Dog reverse sneezing and lethargic after Pet Calm. What should I do?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. A reverse sneeze can be caused by irritants in the upper airway region so if there has been an increased amount of dust in the air this could potentially be causing the symptoms you are seeing. An environmental allergy or an upper respiratory infection could also lead to these symptoms. A reverse sneeze should resolve within a short amount of time. However, if it persist or worsens, I would have a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I had a patient that had managed to get a piece of carrot up into his nasopharyngeal area. After a week or more of reverse sneezing we did a nasal flush and found it. I have also seen nasal mites and cancer cause these signs. If he doesn’t improve soon then a nasal flush or rhinoscopy would be indicated. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Reverse sneezing looks and sounds very aggressive but it is quite benign. The bulbs you are seeing are likely is salivary glands or lymph nodes but of course, I cannot say for sure without doing an exam of my own. For the reverse sneezing you can try Benadryl. See the link below. Since I cannot confirm that those “bulbs” are normal for her and since you don’t recall these previously, I would have your vet take a look at them. Your vet can confirm they are benign or if they are something to be concerned about. I hope this helps. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

Poor Charlie! Look up a YouTube video of a “reverse sneeze” to see if this is what he is doing. If so, this is nothing to worry about and you can Help him stop by rubbing him from head to tail. Sometimes Benadryl on a regular basis will help decrease the frequency. See link below. If this isn’t what he is doing then I would have your vet look at him. With him being so young, he could have a viral infection or an upper respiratory infection which needs to be treated. If left untreated he could get worse. If unsure, take a video with you when you go to the vet as this will help with the diagnosis. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

Hi there and thanks for posting your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Reverse sneezes are relatively common in dogs and are usually due to an allergen or sometimes can occur during periods of excitement. Reverse sneezes do not typically require medications to treat, unless an underlying allergy is suspected then an antihistamine may be prescribed by Nova's veterinarian. Many cold medications that are over the counter can be potentially toxic to dogs and should never be given unless specifically directed by Nova's veterinarian. It may be a good idea for Nova to see her primary care veterinarian to make sure what she is experiencing is just a reverse sneeze and not a symptom of something else, such as an upper respiratory infection. Thank you again for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Reverse sneezing isn't particularly linked to vaccinations or to heartworm medication. It is simply irritation of the throat (larynx) due to possible allergies or irritation of the throat from a foreign object. I would recommend monitoring her today to see if the reverse sneezing resolves on its own within 24 hrs. As long as she isn't acting ill, eating, drinking well then its ok to monitor. If the sneezing fits don't seem to be resolving on their own, then its best to contact your vet who will likely recommend a short course of antihistamines to try next. In rare instances, a nasal mite is the underlying cause for unresolved reverse sneezing. I hope that Kona's reverse sneezing fits resolve soon! Best wishes and take care.

Reverse sneezing refers to the reflex of bringing air into the body to remove irritants in the upper area that lies behind the nostrils. The most common causes for younger dogs include infections, the existence of a cleft palate, or bronchial infections. Another primary cause is the involuntary movement of the hairlike cilia that line the respiratory tract and act to remove foreign matter from the air before it reaches the lungs. This involuntary movement of the hair is medically termed ciliary dyskinesis. The most common causes for older dogs include nasal tumors and dental diseases. Other causes can be mucus irritation, nasal passage obstruction, inflammation, excess nasal discharge or secretion, pneumonia, chronic vomiting, and gastrointestinal disease. Under vaccinated or unvaccinated dogs are at a higher risk of developing infections, which may lead to consistent sneezing. Chronic dental disease can lead to both chronic sneezing and reverse sneezing. I recommend taking Tucker into your vet to see what is causing the reverse sneezing, and how best to treat it.