Storm Angel n Auroras Mum Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Aurora had an episode of reverse sneezing last night, if you dont know what it is its pretty distressing for you as it seems like the dogs choking. I thought id do a what is it and how to treat it thread. Reverse Sneezing (Pharyngeal Gag Reflex)Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM Reverse sneezing is a disconcerting event in which a dog makes unpleasant respiratory sounds that sound like it is dying -- or will die in the next few minutes. Reverse sneezing sounds similar to the honking noise made by a dog with a collapsing trachea, but reverse sneezing is a far simpler condition that usually does not need any treatment. It is called reverse sneezing because it sounds a bit like a dog inhaling sneezes. The sound the dog makes can be so scary that many owners have rushed in a panic to emergency clinics in the middle of the night. The most common cause of reverse sneezing is an irritation of the soft palate and throat that results in a spasm. During the spasm, the dog’s neck will extend and the chest will expand as the dog tries harder to inhale. The problem is that the trachea has narrowed and it’s hard to get the normal amount of air into the lungs. Anything that irritates the throat can cause this spasm and subsequent sneeze. Causes include excitement, eating or drinking, exercise intolerance, pulling on a leash, mites, pollen, foreign bodies caught in the throat, perfumes, viruses, household chemicals, allergies, and post-nasal drip. If an irritant in the house is the cause, taking the dog outside can help simply because the dog will no longer be inhaling the irritant. Brachycephalic dogs (those with flat faces, such as Pugs and Boxers) with elongated soft palates occasionally suck the elongated palate into the throat while inhaling, causing reverse sneezing. Small dogs are particularly prone to it, possibly because they have smaller throats. Reverse sneezing itself rarely requires treatment. If the sneezing stops, the spasm is over. Oftentimes, you can massage the dog’s throat to stop the spasm; sometimes it’s effective to cover the nostrils, which makes the dog swallow, which clears out whatever the irritation is and stops the sneezing. If the episode doesn't end quickly, you can try depressing the dog’s tongue, which opens up the mouth and aids in moving air through the nasal passages. Treatment of the underlying cause, if known, is useful. If mites are in the laryngeal area, your veterinarian may use drugs such as ivermectin to get rid of the mites. If allergies are the root of the problem, your veterinarian may prescribe antihistamines. Because reverse sneezing is not a severe problem, do not worry about leaving your dog home alone; if it occurs when you're not there, the episode will most likely end on its own. If reverse sneezing becomes a chronic problem rather than an occasional occurrence, your veterinarian may need to look up the nasal passages (rhinoscopy), and may even need to take a biopsy to determine the cause of the problem. Sometimes, however, no cause can be identified. Some dogs have these episodes their entire lives; some dogs develop the condition only as they age. In most dogs, however, the spasm is a temporary problem that goes away on its own, leaving the dog with no after-effects. Cats are less likely to reverse sneeze than dogs are. However, owners should always have the veterinarian examine the cat in case it's feline asthma, and not a reverse sneeze. Feline asthma requires more treatment than reverse sneezing does a video of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IszRBYxsGI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Good post Louise. Brooke, my little old staffy girl has had quite a few bouts of this over the years. It's never lasted more than a few minutes but her eyes look so frightened it can be a really distressing thing to witness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robke Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Good one Louise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Angel n Auroras Mum Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Good post Louise. Brooke, my little old staffy girl has had quite a few bouts of this over the years. It's never lasted more than a few minutes but her eyes look so frightened it can be a really distressing thing to witness. I was terrified! i mean this is my little baby! thankfully daddy was a bit more calmer and just stroked her neck and back till it stopped maybe good if someone stickied it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Actually that's a very good idea, as this topic comes up quite often. Would be good to have something to hand for future reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 i posted up about this a while ago when linda did a thread about common 'illnesses' etc Bings gets them alot but ive never panicked lol just hold his nose shut till he breaths thru his mouth instead lol edit - here it is - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike101 Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Excellent post . Very informative .Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed #5 Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Thanks for the interesting article ... The video you pointed to also points on to Dr Gregs DogDishDiet.com where there's an excellent PDF of "11 home remedies". The most interesting thing I found was that while he comments on symptoms and what might be the cause, he also recommends over the counter medicines to use with dosage appropriate for dogs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Angel n Auroras Mum Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Thanks for the interesting article ... The video you pointed to also points on to Dr Gregs DogDishDiet.com where there's an excellent PDF of "11 home remedies". The most interesting thing I found was that while he comments on symptoms and what might be the cause, he also recommends over the counter medicines to use with dosage appropriate for dogs! thats useful and interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammybeans Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 So that's what it's called...good to know, Champ does this when he drinks too quickly and I always just kind of pat him on the back like I do when he gets hiccups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahp87 Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 My boy Keiko gets this quite often in the summer.. We live in amongst a lot of farmers fields and I have narrowed it down to the crops that grow in the summer and what they expel. He doesn't get it at all in the winter. I find if I lift up his chin and rub his throat encouraging him to swallow, it really helps and stops the reverse sneeze! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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