My dog keeps reverse sneezing. What causes it and how can I stop it?

Reverse sneezing is caused by irritation of the nasal cavity and/or larynx which an be allergy related or even caused by a nasal mite in rare cases. Yes pets can seem to be trying to vomit, but this is really them trying to scratch the irritated area. If she is doing this more frequently than comfortable with and does not respond well to offering her water during the event, then a vet visit is recommended to perhaps start her on allergy medicine and to check her for possible nasal mites. However, in most cases pets don't require any treatment for reverse sneezing episodes b/c they are infrequent and don't impede on the quality of life of the pet. I hope that Maddie's reverse sneezing episodes resolve soon! Best wishes and take care.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. A reverse sneeze can be caused by irritants in the upper airway region so if there has been an increased amount of dust in the air this could potentially be causing the symptoms you are seeing. An environmental allergy or an upper respiratory infection could also lead to these symptoms. A reverse sneeze should resolve within a short amount of time. However, if it persist or worsens, I would have a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I'm wondering if Daisy might be reverse sneezing when she's making this new noise. A reverse sneeze and a sneeze can have similar causes - anything that irritates the nose and throat including allergens, upper respiratory infections, nasal foreign material like pieces of grass or even parasites can all cause sneezing and reverse sneezing. I usually don't get too concerned about either one unless there is also nasal discharge or the sneezing/reverse sneezing is occuring frequently enough that it seems to be affecting the pet's ability to rest. If so I think that your best bet is to see a vet unfortunately.

Reverse sneezing is commonly caused by irritation to the back of the throat. In breeds like pugs with short noses there also tends to be excessive tissue in the back of the throats that causes irritation. You could talk to your vet and see if something like an antihistamine might be safe to try, although it may not help much. Some dogs that have major breathing issues related to brachycephalic airway disease, the syndrome seen in pugs and bulldogs that is related to malformation of the nose and airway, can benefit from surgery to trim some of the tissue of the soft palate.

Some cases of reverse sneezing in dogs are related to allergies. You may want to discuss using an anti-histamine with your vet. If you think there is a possibility that it isn't a reverse sneeze, I would discuss with your vet possible causes of a honking cough. There are several things that could cause this, including collapsing trachea, heart disease, and lung disease. X-rays may be able to diagnose some of these conditions. Here is an article on reverse sneezing: https://www.petcoach.co/article/reverse-sneezing-in-dogs/

Nasal mites is a definite possibility here, although uncommon. But since they are both presenting with symptoms it has to be either something contagious, like nasal mites, or an aerosolized irritant (sprays, perfumes, chemicals, etc). Nasal mites are usually only seen using a microscope on a swab from the nose. It is easily treated in most cases with medication from your vet. It usually consists of oral Ivermectin, as long as your pets breed isn’t sensitive to it. To prevent reinfection, keep them away from other pets with symptoms of possible nasal mites, since it does require direct nose to nose contact. I hope this helps and best wishes with your pets and their suspected nasal mites. Take care.

Hi there and thanks for posting your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Reverse sneezes are relatively common in dogs and are usually due to an allergen or sometimes can occur during periods of excitement. Reverse sneezes do not typically require medications to treat, unless an underlying allergy is suspected then an antihistamine may be prescribed by Nova's veterinarian. Many cold medications that are over the counter can be potentially toxic to dogs and should never be given unless specifically directed by Nova's veterinarian. It may be a good idea for Nova to see her primary care veterinarian to make sure what she is experiencing is just a reverse sneeze and not a symptom of something else, such as an upper respiratory infection. Thank you again for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!