My dog makes a loud snoring sound when sniffing. Should I worry?

I would get her in to see your vet. Since the snoring and breathing noise is a recent development, it could mean she has a tumor or polyp somewhere in her upper respiratory tract that is causing the problem. Catching it early is the best for a good outcome.

If Bruno is unable to breathe, gasping for air, choking, or his gums/tongue or turning blue or pale, this is a medical emergency and care should be sought at your local vet or ER vet ASAP. Some breeds of dog may snore more often, or have trouble breathing. Problems such as asthma, sinus issues, illness, structural problems of the nose or sinuses, etc can all cause difficulty breathing. If this is happening repeatedly, scheduling a veterinary exam is best to rule out any more serious causes and get Bruno some relief.

If there are no other signs (like coughing retching or sneezing and others) this is not usually a very clinically significant symptom. In case other signs are present as well, an upper respiratory tract infection/inflammation could be present.

Harsh respiratory sounds are typically caused by some type of airway inflammation. Some underlying illness may be causing her to have a sore throat/nose. It is best to have her assessed by a veterinarian to make sure there are no signs of infection. If she is having difficulty breathing, I'd recommend having her assessed as soon as possible.

If the problem gets worse or she starts having trouble breathing, I recommend to seek immediate vet attention. If Pudding seems fine, not having trouble breathing, eating drinking fine, playing as usual, active you could strictly monitor her and wait for the vet appointment next week. Please post again on the forum if you would like to discuss it further. I hope my answer was helpful.

It is hard to say the exact cause of her breathing. I would be concerned about a possible upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, heart disease, heartworm disease or pain. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian for a good listen to her chest and possible chest x-rays.

If this abnormal for Maggie, then I would recommend taking her to the vet ASAP for evaluation. Since Shih Tzus have short noses, they aren't able to move air like a more normal shaped nose. Any decrease in the air flow (such as something stuck in the nose/mouth/throat, inflammation from allergies or infection, mass, etc) can be very severe. The vet will do an exam and may recommend emergency treatment. Or if it doesn't seem life-threatening, they can prescribe something to help with the abnormal breathing.