Dogs are capable of making a scary sound that often provokes midnight emergency vet visits among novice dog owners. In case you’ve never heard it, it sounds like a repetitive snort, sneeze, gag, honk, cough kind of a thing that usually lasts just a few seconds (though it may seem to last forever in some cases).
We in-the-know folks call this a “reverse sneeze.”
Though the term is arguably way too benign for a sound so sinister, it’s considered apropos given the reality of a reverse sneeze: no one ever died of one (that I know of). In fact, the condition isn’t generally considered a symptom of any specific disease process.
Reverse sneezing just happens episodically in some dogs—more so in specific breeds or to specific individuals due to a variety of factors we can only guess at: vigorous sniffing behavior, olfactory sensitivity, allergen exposure and/or the influence of some kind of structural airway challenge (e.g., tracheal collapse, brachycephalic syndrome).
As the owner of one mildly affected reverse-sneezer and one severe sufferer, I can tell you one thing: it stresses me out when either experiences an episode. They look so put out by their convulsive airway maneuvers that I generally end up hugging them until the evil thing passes.
Medically speaking, however, it’s really not a big deal--just a spasm of the soft palate is what we surmise. I treat it by hugging my dogs and stroking their throat. Getting them to relax usually does the trick.
Problem is, it’s not so easy a thing to explain to a first-time sufferer’s caretaker—especially in the middle of the night when they’ve driven 30 minutes in a sleep-deprived blur only to be asked to imitate the noise that jolted them awake:
“Um, do you mind repeating the exact sound you heard?”
(So you know, there’s nothing more amusing than this part of my job. Unfortunately, most newbie owners don’t know how to reverse sneeze like a pro—so I usually end up embarrassing myself with an excellent imitation.)
The worst is when I can tell an owner is not accepting any of my explanation:
“That’s NOT what I heard. I swear she was choking.”
Of course that’s always possible and I’ll always perform a full physical before discussing my findings and the likely diagnosis. I even ask owners to videotape or otherwise record a future event on their cell phones just to be sure.
But some owners want the works: full labs, chest and upper airway rads, tracheal wash etc. Sure, I’ll do it if the owners demand it but it’s typically a frustrating waste of resources. And when it all comes back clean they still somehow resent me for it—as if having to be hauled in to the vet hospital just to be proven wrong is somehow my fault.
For some reason a reverse sneeze is one of those veterinary rarities that stresses everyone out. Luckily, it’s one condition which fools owners only once. After they’re initially disabused of their erroneous expectation of imminent death, everything’s cool. Presumably, they eventually come to adopt my own personal approach to the nuisance: they learn to sleep through it.
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All my dogs have done it, at one time or another, for the various reasons you listed. Pulling to hard on a leash, snortling up dirt or vegetation, and once after sprayed with aerosol-type coat conditioner. I get nervous every single time, it seems like it won't end or lead to something scary!!
Thanks for the blog on this event!!
Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire June 7th, 2008 11:38:00 PM
well, this I haven't heard...but my dachshund had hiccups her whole first year we had her....particularly after gulping down her dinner. I still feed her one spoonful at a time, because she always acts like she's starving. (but that can be a doxie thing)
I can imagine that in the middle of the night, the reverse sneeze could be a bit unsettling....
LorriM June 8th, 2008 12:25:00 AM
I had one dog who did this (a poodle mix)--and it was scary (I was a first itime dog owner). It seems to happen with no warning, and tt sounds like serious choking. I was outside, and a person nearby told me my dog had asthma (I don't think that was true). At a later point, someone told me to rub the dog's snout on top when it happened--and it did relax her and stop the "reverse sneeze."
Arlene June 8th, 2008 01:18:00 AM
The way you describe the reverse sneeze sounds like Socks when he gets bronchitis.. He wakes up in the middle of the night, with a barking sound.. unrelieved with steam.. and of course it's off to the vet in the a.m... Now that I think of it.. I wonder why my guy gets it fairly often..
barri June 8th, 2008 08:05:00 AM
My DH's parents have dachshunds and one in particular will have a fit that sounds a lot like this every now and again. The first time I heard it we were at the dinner table and she started in on it. I stopped eating and looked around in alarm - and everyone else just kept eating. Internally panicking, I said, "Um...is she OK?" And my FIL said, "Oh yeah, she'll stop in a minute." She did. They'd heard it before enough to tell the difference between this and choking, but I was really freaked! I didn't know it had a name, I actually feel better about it now. Thanks Doc! :)
Christina June 8th, 2008 12:21:00 PM
My dog has this pretty commonly as well! And yeah, it is pretty scary the first few times until you find out it's harmless.
Pai June 8th, 2008 03:08:00 PM
Thank you thank you thank you!!! My Gordon Setter, Ruger, does this. Since he never seemed adversely affected I just keep an eye on him while he's 'horking'. As soon as I read the title of your post I knew this was what my Roo-boy was doing. Just another good reason to hug him. Thanks Dr. Patty!
Stephanie Masonbrink June 9th, 2008 09:03:00 AM
My shih tzu honks once in a while with this, luckily I already knew what it was, being a dog groomer. I distract her by showing her things out the window, and she stops soon enough. She does seem quite frightened by it, herself, though.
clover June 9th, 2008 01:45:00 PM
Its common in Bernese mountain dogs, they call it ‘the gulps’. My Amanda would come to me with a panic look in her eye. I would hug her and massage her throat and it would go away. Yes it is scary the first time you see it.
Betsy June 10th, 2008 07:10:00 AM
My cat reverse sneezes -- and it scared me to death until he graciously accommodated my vet by doing it in front of her. She hadn't seen a cat reverse sneeze before, although she'd seen many dogs do it. It is alarming, even though I know it's not hurting him now, and I do the same thing, pick him up and stroke his head and throat, which seems to relax him and eventually he quiets down. He's a very sensitive sort, so maybe that's why it happens to him. Thanks for discussing this!
Susan June 10th, 2008 01:26:00 PM
I foster for the Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue and luckily it happened when at an adoption fair so I learned of it then. My mentor called it inverted breathing. She told me to open the mouth and cover up the nose to get them to breath through their mouths. It works every time. Give it a try.
Joyce Sulvinski June 10th, 2008 08:29:00 PM
Thanks for covering this. Almost every dog I've had has done this at least once but I'll admit I was nervous when my little guy had one that seemed interminable a few weeks ago. It hasn't been repeated.
I usually rub the throat and sometimes just hold the nose for an instant - that seems to help.
Maybe the little guys are laughing at us!
Caveat June 11th, 2008 02:22:00 PM
My little pom used to be stricken with huge fits of reverse sneezing, to the point where I wondered how much air she was actually getting, and fretted about her losing oxygen.
Our solution? Pick her front two legs off the ground by lifting her by the scruff of the neck. This of course is only to be recommended with small dogs, (under 30lbs), but the motion is like mom picking them up, and they naturally relax. As soon as she relaxed, the attack would stop.
As soon as she started sneezing, she would get upset, and of course being upset makes it worse, so calming her as quickly and efficiently as possible without rewarding panic behaviour made the most sense.
Of course, I didn't come to this method via those conclusions... lol. It was purely accidental. She was panicking, and went to run by me and happened to be collar-less. I snatched her by the scruff, and she kept running. Physics being what it is, her front legs came up, and I took the opportunity to pick her up (she only weighed about 9lbs) and put her in my arms. And the fit had stopped. It was bizarre.
So, the next fit she had, I calmly walked over, gently grabbed her scruff, and picked her up off the ground. I held her for only a few seconds (less than 5) and put her back down. No more sneezies. After that, as soon as she started to honk, she would come running to find me so that I could scruff her. It was the oddest thing I think I've experienced with any of my dogs, but it worked like a charm and, well, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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I just found your blog and am reading with my mini daschsi Pip in my lap - he does this occasionally and I was so relieved to read your post -
Funny thing is that as I read it he "harrummphheddd" a few reverse sneezes as though on cue!
thanks again for the info!
Deb November 16th, 2009 10:14:02 AM
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