air purifiers for better air quality also helps improve breathing. Keep a close watch on little pups and minimize the possibility of inhalation or chewing of harmful bits and pieces. Avoid giving them breakable items or kid’s toys that may pose a risk of inhalation. Invest in a slow feeder dog bowl or monitor their intake of food slowly to prevent accidental inhalation to their respiratory tract. In any case, do not feed them with any over-the-top counter medication for humans.
When To Visit The Vet about Dog Sneezing
Knowing when to take your pet is important. Although that continuous sneezing might seem like a minor issue and might resolve it on its own, you might need to find out what could be the actual cause. Regarding our furry friends and their health, it is better to be sure than be sorry. Consult a vet in case these symptoms are visible.
- Uncontrollable sneezing and runny nose from the past few days.
- The frequency of sneezing and nasal discharge escalates.
- Turbulent or hoarse breathing
- Mucus Coloration changes from white to a greenish color.
- Itchy face, followed by pawing and scratching the face.
- Other rudimentary health conditions include lethargy, decreased appetite loss, change in mucus coloration, and sneezing.
Can Dogs Get Nasal Infections?
Yes, like humans’ dogs also get nasal infections. Dogs usually get upper respiratory tract infections like sinusitis and rhinitis. Rhinitis in dogs may be caused due to intrinsic health conditions or parasites, tumors, foreign allergens, etc. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nose, while sinusitis is inflammation of the nasal way. Both have many common symptoms. In addition to sneezing and pawing, common symptoms include mucus discharge, nasal discharge, or itching.
A vet will decide on the severity and medication depending on various tests and imaging. If it is dog nose fungus, it can be cured easily with medicines for fungal infections, but it seldom responds to therapies and treatments if it is chronic.
Conclusion
Remember how it feels when we humans sneeze as if our hearts stopped momentarily, although it is not the case. Similarly, when dogs sneeze, their whole life depends on it. A Dogs Sneezing could be a minor symptom of any hidden health condition and must be brought to medical attention immediately. Sometimes, it might be an indicator or communication of a stick of blade grass. Knowing the difference between the two helps to keep yourselves calm and educated about your health.