Weird Dog Phenomenon: The Reverse Sneeze

Every once in a while, Ike will start snorting uncontrollably. He'll inhale noisily. And he'll spasm from his ribs to his hocks. It's an episode that usually scares the ever living daylight out of me - despite the fact that it's actually a pretty common dog phenomenon.

This weird episode is called a reverse sneeze. The cause for it isn't exactly known, but allergies, nasal irritants or nasal inflamation have all been named as possible culprits. And dogs of any age or breed can be affected.

This snorting spasm may look scary, but if it happens to your dog, don't worry. It'll usually pass quickly, and typically won't cause any long-term problems. If it's a particularly bad or extended episode, however, there are ways to stop it and give your pup some relief. Making him swallow is your best bet. To do this, simply massage his throat or gently pinch off the nasal cavities. Giving him something to drink can be a big help too.

Keep in mind, though, that while reverse sneezing itself isn't harmful for your dog, daily or more-than-daily episodes may be a sign of an underlying issue. If your dog seems to be suffering from this phenomenon quite a bit, a visit to the vet is in order. Nasal mites or even nasal cancer may be causing the problem - especially if you notice any other abnormal signs, such as nasal discharge.


Have you ever noticed your dog going through the reverse sneeze phenomenon? How did you react the first time you saw it?