My dog makes a seal sound when excited. Should I be worried?

Hi there! Dogs can make some weird noises and it can be difficult to tell if they're normal or a sign of sickness. This is a link to a video of a strange noise dogs make called "reverse sneezing". Dogs can sneeze two different ways. Like regular sneezing, we don't worry about it unless it is associated with other signs of a respiratory infection, such as green nasal discharge or lethargy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UyBrb0Hhpk If Hazel's cough-sound is associated with playing or getting excited, it may be a sign of something called a "collapsing trachea". This sounds a lot scarier than it is and can usually be treated well with oral medications, though extreme cases may require surgery. Sometimes coughs and snorts can be underlying signs of chronic bronchitis or heart disease as well. Usually in more serious disease, we are seeing the signs associated with the animal not feeling well for days at a time, instead of just a single cough incident though. I would recommend trying to take a video the next time she makes the sound and seeing if there are any common triggers for it. That information would help your vet give you the best answer as to what is going on.

There are a few different reasons pets can make the sound. It could be related to a collapsing trachea, fluid in the lungs or laryngeal paralysis. Try to record a video of the coughing and then have your pup examined by the veterinarian. The doctor may recommend radiographs after the physical exam and watching the video. I hope this helps.

It is possible she has a respiratory infection, tracheal disease or may have a mass compressing her windpipe. I recommend a full physical exam by your vet if this has persisted beyond 5 days, she has a fever or has any difficulty or discomfort while swallowing

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!

As Dr. Linda mentioned, a honking cough can be due to respiratory infections, including kennel cough (tracheobronchitis). It can also be due to conditions like a collapsing trachea, reverse sneezing, or other more serious respiratory issues. I included a link below that has a video of a dog reverse sneezing for comparison to Niko’s episodes at home. If this issue persists, if Niko has any other concerning changes at home (loss of appetite, lethargy, changes in his normal breathing efforts or patterns, etc.), it would be best to have him examined by your vet. Wishing you and Niko the best! https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952493

From your description, it sounds like this could be a reverse sneeze. These are not dangerous (unless it happens continuously, then we would need to look for a cause). Check out this video to see if it seems similar: https://youtu.be/U3L4v0W2_Sw If not, then a vet visit is probably warranted to figure out what is going on. I hope this helps!

It sounds like she may have reverse sneezing which is nothing to worry about. I suggest you watch some YouTube videos to see if that is what you think she is doing. This is very common in small breed dogs. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3L4v0W2_Sw ) ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/reverse-sneeze-in-dogs )