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Why is my dog struggling to breathe through his nose, like asthma?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pomeranian | Male | unneutered | 5 years old

What do it mean when my dog starts to acting like he cant breath through his nose, its sort of like he got asthma.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Elva Ma DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 1st, 2018

Hello, and thank you for your question! It sounds like Prince may be congested, which can be a sign of an upper respiratory tract infection, also known as kennel cough. Other possibilities include a nasal foreign body, such as a grass awn stuck in his nostril, or reverse sneezing syndrome.

If the behavior continues over the next 24 hours, I would recommend taking Prince to the vet. They can help determine the cause of his symptoms and prescribe the appropriate medication if necessary.

In the meantime, monitor him closely, and try to video tape the episodes if they happen again. This will be valuable information to bring to your vet.

I hope this helps, and that prince feels better soon!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Kristin DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 2nd, 2018
We don't typically see asthma in dogs. Without seeing Prince, I'm guessing you are dealing with reverse sneezing or a chronic cough from bronchitis or collapsing trachea. However, since he is only 10 months old, it is more likely that this is reverse sneezing. You can look at videos of reverse sneezing online. It can seem like the dog is gasping, snorting, or even choking. If you watch a few videos and it seems like this might be what is happening to Prince, then it is typically not a big concern. There are some dogs with nasal mites or allergies that lead to frequent episodes, so if this continues, you might want to check with your veterinarian. If you watch some videos and it does not appear to be what is happening to Prince, then a trip to your veterinarian is recommended to determine the cause of these episodes. I hope Prince feels better soon.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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