Why Does My Dog Keep Sneezing in Ukiah, CA?

If your dog has been sneezing, you might be wondering if you should be worried about this behavior. There are many reasons that your pet might be sneezing, and you should know more about the common reasons to be sure that you get your dog to the vet as needed. If your dog has a more serious condition going on, you need to be able to recognize this before it gets serious.

While a lot of your dog’s sneezing will not be related to anything serious, knowing more about the reasons for dog sneezing is important for dog owners. Dog sneezing can be caused by colds and the flu, as well as foreign objects in your dog’s nose. You would not want to ignore a serious problem for any longer than necessary, so this guide will help you to be prepared to figure out why your dog is sneezing.

Cold or Flu

Dogs can get colds and the flu from other animals that they come into contact with, just like people. If your dog is really social or goes to dog daycare or to the dog park, they are much more likely to get a cold than a dog that stays home and never sees other pets. If your dog has a cold or the flu, it could have a fever, be lethargic, have a snotty nose, and cough as well as sneeze.

This might not be a serious issue, but if your dog seems to have been quite sick for more than a few days, you should consider making sure that they see the veterinarian. Colds and the flu can turn into pneumonia and other serious issues without treatment if they do not resolve on their own.

Foreign Body

If your dog has inhaled something like a small stick, a blade of grass, or a piece of a toy, they might be sneezing and coughing, trying to get it out. Some items will come out on their own, but if the foreign body is stuck in your dog’s nose, the vet will have to attend to this problem.

If the item that is in your dog’s nose is sharp or very large, your vet might have to do a small surgery to resolve the issue. You will want to be sure that you do not try to remove anything that is in your dog’s nose on your own just to prevent issues with bleeding and wounds.

Playfulness

Dogs can sometimes sneeze when they are playing or want to play. This is normal behavior, and many dog breeds display this behavior. You will be less likely to see it if you do not have another dog in the house with your pet, but they might show this behavior toward you as well when they want to play. Playful sneezes are usually short and are followed up by rambunctious behavior.

Nasal Issues

If your dog’s sinuses or their nose is not properly formed, they might suffer from chronic inflammation and issues with their nose that leads to sneezing. These problems can often be managed fairly well with the help of a vet, but you should make sure that you know the extent of the issue before you assume it cannot be made better. Some problems can actually be repaired with surgery, and your vet can advise you about these options if they apply to your dog.

Allergies

Some dogs have seasonal allergies, or they might be allergic to their food or to their environment. There can be issues with other animals in the house or laundry soaps and other kinds of chemicals that you use in your home. You will want to work with your vet to eliminate possible reasons for their sneezing and to try and figure out what is causing the allergy.

Your vet can give you some antihistamines and other medications to help support your dog as they are getting over the hump and feeling better. Food allergies are easy to attend to with a switch to another food, and environmental allergies might be simple to resolve if you know what started the sneezing. For cases that are more complex, you might have to take some time to figure out what the problem is.

Breed

Some dog breeds are much more prone to nasal issues of various kinds due to the shape of their noses. This is common in Pugs, Pekingese, Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers are among the group of dogs that can be plagued by lifelong nasal problems. The shape of the nose in these breeds can lead to further issues with recovery from normal conditions like the flu or a cold as well. Be aware if you have a dog from these breeds that, nasal issues are quite common for them.

Dog Sneezing Might be Serious or Could be Nothing Worrisome

Dog sneezing can run the gamut from normal sneezes in response to dust in the home to foreign objects lodged in the nose or to nasal passage deformity. Involving your vet in the diagnosis process can help you to get a clear picture of what is going on with your dog so that you can help them. Dog sneezing can be easy to manage in most cases, but you need to know what is causing the problem.

If your dog is not feeling well in general, you should be worried about secondary infections like lung infections or throat and nasal infections. Your vet can give your dog the right supportive medications to combat these problems if your dog has gotten sick. Always be sure that you don’t try to remove a foreign object from your dog’s nose on your own at home.

Taking your dog to see your Mendocino Animal Hospital vet is always a good idea if you are not sure why your dog is sneezing, just to be sure that your dog does not have a serious health concern going on. Book an appointment by calling (707) 462-8833 or using the online form!