7/28/2019 My Pet is Sneezing and Snorting

1/3

My Pet is Sneezing and Snorting. What's Going On?Byvetstreet.com|Pets 1 hour 20 minutes ago

Email

Print

Bless YouSneezing and snorting seem like obvious enough

actions to define, yet it's not always easy to tell the difference between the two in pets. Indeed, these two symptoms can

sometimes look so similar so that many people use the terms interchangeably.

Sneezing is generally defined as a sudden, involuntary outflow of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth. It's usually

caused in response to some irritant of the upper airway, most often to the delicate mucous membranes that line the nasal

passages.

See Also: What's the Deal With Reverse Sneezes

Snorting, by contrast, looks like and is defined almost identically as a sneeze. The difference is that a sneeze is involuntary,

while a snort is a voluntary effort on the part of the snorter.

Dogs and cats sneeze and snort for all sorts of reasons related to the workings of the upper respiratory tract. Though many

of them are normal and benign responses to simple irritation, some can signal infections, upper airway obstructions and

allergic disease, among other conditions of the upper respiratory tract.

Causes

Sneezing and snorting are caused by a variety of ailments. Here are the most common causes for each of these symptoms

(there is some overlap, in many cases because they can appear indistinguishable from one another).

Sneezing:

1. Infectious diseases. Both cats and dogs can sufferinfectious diseases that manifest - at least in part - as sneezing. In

fact, most anyinfectious diseasethat affects the upper respiratory system can cause an animal to sneeze. In dogs, anythingfrom kennel cough to distemper virus can cause sneezing. In cats, viral upper respiratory infections (such as feline

herpesvirus) are the most common culprits.

2. Upper airway obstructions. Anything from cancers to polyps to foreign bodies to excess tissue in the upper airways

(most commonly the result ofbrachycephalic syndrome seen in short-headed breeds) can cause irritation of the nasal

passages and, therefore, sneezing.

http://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/author/vetstreet-com-ycn-1421083/http://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/author/vetstreet-com-ycn-1421083/http://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/author/vetstreet-com-ycn-1421083/http://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/pets/http://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/pets/http://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/pets/http://shine.yahoo.com/_xhr/mtf/panel/http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/whats-the-deal-with-my-dogs-weird-reverse-sneezes?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/infectious-diseaseshttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/infectious-diseaseshttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/infectious-diseaseshttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/infectious-diseaseshttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/infectious-diseaseshttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/brachycephalic-syndromehttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/brachycephalic-syndromehttp://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/author/vetstreet-com-ycn-1421083/http://shine.yahoo.com/blogs/pets/http://shine.yahoo.com/_xhr/mtf/panel/http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/whats-the-deal-with-my-dogs-weird-reverse-sneezes?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/infectious-diseaseshttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/infectious-diseaseshttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/brachycephalic-syndrome

7/28/2019 My Pet is Sneezing and Snorting

2/3

3. Allergies (or other diseases of the immune system). Though allergic rhinitis is nowhere near as common in pets as

humans, it does occur. Dogs and cats both are susceptible to allergies that affect the nasal passages as well as to nasal

inflammation for a variety of other immune system-related processes.

4. Inhaled irritants. Dust, perfumes, carpet powders, pollen and other common inhaled irritants can cause sneezing in dogs

and cats.

Snorting:

1. Upper airway obstruction. As with humans who snore severely and suffer sleep apnea, plenty of dogs and cats who

have mechanical obstructions in their upper airways (usually inherited as part of what's called "brachycephalic syndrome")

snort more frequently than other pets in an apparent attempt to clear their respiratory tracts of debris or fluid. Indeed, any

disease that causes the pet sufficient irritation to require the clearing of the nasal passages can result in snorting.

2. Obesity and excess weight. Dogs and cats who carry too many pounds tend to display similar symptoms to those who

suffer upper airway obstruction or irritation for other reasons. They, too, will snort more frequently than other pets.

Reverse sneezing:

While sneezing and snorting are both expulsions of air from the nose/mouth, "reverse" sneezing is an involuntary, spastic

inhalation that some dogs experience. Episodes can last a few minutes at a time. It is not uncommon for a dog to do thisafter being walked and snuffling something (dust, pollen, dirt) into his nose.

Many dog owners see reverse sneezing and initially assume their dogs are choking or experiencing a crisis. Though

unsettling to an uninitiated owner, there is nothing more to this condition than an irritation of the tissues of the back of the

throat and soft palate. It is entirely benign.

See Also: What Is In Your Pet's Medical Record?

What to Do at Home

All pets who suffer sneezing and snorting at a more frequent rate or in a different pattern than ever before should see a

veterinarian. Here are a couple of simple, commonsensical tips for pet owners whose pets are sneezing or snorting to an

extreme.

1. Confine your pet. Put your pet in a crate or small space (such as a bedroom or bathroom) to observe his behavior.

2. Do not overtax your pet. Long walks or exercise in general should be avoided until you can get your pet to a

veterinarian.

3. Take your pet's temperature. If your pet has a fever (over 101-102 degrees) get him to a veterinarian as soon as you

can.

If your pet suffers from other obvious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, pain, poor appetite or simply not acting himself,

take him to a veterinarian right away - at an emergency hospital, if need be. Also, if a nasal discharge is present or if the

sneezing is productive, meaning mucus, blood or other material is produced, your pet should see a doctor. These are

typically signs of a more urgent medical condition than the tips provided here can resolve.

If you're unsure what to do, call your veterinarian or emergency hospital for guidance.

See Also: 14 Common Dog Behavior Myths Decoded

What Your Veterinarian May Do

When you take your pet to the vet, here are things the doctor may do:

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/whats-in-your-pets-medical-record?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/14-common-dog-behavior-myths-decoded?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/whats-in-your-pets-medical-record?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/14-common-dog-behavior-myths-decoded?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoo

7/28/2019 My Pet is Sneezing and Snorting

3/3

1. Take a history. Most veterinarians will start by asking a few questions to understand the history of the problem. When did

you first notice the sneezing or snorting? Has it changed? How has your pet been otherwise?

2. Do a physical examination. Since so many possibilities exist for the cause of these symptoms, examining the whole

body is a necessary part of the process.

3. Order laboratory testing. Blood testing is commonly undertaken in these cases. Aside from the basic CBCand

chemistry, specific tests can help identify specific infectious or allergic diseases.

4. Take X-rays and other imaging. Whenbrachycephalic syndrome, tumor or upper respiratory obstructions/foreign bodies

are suspected, X-rays are often indicated. Sedation or anesthesia may be required for X-rays. Sometimes additional imaging

is required. This can include ultrasound, CT scans and/or MRI studies.

5. Do visual examination under sedation or anesthesia. Anesthetizing a pet is a commonly required procedure for

thoroughly evaluating pets who sneeze or snort. Using a rigid or flexible scope to help visualize the nasal tissues and upper

respiratory tract may be necessary. Once there, your veterinarian may even elect to take tissue samples (biopsy) for

microscopic evaluation.

More on Vetstreet.com:

*Why Dogs Like Things That Stink

*How Old Is Your Pet in People Years? Probably Not the Age You Think

*5 Worrisome Dog Breeds

See Also:Greatest Cat Invention Ever?

http://www.vetstreet.com/care/cbc-and-chemistry-profilehttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/cbc-and-chemistry-profilehttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/brachycephalic-syndromehttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/brachycephalic-syndromehttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/the-smell-of-happiness-why-dogs-like-things-that-stink?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/the-smell-of-happiness-why-dogs-like-things-that-stink?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/the-smell-of-happiness-why-dogs-like-things-that-stink?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/how-old-is-my-pet-in-people-years?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/how-old-is-my-pet-in-people-years?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/how-old-is-my-pet-in-people-years?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/5-breeds-this-veterinarian-wouldnt-mind-seeing-less-of?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/5-breeds-this-veterinarian-wouldnt-mind-seeing-less-of?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/cat-litter-how-was-it-invented?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/cat-litter-how-was-it-invented?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/cbc-and-chemistry-profilehttp://www.vetstreet.com/care/brachycephalic-syndromehttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/the-smell-of-happiness-why-dogs-like-things-that-stink?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/how-old-is-my-pet-in-people-years?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/5-breeds-this-veterinarian-wouldnt-mind-seeing-less-of?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoohttp://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/cat-litter-how-was-it-invented?WT.mc_id=cc_yahoo