Sneezing in Dogs

What is sneezing?

• Dogs can sneeze just like people, and it looks and sounds pretty much the same!
• A sneeze is a reflex (something you can’t control) that forces air out through the nose.
• Some dogs also have mucus, clear liquid, or blood coming from their nose when they are sneezing. Others have no other signs.

What could be causing my dog to sneeze?

• A one-off sneeze is not usually something to worry about! Just like us, dogs can sneeze if something tickles their nose!
• However, if your dog is sneezing constantly or sneezes a few times a day for several days, or if there is any discharge from their nose, there could be a problem.

Possible causes of sneezing in dogs:

• Infections (Viral or Bacterial): Although this is probably what most people suffer from when they are sneezing, it is less common for us to see dogs sneeze from just an infection.
• Foreign Body: Something stuck up their nose!! We commonly see blades of grass or grass seeds stuck up noses!
• Dental Disease: Very nasty teeth problems can lead to sneezing and discharge from the nose.
• Cancer: Growths inside the nose can cause sneezing.

Diagnosis of sneezing

• Rule Out Teeth Problems: This may be able to be done in the consult, but if we are unsure we may recommend taking x-rays of your dog’s teeth.
• Look for a Foreign Body: While under an anaesthetic, we try and look up your dog’s nose and around the back of their throat to check there is not something stuck.
• Flush Their Nose: if we suspect a foreign object is stuck we will flush their nose under an anaesthetic.
• X-rays: We may conduct an X-ray scan if we’re having trouble finding the cause otherwise.
• Biopsy: If there are any odd lumps or bumps, we try and take a small sample to see if they are made up of abnormal cells.

Treatment of sneezing

• Treatment depends on what is causing your dog to sneeze.
• If they have a blade of grass up their nose, flushing it out is all the treatment needed!
• Other treatments may include recommended changes in diet, lifestyle, or environment, along with allergy treatment.

Prognosis for sneezing (how a dog is likely to do afterward)?

• The prognosis for many of the causes of sneezing is very good, and your pet should make a full recovery.
• Obviously, more serious conditions may require ongoing treatment or surgery.