Why Is My Dog Sneezing a Lot? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Sneezing is normal for a dog, but if a dog frequently sneezes, an owner may wonder why their dog is sneezing a lot. Let’s examine some reasons why a dog won’t stop sneezing.

Symptoms and Types

There are a variety of symptoms and types that may lead to your dog sneezing a lot. So, why does a dog sneeze a lot? Here are some of the most common types of dog sneezing and their symptoms:

Seasonal Allergies

Like their owners, dogs may have frequent sneezing episodes because of allergies. Symptoms of allergies in dogs include sneezing outside or just after they have come back into the house after being outdoors. If you notice that your dog won’t stop sneezing after being outside, there is a good chance that it may have allergies.

Allergies To Food

Another type of allergy that can cause dog sneezing is a food allergy. Though a food allergy may not cause a dog to sneeze, there are some instances where such a scenario could occur. Symptoms of food allergies could include sneezing after eating a meal or certain food, but other symptoms include irritation of the skin or coat or digestive issues. Keep your dog healthy by following tips.

Unusual Substance In Nose

Another type of sneezing can result when an unusual substance enters a dog’s nose. Since dogs frequently sniff around and utilize their fantastic sense of smell, they may inadvertently inhale dust, hair, grass, or other substances. If you notice that your dog is sneezing a lot after sniffing around, it may just be trying to get something out of its nose.

Communication

Dogs may communicate with one another through acts of sneezing. They can convey a range of emotions with a sneeze, but most frequently, dogs sneeze when they are excited about something. They may also try to communicate with their owners by sneezing, so if you notice that your dog always sneezes when it knows that something exciting is about to happen, that could explain the sneezes.

Reverse Sneezing

Another Type of sneezing is reverse sneezing. In reality, reverse sneezing is not sneezing at all. Rather, reverse sneezing is a condition that dogs can develop, known as paroxysmal respiration. When a dog experiences this process, it quickly pulls air into its nose instead of expelling it like a sneeze. While reverse sneezing may look and sound like sneezing, it is a harmless condition that some dogs experience.

Causes

Now that you know that several types of dog sneezing exist, let’s examine the causes of each dog sneeze type.

Causes Of Seasonal Allergies In Dogs

Seasonal allergies in dogs are caused by high counts of pollen floating through the air. A simple journey outside could cause your dog to sneeze due to seasonal allergies. Observe how your dog reacts shortly after coming back indoors to see if they may have seasonal allergies.

Causes Of Allergies To Food In Dogs

The cause of dogs’ food allergies is simple, as this type of sneezing is triggered by a dog ingesting some food to which it is allergic. Though sneezing is not a common result of an allergic reaction to food, it could be an indicator of such a scenario.

Causes of Unusual Substance In Nose In Dogs

Dogs have very powerful noses, but a dog’s desire to sniff may lead to inhaling some substance that does not belong in its nose. These types of sneezing scenarios will inevitably happen, as they are merely caused by a dog inhaling an unusual substance while they are sniffing around.

Causes Of Communicative Sneezing

When a dog encounters another dog, it may react with a slew of different behaviors. One of the behaviors that they may resort to is sneezing. It may seem odd to communicate with humans, but it is normal for dogs. Sneezing can help a dog send messages to another dog or even a human. An emotion that dogs frequently try to communicate using sneezing is excitement.

Causes Of Reverse Sneezing In Dogs

Reverse sneezing is a rather common condition that dogs may experience. Researchers are not certain what triggers an episode of reverse sneezing, but it seems to correlate with a dog having some unusual substance in its nose.

Diagnosis

Now that several potential causes and types of dog sneezing have been discussed, let’s look at how to diagnose dog sneezing:

Allergy

Some allergic reactions may be why your dog sneezes so frequently. A dog may be allergic to elements of the outdoors, such as pollen or some plant or fungus, while an allergy could also bring about sneezing to certain food.

Sneezing Due To An Incident

An incident may have occurred that is causing your dog to sneeze frequently. For instance, your dog could’ve inhaled some unusual particle or substance while sniffing around. If this substance persists in its nose, it may result in regular sneezing.

Purposeful Sneezing

Both communicative sneezing and reverse sneezing are purposeful forms of sneezing. Indeed, not all sneezes are accidents; sometimes, a dog wants to communicate or force particles out of its nose. Whatever the reason, your dog may be sneezing by choice rather than by accident.

Treatment

Depending on the sneezing impacting your dog, various treatment options can be used to assist your furry friend. Vets may prescribe an antibiotic to aid in the treatment of allergies. Some sneezes, like communicative and reverse sneezing, are harmless to dogs. Therefore, there is no need to treat such types of sneezing.

If an object gets stuck in a dog’s nose and causes frequent sneezing episodes, an owner may want to have a veterinarian attempt to remove the object using surgery. Before deciding if a dog needs treatment for sneezing, an owner should first consult with a vet.

Home Remedies

Interested in knowing some home remedies for sneezing dog companions? Generally, it is advisable to avoid relying on home remedies to treat your dog’s sneezing unless your dog’s vet explicitly recommends them. However, you can do things at home to reduce the likelihood of a dog sneezing. For instance, if your dog has seasonal allergies, you can keep the windows shut on days when a lot of pollen is in the air. Owners can also ensure that their homes are free of scent dispensers and other products that may irritate a dog’s nose.

Prevention

The best way to prevent your dog from sneezing is simply by paying attention to their behavior and observing what may cause them to sneeze. Owners can then address those causes and create a better environment for their furry friends.

While owners can do plenty to address sneezing, there is no need to seek to prevent a dog from sneezing if the episodes don’t impact it. After all, sneezing is a normal part of life for both dogs and humans!

When To Call To VET?

A wide array of instances may warrant a call to the vet when your dog is sneezing, but remember, sneezing is not inherently harmful to your dog! Therefore, if your dog seems to be sneezing a bit, there is no need to be alarmed.

Owners should give their vet a call if sneezing appears to be harmful to a dog. Moreover, if a dog sneezes blood or their breathing seems to be impacted by sneezing, see a vet immediately. However, if a dog is merely sneezing more than usual, there is no need to rush them to see a vet.

Instead, give your dog a few days to recover. If your dog continues to sneeze frequently several days later, a visit to a vet may be beneficial for your pooch.

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