Why does my dog snort loudly and choke when excited or sleeping?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Oreo. It sounds like he may be having fits of reverse sneezing. This is when the dog sneezes inwards instead of outwards. It sounds roughly like a snort. It can be common in small breed dogs with no underlying cause. Other dogs will do it upon excitement or in response to allergies or an upper respiratory tract infection. Most of the time if it is not accompanied by signs of illness, it is not a cause for concern. I hope this information helps!

Your dog may have an elongated soft palate that causes an intermittent obstruction of air flow. Usually it is self limiting and doesn’t cause issues but if this is happening consistently there is a surgery that can be performed to help open up the airway. I would recommend talking to your vet about the issue and having them perform an oral exam. They may recommend surgery. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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.

Poor Toby - you should video the episodes and get him checked by your vet as soon as possible. This may be due to excess soft tissue in his throat, a weak trachea, narrow nostrils or an infection and fluid in the back of his throat to mention just a few options - sedation and xrays may be required depending on the results of the initial exam

Some of the more common causes of breathing changes during excitement are related to a collapsing trachea or reverse sneezing, which are often fairly mild. However, more significant respiratory or cardiac conditions can also cause breathing changes during excitement. If Vinney and his friend are otherwise eating, drinking and acting normally, you likely do not need to rush to the vet. The next time they go to the vet, be sure to mention this issue so that your vet can closely listen to their hearts and lungs, and palpate their trachea. I hope that all goes well!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the wheezing noise is new then I would have Cherry examined. It could be a upper respiratory infection or kennel cough. If Cherry is overweight then that can affect the loudness of her breathing as well. If this has been going on for a while, Cherry could have an overlong soft palate or everted saccules that just vibrate when she is sleeping and snoring. I would take a video to show your Vet if you take her in. I hope this helps and I wish Cherry a speedy recovery!

I wouldn't be super concerned about it if it is only when she is sniffing the ground, but I would discuss it with Emma's vet the next time she goes in. If you can get a video of what is going on, that may help the vet see what you are seeing. I couldn't guess what could cause it right now, though!