Here Are 9 Possible Causes Your Dog Is Sneezing – Find Out
Canines, just like humans, are capable of sneezing, and just like their human partners, there are occasions when dogs are unable to control their sneezing.
If you’ve seen that your dog has a sneeze episode that lasts for a few minutes or that they’ve been sneezing for days, you might be asking why your dog can’t stop sneezing.
If this is the case, you should consult your veterinarian. There are several potential causes for your dog’s sneezing, including but not limited to seasonal allergies and foreign bodies lodged in the dog’s nasal passages.
Sneezing that does not stop for an extended period may indicate that something is amiss; however, in most situations, this does not present any major medical issues.
Before you start treating your dog’s sneezing, it is necessary to find out why it could be sneezing and to speak with a veterinarian who can provide a good diagnosis.
Several things can cause sneezing, so it is important to learn about them first.
This article will discuss the potential causes of your dog’s constant sneezing and advise how you can make them feel a little bit better.
1). Food Allergies
Dogs suffer from food allergies more frequently than most pet parents realize. Beef, dairy products, chicken, and wheat are some of the most common allergens in food.
Food allergies may make your pet sneeze after eating because of an inflammatory response. Still, you may work with your vet on an elimination diet to help locate the food your dog is sensitive to and avoid it to prevent sneezing down the road.
Food allergy elimination diets incorporate new protein diets. These dog foods are prepared with a protein significantly different from the ordinary proteins you’ll find in the pet section of the grocery store; instead, your veterinarian may recommend that your dog consume foods made from alligator, kangaroo, or rabbit as a source of protein.
Because these foods are normally part of a veterinary diet, for which you will require a prescription, you must consult your veterinarian as quickly as possible if you have any reason to believe that your dog may suffer from food allergies.
Itchy skin, hair loss, and digestive issues are typical manifestations of food allergies in dogs. However, there is a possibility that your dog will become hyperactive or lose weight.
Although it is one of the less prevalent symptoms of food allergies, a sneeze can be brought on by an allergic reaction to certain foods.
The radioallergosorbent test, also known as the RAST test, will be carried out on your dog by your veterinarian. This test will determine what allergens your dog is sensitive to.
However, your veterinarian may also decide to put them on an elimination diet to determine whether or not they are allergic to the food they eat.
During the course of a few months, you will feed your dog a new protein, and during that time, you will assess their symptoms to see whether or not they have improved.
Suppose the dog’s symptoms have not improved. In that case, your veterinarian may recommend a different food or perform additional tests to determine perhaps your dog is suffering from a condition other than food allergies.
2). Allergies Related Seasons
The fact that dogs suffer from seasonal allergies is one of the most prevalent explanations for why they can’t stop sneezing.
Pollen, mildew, dander, and dust are environmental allergens that can trigger excessive sneezing in humans and dogs alike. Seasonal allergies are also frequent in both species.
The symptoms of seasonal allergies can vary because their causes can vary. Other symptoms associated with dog allergies include the following:
- Watery eyes: Eyes that run Like they are a typical indicator of allergies in humans; watery eyes are a common sign of allergies in dogs. Consider the time of year when your dog’s eyes produce more tear fluid than usual. Your dog may suffer from seasonal allergies, especially now that spring and summer have arrived. Maintain close monitoring of their eyes to ensure the condition improves over time.
- Runny nose: Dogs naturally have wet noses, but if your dog has a runny nose, it could signify that they are unwell or have allergies. If your dog has a moist nose or runny nose, it could mean that your dog has allergies. If your dog is sneezing due to seasonal allergies, as we’ve mentioned previously, it’s possible that it also has a runny nose. This is especially true following the winter months when allergies are especially prevalent.
- Congestion or dog mucus: Congestion is prevalent in dogs with allergies, as are running noses and excessive amounts of dog mucus. Congestion can also occur on its own.
- Itchy skin: Seasonal allergies may also induce skin allergies because dust and other allergens can cause reactions on your dog’s skin. Skin allergies can cause your dog to have itchy skin. Pollen can cause your dog’s skin to become itchy and uncomfortable after being outside during the spring.
- Dirty ears and ear infections: Ear infections, which smell musty and can turn your dog’s earwax a dark brown or even black color, are more likely to occur in dogs that suffer from allergies. Dogs with allergies are also more likely to have dirty ears. If you think your dog might have an ear infection, you should take them to the veterinarian as quickly as possible before the infection grows worse and causes them pain.
If you observe that your dog has a dry cough or is coughing and wheezing during specific periods of the year, they likely suffer from seasonal allergies.
If, on the other hand, your dog has never wheezed before or is having problems breathing, this could be an indication of a serious medical issue. If your pet cannot breathe, you should rush them to the nearest emergency vet as soon as possible.
As a result of the fact that a dog may suffer from food allergies, skin allergies, or both at the same time, identifying the specific type of allergy your dog has at home can be challenging.
On the other hand, seasonal allergies tend to become active during a specific time of the year, whereas dietary allergies might persist for as long as your dog continues to eat the same food.
The diagnosis of seasonal allergies can be made by veterinarians using a skin test that is very similar to an allergy test.
Your dog’s severity of the allergic reaction will determine whether or not your veterinarian decides to administer a specific allergy shot as a treatment for your pet.
Nevertheless, an antihistamine is routinely administered to most dogs during allergy season to lessen the severity of their symptoms. You must always check with your dog’s veterinarian before administering any antihistamine to your pet.
A good number of veterinarians will recommend that you give Benadryl to your dog; however, they would be able to provide you with information regarding the appropriate dosage and the frequency of administration.
Never attempt to treat your dog on your own without first consulting a trained specialist, as it is possible that trying to treat your dog’s allergies on your own could endanger the animal.
3). Playing Sneezing Fit
Do you ever roll around on the ground with your dog and have some fun? You might play tag, or you might engage in some wrestling action.
No matter what type of games you play with your dog, there is always a that they will sneeze at you while they are having fun. Your dog will attempt to communicate with you by sneezing playfully to get your attention.
The vast majority of specialists believe that dogs play sneeze to communicate to the individual or animal with whom they are interacting that they are merely joking around and are not intending to cause any harm.
Sometimes, your dog may even walk up to you and start playing with you while sneezing to engage in social interaction.
When your dog is pretending to sneeze, it will often only let out one sneeze at a time rather than a continuous stream of sneezes; however, this can vary depending on your dog’s temperament.
Play sneezing is quite frequent, so there is no reason to be concerned if your dog is persistently sneezing if they are merely attempting to communicate that it is time for them to play.
Since it’s just your dog’s way of communicating, a dog who sneezes playfully won’t hurt himself. Dogs can sneeze when they are joyful or excited, so you may hear some sneezes when they come to see you when you return home from work.
4). Nasal Mites
Mites living in dogs’ nasal passages can afflict animals of any age, breed, or gender.
These mites make their home in your dog’s sinuses and nasal passages, and they can be passed from one dog to another either directly or indirectly through touch.
Because of the irritation and inflammation, they create in the sinuses, nasal mites can cause your dog to have uncontrollable sneezing. A bloody discharge from the nasal passages is an important indicator that a dog has nasal mites.
Nasal mites are unusual, but they can be remedied with anti-parasitic treatment. Your dog may have nasal mites if you notice that they sneeze frequently or if they have a bloody nose.
It is in your better to have your dog seen by a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible to receive treatment for these mites, which can cause discomfort for your dog and spread to other pets, especially dogs in your household.
5). Nasal Tumor
Approximately one to two percent of all tumors found in dogs are found in the nasal cavity. This condition affects older and male dogs more frequently than younger canines.
The vast majority of nasal tumors are malignant, and breeds with long or medium noses are more likely to develop them. If you suspect your dog has a nasal tumor, you should take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
A nasal tumor can spread to the lymph nodes, lungs, and brain, ultimately resulting in the dog’s death. Even though it’s not a particularly common symptom, frequent or uncontrollable sneezing is one of the side effects that nasal tumors might cause.
In most cases, nasal tumors are responsible for laborious and difficult breathing via the nose, in addition to a bloody discharge.
In addition, because it is having trouble getting air through its nasal airways, your dog may sound like it is snorting rather than sneezing instead of sneezing.
This can be an indication of a more serious problem. Depending on the dog’s age, treatment options for canines affected with nasal tumors include radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
6). An Infection Of The Nose
Your dog may suffer from a nasal infection, one of the most prevalent causes of incessant sneezing in dogs.
Inflammation of the sinuses is a typical complication of upper respiratory illnesses such as rhinitis and sinusitis, which can affect the nose.
Infections in the upper respiratory tract can be bacterial or fungal, and both types can result in excessive sneezing. Post-nasal drip has been linked to several symptoms in dogs, including bloody noses, loss of appetite, and coughing.
Dogs Showing Symptoms Of Rhinitis
- Nasal discharge
- Sneezing
- Snoring
- Open-mouth breathing
- Labored breathing
Sinus infections in dogs could be caused by several factors, including allergies, impaired immune systems, cancer, or even something as simple as a foreign body, like a blade of grass, being lodged in the nasal canal.
However, there are a lot of other things that might cause nose infections.
If you suspect your dog has a nasal infection, you ought to take them to the veterinarian as quickly as possible so that they may be treated with antibiotics or some other kind of medication to get rid of the problem.
7). Foreign Object
Your dog relies on its sense of smell to learn about the world around it; consequently, they spend most of its time on walks with its nose to the ground.
This means that they are susceptible to having anything from the outside world become lodged in their noses, including grass, small rocks, dirt, and insects.
If your dog has anything trapped in its nose, the natural reaction of its body is to sneeze it out to free the object. If you’re out walking with your dog and they start sneezing, you shouldn’t automatically assume that it’s due to seasonal allergies.
Instead, you should take the time to look up their nostrils to see if they have anything foreign lodged up there, such as a piece of grass or a similar object.
Most of the time, a foreign object stuck in your dog’s nose will either come out when your dog sneezes or it will allow you to remove it. Your dog’s sneezing will end after the offending object is removed.
Take your dog to the veterinarian as quickly as possible if you think they have anything stuck up their nose but you cannot remove it.
Your dog may exhibit symptoms such as excessive sneezing, pawing at its face, and bloody sneezing as a sign that something is caught in its nose. The veterinarian will examine your dog’s nose to determine whether or not the foreign object can be extracted.
8). Dental Conditions
Dental disorders can also be the cause of sneezing in dogs. This is because tumors in the mouth and gums, as well as rotten teeth and dental infections, can create inflammation in the sinuses, which in turn can cause sneezing.
Dental issues can also cause infections of the sinuses. Examine your dog’s oral cavity if you have any reason to suspect that it may be suffering from dental disease.
If you find something weird on your dog’s body, such as a lump or bump, you should talk to your veterinarian about scheduling a dental exam for your dog. This will verify that your dog’s teeth and gums are healthy.
9). Reverse Sneezing
Have you ever heard a sound that your dog made that was sort of like a sneeze but not quite?
It’s called reverse sneezing, an involuntary respiratory reaction that involves rapidly inhaling air through the nostrils while sucking air in through the nose. It’s common to have a reverse sneeze. However, it could sound like you’re choking or gagging.
Your dog’s natural reflex to reverse sneeze is a reaction to inflammation or an irritant that’s designed to help your dog get rid of any foreign particles that may be lodged in its respiratory system or manage its allergies.
If it only occurs on a very infrequent basis, backward sneezing is considered completely safe. On the other hand, if your dog does this frequently, it may indicate that your dog has allergies; in this case, your veterinarian would most likely prescribe an antihistamine.
The Closing Remarks
If you’ve ever watched your dog and realized that it couldn’t stop sneezing, there are several potential causes.
Your dog will sneeze regardless of whether or not they have allergies or whether or not they started sneezing because of an allergen in the air, such as dust.
In addition, the vast majority of dogs will use sneezing to communicate with both their owners and one another.
Sneezing is a sign of happiness and playfulness in dogs; therefore, if your dog walks up to you and sneezes at you, it could signify that they want to play with you.
No matter what could be causing your dog to sneeze, there are situations when their sneezing could be dangerous.
Because allergies can make it difficult for your dog to enjoy digging in the yard, it is always best to visit your vet to try to come up with a solution so that your dog can enjoy the outdoors.
Even though allergies do not threaten your dog’s life, they can make it difficult for your dog to enjoy digging in the yard.
In addition, sneezing might indicate something more serious, such as a sinus infection or a tumor, which can adversely affect your dog’s health and well-being.
It is highly recommended that you consult a veterinarian if you are concerned about the frequent sneezing of your dog.
The veterinarian can treat the symptoms or underlying conditions and help you discover the underlying cause of the sneezing. The greatest person to know your dog is you.
They may have an allergy to pollen if going for walks causes them to experience bouts of sneezing. On the other hand, if they often sneeze, irrespective of where they are or what they are doing, this could indicate that your dog has a more serious problem.
It is usually better to contact a vet who can help improve your dog’s life if you are concerned about sneezing your pet, especially if you have allergies. This is where the Dutch language comes into play.
Dutch provides non-emergency telemedicine for pets, so you can take care of your dog’s sneezing without taking them to the vet and subjecting them to the anxiety that comes with that.
Instead, your dog can get the assistance they require without leaving the convenience of its own home. You will be able to acquire the guidance you require from Dutch’s registered veterinarians, which will allow you to assist your dog in enjoying life to the fullest.
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