Is my dog's reverse sneezing the same as asthma? Should I worry?

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.

Poor Charlie! Look up a YouTube video of a “reverse sneeze” to see if this is what he is doing. If so, this is nothing to worry about and you can Help him stop by rubbing him from head to tail. Sometimes Benadryl on a regular basis will help decrease the frequency. See link below. If this isn’t what he is doing then I would have your vet look at him. With him being so young, he could have a viral infection or an upper respiratory infection which needs to be treated. If left untreated he could get worse. If unsure, take a video with you when you go to the vet as this will help with the diagnosis. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Reverse sneezing can look quite scary at times so I understand your concern. However, thankfully this usually is benign and rarely becomes anything concerning. Most dogs just have reverse sneezing episodes every once in a while without causing any issues. If this ever seems to affect Diva in any way or if these episodes become too frequent, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment to make sure that this is not anything else more concerning. Good luck and have a great day!

Reverse sneezing can be stressful to your dog, and is very common in smaller breeds, but isn't usually harmful. Sometimes, opening your dog's mouth to let them take in air can help reduce the episode. If you're noticing a pattern with the episodes and excitement or food intake, taking steps to reduce people food (it's not good for dogs anyway and can cause other health issues!) or anxiety may help if it is related,. We also have this short article on reverse sneezing that may be useful! https://www.petcoach.co/article/reverse-sneezing-in-dogs/

I had a patient that had managed to get a piece of carrot up into his nasopharyngeal area. After a week or more of reverse sneezing we did a nasal flush and found it. I have also seen nasal mites and cancer cause these signs. If he doesn’t improve soon then a nasal flush or rhinoscopy would be indicated. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.