Why does my puppy sneeze and reverse sneeze when we go outside?

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.

Congratulations on your new puppy! It isn't unusual. Some dogs just experience a reverse sneeze rarely... once or twice a day, or once a month or less! If this is the case and your dog is otherwise normal, there is no cause for concern. If the sneeze becomes something that happens throughout the day long term, an exam by your vet is needed. You can read more about the condition at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2335

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Reverse sneezing can look quite scary at times so I understand your concern. However, thankfully this usually is benign and rarely becomes anything concerning. Most dogs just have reverse sneezing episodes every once in a while without causing any issues. If this ever seems to affect Diva in any way or if these episodes become too frequent, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment to make sure that this is not anything else more concerning. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello, and thank you for your question! Lulu is such a cutie! Reverse sneezing is quite common in small breed dogs and for the most part is quite harmless. You can try to prevent the episodes by minimizing her level of excitement (e.g. Not getting overly excited yourself when she greets you at the door), and using a harness instead of a collar when out for walks. One thing that I did with my dog to stop the reverse sneezing episodes was to gently put my finger across his nostrils, to block the airflow through the nose and force him to breathe through his mouth. This worked so well that he eventually learned to do it himself! If the reverse sneezing and coughing episodes seem to be truly bothersome to Lulu, I would recommend taking her to the vet. In rare cases, reverse sneezing may be associated with allergies or nasal foreign bodies. I hope this helps, and that Lulu is otherwise doing well!

I'm wondering if Daisy might be reverse sneezing when she's making this new noise. A reverse sneeze and a sneeze can have similar causes - anything that irritates the nose and throat including allergens, upper respiratory infections, nasal foreign material like pieces of grass or even parasites can all cause sneezing and reverse sneezing. I usually don't get too concerned about either one unless there is also nasal discharge or the sneezing/reverse sneezing is occuring frequently enough that it seems to be affecting the pet's ability to rest. If so I think that your best bet is to see a vet unfortunately.

I had a patient that had managed to get a piece of carrot up into his nasopharyngeal area. After a week or more of reverse sneezing we did a nasal flush and found it. I have also seen nasal mites and cancer cause these signs. If he doesn’t improve soon then a nasal flush or rhinoscopy would be indicated. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Maddy. It's possible there is something in the air that is irritating her respiratory system. As long as there are no other signs (nasal or eye discharge, coughing, lethargy, decreased appetite, change in behavior, etc) then I would just monitor the situation. I know it's troubling to see her go through these episodes and if they continue or worsen, have your vet take a look at her. They may advise some antihistamines or other medications to lessen the frequency of these if they feel it will help. Good luck