Yes, dogs do sneeze and in most cases, it looks nice and funny. But, why do dogs sneeze? You may believe that they are sick and you should take them to a vet. In reality, there are multiple reasons why all dogs do this and we need to investigate all of these! Only then you will know the answer and take him to a vet when that is actually needed.
Why Do Dogs Sneeze? All Different Reasons Explained.
Due to environment
This is the most common reason and the man answers to why do dogs sneeze questions. In the simplest form, we can see that some irritant will reach their nose and they will sneeze in order to remove it.
This can be dust particles, perfume smells, a cleaner, some product, or something completely else. But, when this reason is present, your dog will smell grass, dust, or stick their nose in something. There is no need to do anything about it. It is perfectly normal and a dog is trying to remove the irritant from the nose.
Dogs sneeze when they play
When dogs play they will often sneeze. This is used to tell you ‘’I am having a great time’’ and it is perfectly harmless. When playing catch dogs will curl their lip which pushes their nose up and makes them want to sneeze. When this happens, it is an involuntary response and your dog doesn’t want to tell you anything. All of these come from the nose and are not related to the lungs.
Dogs seek attention using sneezing
Believe it or not, dogs will sneeze when they seek attention. This happens when meal time is close or they want to go for a walk. Once again, there is no need to do anything when this happens. But, you should know that your pet needs something. It is definitely an interesting form of communication and an effective one.
Breed
Brachycephalic breeds will sneeze more often due to the shape of their nose and also throat. There is no need to worry about this. Some dogs breeds such as Boston Terrier and Bulldogs are well-known for sneezing. Keep in mind that these breeds must not be exposed to high temperatures.
Your dog sneezes as a form of communication
Dogs cannot speak so they have developed interesting methods to communicate. One of them is sneezing! One study that was conducted in 2017 discovered that wild dogs in Africa sneeze when negotiating which is used for collective decisions. Other dogs use the same method to reveal something calming. For instance, he will sneeze when taking a break or just tell other dogs that he is comfortable with that action. Keep in mind that dogs will use sneezing to communicate with people as well.
Health related reasons why your dog sneeze
All of the reasons we saw above are harmless and fun actually. But, there is an opposite side of the story. Dogs may sneeze when something else causes them to do this. Below you can see the most common reasons of this kind.
- Obstruction
It simply means that there is something inside the nose of your pet which blocks or limits the air intake. You can hear your dog sneezing all the time. This can be harmless. It can happen when there is a piece of grass inside. Or, it can be more severe when your pet has a tumor in the airways! A vet help is needed in this case scenario.
- Allergy
Dogs do have allergies as well. They are more similar to humans than you may believe. Some, like seasonal allergies, are generally harmless. But, others may be more dangerous in which case you need to take him to a vet.
- Reverse sneezing
Reverse sneezing is present when a dog is inhaling fast using his nose. Usually, it is harmless and will happen due to some irritant present. But, it can also be caused by inflammation or an allergy.
When you should take your pet to a vet?
In most cases, you don’t have to take him to a vet. As you saw, there are many reasons why dogs will sneeze. But, if your dog is sneezing frequently, shows nasal discharge or you can see that he is in pain once this happens, a serious issue may be present. There is no need in telling you that help from a vert is mandatory.
It can be a simple solution. For instance, hunting dogs may have a piece of grass stuck inside the nose and all you have to do is to remove it. You may want to examine his nose and check for any obstructions. However, it is still a better idea to take him to a vet.
You should be especially careful if you hear that the sneeze comes from the lungs rather than the nose. It usually means cold and yes, medical attention is needed. If your dog spends a lot of time outside when the temperatures are low, this may be the reason.
We must add that not each sneeze is a sneeze. Snorting may look like sneezing but it is completely different in terms of symptoms and severity. What this means is that snorting is a side effect of obesity in dogs or that upper nasal airways are obstructed. There is nothing related to lungs in this case scenario. Sadly, more and more dogs are overweight these days which may cause this issue to become even more transparent.
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The final word
Why do dogs sneeze is an interesting question to know answers to. As you can see, we said answers. There are multiple ways why a dog will sneeze and usually there is no need to be concerned. But, in some cases, this may show that a serious issue is present and that medical help is needed. Always consult this article first and if you see any of the signs that your dog is sneezing due to health-related issues, take him to a vet.
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