My dog is sneezing after sniffing ground and chewing twigs. Serious?

It sounds like buddy could have inhaled something in the yard like a blade of grass or a dried weed or foxtail. If they inhale plant material like this they will often have bouts of sneezing violently and often shake/thrash their head during the sneezing attacks. Sometimes they will also flare their nostril on the side of the foreign material or may have Nasal discharge from that nostril. If buddy continues to have sneezing fits i would have him evaluated by his veterinarian. If they think he could have inhaled something, they will sedate him and look up to nose with special instruments to visualize and remove any foreign material. Dogs can also inhale irritating pollens etc in the yard causing a short few episodes of sneezing. If it is just a little allergic reaction to something they inhale it is usually self limiting and requires no treatment. Hope this helps!

With a dog as young as he, my first guess would be a seed or bit of grass that he has sneezed into his nasal passage. Since he seems to be feeling okay otherwise I don't think he needs anything special done before he gets in to see the vet. If they don't find something else causing his sneezing, they may need to sedate him in order to explore his nasal passages for any sign of a foreign body.

I would definitely be concerned about the bloody nose. Since he does frequent the dog park, infections such as bordetella, influenza, or even contagious nasal mites are possible. A nasal foreign body is also possible. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Antibiotics may be recommended. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi there. Sneezing could be caused by allergies, or an upper respiratory infection. If he's acting fairly normal otherwise (eating and drinking fine, active, etc.) you could opt to monitor him for now and see how things go for the next few days. The problem may resolve on its own, similar to when we get a minor cold or allergy flare-up. If there is no improvement in the next 2-3 days, or if your pup develops other symptoms such as coughing, thick green or yellow nasal discharge, or begins acting very lethargic or not eating, then I would recommend having him seen by a veterinarian for treatment.

Excessive sneezing like this could be a sign of foreign material in the nasal cavity (sometimes a piece of fluff or plant material can get stuck), or potentially a nasal polyp, tumor or infection. If this extreme sneezing continues I'd recommend having your vet examine Pilsner - they might recommend sedation for a nasal flush and exam.

She could have a grass seed stuck in her nose, or it may have been stuck and moved on but caused irritation. The nose is biggeer than you think so often the endoscope is needed to have a good look and temive anything stuck. I would make her a appointment at the vet as it will likely come to that. If discharge is clear it couldnt have been stuck long as usually foreign mayerial causes an infection. If you want to try something first yku could get a syringe of saline (boil kettle, let cool add a little salt) and gently flush her nose. Do it slowly so that she does not choke on the water, she will swallow it. She may not tolerate this and if not do not persist as you could hurt her. If she lets you this may dislodge what is stuck or give the cavity a good rinse. If this doesnt resolve the issue it is time for the vet.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a persistent rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately if the signs persist more than 12 hours. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.