Listed below are the potential triggers for your dog’s runny nose and sneezing episodes.
It’s likely that your dog’s sneezing is due to a simple case of nasal irritation. A dog, like a human, may sneeze if anything foreign enters their nose; this is the body’s attempt to expel the offending material.
Your dog’s keen nose can detect particles as little as dust that have made their way inside. Sneezing is triggered when the nose detects an intruder (something that shouldn’t be there) in the nasal cavity. In a matter of milliseconds, the diaphragm, chest, and throat muscles will all tighten up to force a massive amount of air through their nostrils and mouth.
Reasons for your dog’s sneezing can be traced to a variety of allergens and other irritants that enter his nasal passages.
Virus-Infected Tissue Masses (nasal tumours)
Bodies from Outside
Allergies
Mites
Some dogs sneeze when they are enthusiastic or playing, and this is in addition to the times when they sneeze to clear anything irritating out of their nose. We’ll get into why this isn’t a real sneeze in a bit.
You may be thinking, “why is my dog sneezing?” if your pet has ever had a sneezing episode or if it seems to be doing it frequently. Pay close attention to your dog so that you can determine the source of the snorting. An episode of sneezing usually passes quickly, and your dog will be fine once again. However, chronic sneezing is often an indicator of health problems.
Your dog may be sneezing for a variety of reasons, but it’s always because something is up their nose where it doesn’t belong. What, then, may be the cause of their sneezing?
There is a chance that your dog has a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in their nasal cavity or upper respiratory system. Sneezing is a frequent symptom of canine aspergillus fungal nasal infection.
Infected dogs typically act normally most of the time, but they may experience brief episodes of sneezing. People with this condition often also experience a runny nose. Depending on the source of the infection, your dog may also experience nose bleeds and display outward signs of discomfort, such as face rubbing, from their nose or head.
Your dog may sneeze for reasons other than a nasal ailment. Because the roots of your dog’s teeth are so close to their nasal cavity, problems with their gums or teeth can cause them to sneeze. Sneezing can be a symptom of gum disease if the bones connecting the mouth and nose are broken or eroded.
In extremely unusual cases, your dog may be sneezing because an abnormal growth has developed inside of its nasal canal. Sneezing occurs when the sensitive nerves inside the nose are irritated by an intruder, such as a mass, and the person reacts as if a foreign object is stuck in their nose. Masses, such as fungal plaques that develop as a result of infection, are another possible explanation.
As masses grow slowly, a dog’s sneeze may worsen with time. However, if the mass grows sufficiently huge, they may experience periodic bouts of sneezing. Your dog’s airflow may be diminished via one nostril if the mass is located on that side of the nasal cavity. They may also experience a runny nose, with the discharge coming out of one nostril in particular.
A typical cause of your dog’s sneezing could be something stuck in its nose. What this signifies is that your dog has ingested an unwanted foreign object when sniffing, which might be anything from a blade of grass or a seed to some dirt or dust. It’s also possible that your dog’s sneeze is a response to nasal irritation caused by aerosols, chemicals, or pollution.
A dog that has something lodged in its nose may sneeze frequently or constantly until the offending object is removed. If they suddenly cease sneezing, whatever was bothering their nose has been removed.
When a dog has an irritant in their nose, they may sneeze frequently and also paw at their face or rub their snout on the floor or furniture. People who have something trapped in their noses may also experience a runny nose, with the discharge typically exiting the nostril on the same side as the foreign object. There’s a chance that this fluid will turn bloody or nasty if it’s left untreated for too long.
Sneezing in dogs due to allergies is a considerably rarer occurrence. In the spring, those of us with hay fever sneeze a lot, but dogs with hay fever have very itchy skin.
Even on a natural and hypoallergenic diet, a dog’s allergies may still cause it to sneeze occasionally. The majority of canine allergies are brought on by irritants in the dog’s food. If allergies are to blame for your dog’s sneezing and sniffling, the symptoms may likely appear all of a sudden and be followed by a thick, watery discharge from both nostrils.
Nasal mites, albeit uncommon, are an example of a foreign body that should never be in your dog’s nose. Nasal mites can be picked up by a dog if it snuffles about in the soil or another dirty surface. These pests will set up housekeeping in your dog’s nose, where they will cause him a great deal of discomfort.
Sneezing, pawing at the face, nasal discharge, and even nosebleeds are all symptoms of a canine infestation. If you think your dog has a nose mite or something else in its nostrils that shouldn’t be there, you should take it to the vet immediately.
When your dog gets excited or plays, you may have observed that they sneeze. Play sneezing occurs naturally in dogs and is nothing to worry about.
Play sneezing is more like a fast exhale than an explosion of air and isn’t quite as sharp as a real sneeze. It’s not an automatic response, and it’s not brought on by something irritating their nose, like a real sneeze would be.
The cause of canine sneezing is unclear.
The cause of canine sneezing is unclear.
Studies suggest that play sneezing is a way for dogs to express their joy and excitement, yet the specific reason for this behavior is still unknown. The term “play sneeze” was coined because it is common for dogs to sneeze soon before, during, or after engaging in playful activity. Some believe that doing so sends a message to nearby dogs that your pooch is merely engaging in friendly play and isn’t actually dangerous.
We speculate that it’s a sign of transitioning between states, much like an emotional reset button, which would explain why your puppy sneezes when they’re thrilled and again when they need to relax.
Most of the time, your dog’s sneezing won’t be a cause for alarm. If your dog seems to be in good condition and happiness overall, then the occasional sneeze or even the odd sneezing episode is probably fine.
However, if your dog is sneezing more than normal, or if he or she is exhibiting any other signs of discomfort or disease, such as pawing at the nose, discharge, or nose bleeds, it is recommended to have a veterinarian examine your pet. If your dog is sneezing because something is trapped in its nose or because of an illness, he or she may need to see a veterinarian so that the obstruction or infection may be treated.
Your dog’s airway could be blocked if they start sneezing and wheezing uncontrollably, so it’s important to get them to the vet as soon as possible if you notice these symptoms.
