REVERSE SNEEZING

Here's a great article my vet posted about reverse sneezing:

Reverse Sneezing (Pharyngeal Gag Reflex)

Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM

Reverse sneezing is a disconcerting event in which a dog makes unpleasant respiratory sounds that sound like it is dying -- or will die in the next few minutes. Reverse sneezing sounds similar to the honking noise made by a dog with a collapsing trachea, but reverse sneezing is a far simpler condition that usually does not need any treatment. It is called reverse sneezing because it sounds a bit like a dog inhaling sneezes. The sound the dog makes can be so scary that many owners have rushed in a panic to emergency clinics in the middle of the night.

The most common cause of reverse sneezing is an irritation of the soft palate and throat that results in a spasm. During the spasm, the dog’s neck will extend and the chest will expand as the dog tries harder to inhale. The problem is that the trachea has narrowed and it’s hard to get the normal amount of air into the lungs.

Anything that irritates the throat can cause this spasm and subsequent sneeze. Causes include excitement, eating or drinking, exercise intolerance, pulling on a leash, mites, pollen, foreign bodies caught in the throat, perfumes, viruses, household chemicals, allergies, and post-nasal drip. If an irritant in the house is the cause, taking the dog outside can help simply because the dog will no longer be inhaling the irritant. Brachycephalic dogs (those with flat faces, such as Pugs and Boxers) with elongated soft palates occasionally suck the elongated palate into the throat while inhaling, causing reverse sneezing. Small dogs are particularly prone to it, possibly because they have smaller throats.

Reverse sneezing itself rarely requires treatment. If the sneezing stops, the spasm is over. Oftentimes, you can massage the dog’s throat to stop the spasm; sometimes it’s effective to cover the nostrils, which makes the dog swallow, which clears out whatever the irritation is and stops the sneezing. If the episode doesn't end quickly, you can try depressing the dog’s tongue, which opens up the mouth and aids in moving air through the nasal passages. Treatment of the underlying cause, if known, is useful. If mites are in the laryngeal area, your veterinarian may use drugs such as ivermectin to get rid of the mites. If allergies are the root of the problem, your veterinarian may prescribe antihistamines. Because reverse sneezing is not a severe problem, do not worry about leaving your dog home alone; if it occurs when you're not there, the episode will most likely end on its own.

If reverse sneezing becomes a chronic problem rather than an occasional occurrence, your veterinarian may need to look up the nasal passages (rhinoscopy), and may even need to take a biopsy to determine the cause of the problem. Sometimes, however, no cause can be identified.

Some dogs have these episodes their entire lives; some dogs develop the condition only as they age. In most dogs, however, the spasm is a temporary problem that goes away on its own, leaving the dog with no after-effects.

Cats are less likely to reverse sneeze than dogs are. However, owners should always have the veterinarian examine the cat in case it's feline asthma, and not a reverse sneeze. Feline asthma requires more treatment than reverse sneezing does.

Date Published: 6/26/2006 10:54:00 AM

Thank you! That is a great easy to understand read! Has it been around since 2006? I could have used it once or twice with panic-stricken owners during that time!
Where can we get permission to cross post, please?

Excellent article Mel! Going to help many people who panic the first time they see it.

This is a fantastic article !!!

I'll never forget the first time Yoda reverse sneezed, it was during the night, I nearly had a heart attack....was in such panic mode....Nick sleeps through everything !!
Once it stopped, I went straight to a forum, and asked what the heck it was....Pug people rock !!!!!

Yup, the first time this happened to Juneau I FLIPPED OUT!! We were outside getting the swimming pool ready for the summer and he was about 12 weeks old. He was running around like a fool when it happened. I had him in the car and to the vet faster than you could say PUG. The vet took him in right away and calmly said "ohhhh a reversing sneeze" and rubbed the palm of her hand in circles over his nose. He stopped almost immediately and then the snot started flying everywhere as he sneezed OUTWARDS! The mess he made was worth the $60 emergency fee, because I didn't have to clean it all up.

My kids, who were helping me with the pool that day....STILL bug me about how quickly I moved..and how I never took them to the doctor that quickly

Puggered wrote:Thank you! That is a great easy to understand read! Has it been around since 2006? I could have used it once or twice with panic-stricken owners during that time!
Where can we get permission to cross post, please?

here's the link to the article.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2335