Why do my Chihuahuas snort and struggle to breathe sometimes?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bambi. I'm wondering if she has something like a collapsed trachea causing her breathing issues. You see problems with breathing in the condition with excitement and exercise, and it does worsen over time. This can explain what is going on with her. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain this is the cause. I recommend having her seen by a vet in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing her problems, and can discuss treatment options with you. If she does have a collapsing trachea, treatment options include medical management or surgery. I hope this helps!

This sounds like reverse sneezing which is fairly normal in small breed dogs. Here is a information sheet on this problem. It is nothing to worry about but if you are worried, I suggest you videotape an episode and take it to your vet’s office so they can advise you. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952493 )

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can sometimes be seen with dogs when they an abdominal component to their breathing. This can happen from a number of conditions mostly affecting the respiratory system such as congestive heart failure, pneumonia, bronchitis, among other things. There is a chance that it is not something significant though it really requires a thorough physical examination to know more about what Lovebug is doing and what would be the next best diagnostic and treatments options are for her. Good luck! Have a nice evening!

It could be that Princess has a collapsing trachea. This is a common problem in toy breed dogs, and it can be brought on when drinking water or eating. I would have Princess seen by a vet. The vet can do a physical exam, blood tests, a urinalysis, and x-rays to diagnose if she does have it. Should Princess have a collapsing trachea, it can be treated medically, but it may need to be treated surgically. When a dog is obsess, that also contributes to the problem, and weight loss may be suggested. Using a harness to walk her is also recommended, as is staying away from respiratory irritants like cigarette smoke and air fresheners.

From your description, my main suspicion is that Brownie is experiencing a reverse sneeze. This occurs when irritation occurs in the back of the nasal passages, causing her to dramatically inhale air. (Regular sneezes occur as a result of irritation at the front of the nasal passages, causing air to be pushed out.) During these episodes, you can try blowing directly into her nose (I realize that it sounds strange!), but this can help to change her air flow and stop the reverse sneezing. If these episodes worsen, she could also be experiencing the start of collapsing trachea (unusual in a larger dog), allergic airway conditions or kennel cough, which would require a visit to her vet. I hope that all goes well!

My biggest concern is that she may have have heart disease/failure causing the dizzy spells and fainting. This can also cause them to have difficulty breathing. The other possibility is that she has something wrong with her upper respiratory tract that is not allowing her to adequately get oxygen. This could be a functional obstruction like a cyst or tumor; or could be due to long-standing progressive disease. The shaking and seeming like she can't breathe when held could be an issue, but I would want to know how long this has been happening. Chihuahuas do a lot of shaking/shivering normally, and not for any significant reason. They can also breath-hold when being picked up, so I wouldn't be too concerned if she's done this her whole life. Considering there is a possible problem with her heart and/or lungs it's best to have a vet evaluate her sometime soon. They can easily help determine if there is any need for concern with a good physical exam and thorough consultation. I hope that helps and all is well with Bunz.

Three jackchi puppies, how fun! Fits of reverse sneezing are usually caused by an inhaled allergen. When they happen infrequently, there isn't anything you need to do. If one of them is having many fits a day you could call their veterinarian to get a dose recommendation for an antihistamine.