Reverse Sneezing in Dachshunds
Reverse Sneezing
This is a misnomer, for it has nothing to do with actual sneezing. However,
it is a popular term for something that appears to be worse than it actually
is. When this occurs, your dog will appear to be snorting or choking. The
posture will be one of the neck extended with the chest expanded, as the dog
struggles to take in air. The actual physiology is that the trachea has
narrowed and the normal amount of air is not able to enter the lungs. The
triggering mechanisms are usually excitement or stress.
If this is happening to your dog, do not panic. You can help your dog by
soothingly stroking the upper throat area to encourage relaxation and
dilation of the trachea. If things do not resolve soon, and the dog is
really having a continued hard time, you can try depressing the tongue to
open up the oral cavity for the passage of much needed air into the lungs.
The predisposition to this is thought to be hereditary, particularly in
smaller breeds because of the decreased diameter of their tracheas. If your
dog occasionally has this, do not worry that you need to be there to help
each time it happens. A dog is able to come out of an attack of reverse
sneezing without help and will not suffer permanent damage. Contributed by Barbara Moore's Veterinarian
I was always told that it was called a "Reverse Sneeze". It's
not supposed to be anything to worry about. Just sounds god-awful,
and those "not in the club" (dachsie, that is) seem to sneer
with distaste -- or is it fear?!?!?!?!
One vet even showed me how to stop them, she just gingerly pinched the
notstils together and the dog quit. Now, mind you, the dog didn't
seem to mind her doing it, and the two of them were quite calm
about it. When I tried to do this to one of my dogs, you would
have thought I was attempting a tonsillectomy on the spot.
IMHO, let'um wheeze, snorf, snirf, snot. It'll end just like hiccups
do.
Adios,
Lueree and the Sneeze'n Brigade (Pookie, Clover & Ecco)
and Miisha and Bogie at the Bridge