Is anyone familiar with reverse sneezing in dogs? If you do not know what it is, please watch this video so you will know what I am writing about.
This can be a very scary thing when you first encounter it. Both of my beagles do this from time to time. The first time it happened to Kobi I didn’t know what to think! The episode didn’t last long, so I was not completely panicked. I was immediately on the internet trying to figure it out. I was able to before having to go to my next step, which would have been calling my vet. I had seen this happen with my sister’s beagles also. In the video below, Dr. Karen Becker discusses this.
Dr. Karen Becker on reverse sneezing
She discusses how this does not normally happen in cats, and also how it is more common to small breed dogs, probably because they have smaller throats and windpipes. I have never had it happen with my golden retrievers. My beagles occasionally do it after eating (always scary because I am afraid they are choking). I have also seen it happen when they pull on the leash (which is why we now only walk them with harnesses, not by their collars). Sometimes Cricket just gets overly excited on a walk also and that will trigger it. I’ve also seen it happen for no apparent reason!
The important thing I have had to learn here is to stay calm with them. They do tend to freak out a little bit (beagles are very sensitive!). I will try rubbing their throat or pinching their nose for a second to try to stop it, as she mentions in the video. This sometimes helps, but not always. I just talk to them in a quiet soothing voice, and they get through it fine. The concern to watch for here is if the episodes become chronic, more frequent, or longer in duration. So far we’ve had none of that with ours, thank goodness.
This is a great thing to be familiar with if you have a small breed dog. If you are aware ahead of time, it can save you on some stress! However, as always, if you still are worried about it, take your dog to the vet, to be sure. We often say in this household of four dogs and two cats, that peace of mind can sometimes be expensive. However, it is actually priceless!
Oh my gosh. The first time Lucas did this, I had a heart attack. It is scary sounding, plus they look like they’re in distress while doing it. I love what you said about peace of mind being expensive and priceless… It’s so true, especially when our little fur balls can’t tell us what’s wrong or how they’re feeling. Always better to be safe!
I’ve never heard of reverse sneezing before and had to google it to understand what you meant. It does sound a little frightening but it’s good to know it is not necessarily serious.
You’re right, though. The health of our pets is more valuable than the money in our bank accounts.
As a beagle I do get reverse sneezing…usually if I get excited or when I get stressed, which thank goodness does not happen as much anymore. My human got taught by my vet what to do when it happens…which is to stay calm, soothing and rub my little neck backwards… and it helps a lot.
Thanks for the article, most people do not know
Maggie
I know it was scary to me the first time my beagle experienced it, and I did not know it was so common in beagles! Thank you, Maggie!
This hit close to home, Jan, as I am the sister you are referring to, haha. Trixie just had an episode the other night, nothing going on, just jumped up on Rusty’s lap and then started. We stay calm and just pet her and talk softly to her until she stops. Luckily the episodes are pretty infrequent, and so far I don’t think we’ve had any with Susie except for when she pulled too hard when we had her out at night on a leash with her collar on before bedtime because we were trying to keep them from encounters with nocturnal animals. Speaking of which as I am typing this, Trixie is sitting on my lap and after being out in the drizzle I can still smell the skunk on her that she encountered the middle of summer! Perhaps a possible future blog?
I think Trixie is the first one I remember doing it, even before my own ever did! It definitely seems to be very common in beagles. OK, will make a note to do the skunk subject…..that sure does seem like a long time to still be getting the smell!