Why is my older pug suddenly reverse sneezing multiple times a day?

Reverse sneezing is commonly caused by irritation to the back of the throat. In breeds like pugs with short noses there also tends to be excessive tissue in the back of the throats that causes irritation. You could talk to your vet and see if something like an antihistamine might be safe to try, although it may not help much. Some dogs that have major breathing issues related to brachycephalic airway disease, the syndrome seen in pugs and bulldogs that is related to malformation of the nose and airway, can benefit from surgery to trim some of the tissue of the soft palate.

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.

Hi there! So sorry to hear that Reuben is having this issue! I think that any time a dog with a smushy face like a Pug or a Boston Terrier or a Bulldog (or a breed like that) is a having an issue with the respiratory system (coughing, sneezing, any kind of nasal discharge, problem breathing, etc) they should been seen by your veterinarian for an examination. These dogs are already compromised with breathing just because of their normal anatomy (smushy face) so anything can easily make them very sick. Even something that wouldn't make a dog without a smushy face sick. Based on what you described he could have something easy going on like reverse sneezing or it could be something more severe like complications from an elongated soft palate or stenotic nares. I wouldn't wait around too long to see what happens. It is better to be safe than sorry. I would have Reuben checked out to be sure there is nothing serious going on. I hope this helps. Best wishes to you and Reuben! Dr. Amber

Pets can get nasal discharge for many reasons and the most common are infections or allergies. With her older age and because she is a pug (short muzzled) if she is continuing to have discharge beyond 5 days or if she is getting worse at any point, I recommend to have her examined. Sometimes omega 3 fatty acids can help and feeding her a high quality diet can help to keep her immune system strong. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to a foreign body located in the nose for example or possibly a fungal infection or a bacterial infection that requires a longer course of antibiotics. I would encourage you to check in with your veterinarian if this is happening again. Endoscopy may help check for a possible foreign body. Best of luck!

Thank you for submitting your question. Pixie is adorable! I suspect that he has an upper respiratory infection (viral or bacterial cause) and has now spread it to your adult dog. I would recommend that he sees a veterinarian as he is so young. If he does not require medication, then vaccines and deworming can be discussed. If your older dog is not eating or drinking or if his symptoms worsen, he will need to be seen as well. I would not recommend give any over-the-counter medication at home. I hope this information helps!

Allergies, polyps, and sinusitis are all possible causes of Penelope's symptoms. She may also be dealing with a foreign body (such as plant matter) stuck in the nose, or a growth of some sort other than a polyp. Since it sounds like she is otherwise doing well, I would not be overly worried, but her symptoms warrant a trip to the vet to help figure out what is going on. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!