Why does my dog struggle to breathe through his nose when excited?

From your description, my main suspicion is that Brownie is experiencing a reverse sneeze. This occurs when irritation occurs in the back of the nasal passages, causing her to dramatically inhale air. (Regular sneezes occur as a result of irritation at the front of the nasal passages, causing air to be pushed out.) During these episodes, you can try blowing directly into her nose (I realize that it sounds strange!), but this can help to change her air flow and stop the reverse sneezing. If these episodes worsen, she could also be experiencing the start of collapsing trachea (unusual in a larger dog), allergic airway conditions or kennel cough, which would require a visit to her vet. I hope that all goes well!

No, it's not normal for a cat to pant like a dog. Cats typically do not exhibit open mouth breathing, and it's a sign of respiratory distress. It could be Gus may have a heart problem causing this open mouth breathing after he plays, but without seeing him in person I can't say for certain. I would have him seen by a vet for a physical exam, routine blood tests, urinalysis, and chest x-rays. These tests will help the vet identify if the does have a heart condition causing his symptoms. Should one be found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

Some of the more common causes of breathing changes during excitement are related to a collapsing trachea or reverse sneezing, which are often fairly mild. However, more significant respiratory or cardiac conditions can also cause breathing changes during excitement. If Vinney and his friend are otherwise eating, drinking and acting normally, you likely do not need to rush to the vet. The next time they go to the vet, be sure to mention this issue so that your vet can closely listen to their hearts and lungs, and palpate their trachea. I hope that all goes well!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Hercules is otherwise normal and eating / drinking normal amounts, I would just monitor him for now. I would make sure he is not being exercised too hard. A mix of exercise and allergies can make these signs evident. I would recommend decreasing his exercise time or interrupted play time with breaks. If the runny nose continues or breathing worsens or does not improve, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I'm sorry to hear of your concerns with Grizzly. Labored breathing and coughing with exercise or excitement can be indicative of an underlying heart condition. Other possible causes for these symptoms include collapsing trachea and asthma. I would recommend that you have Grizzly examined by a veterinarian. They will perform a physical examination and may recommend chest x-rays to better determine the underlying cause for Grizzly symptoms.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Noushi. If she only breathes hard like this after hard play, this is not a cause of concern. An increased respiratory rate or panting (open mouth breathing) is worrisome if it occurs while she is resting with no recent history of exercise. I hope this information helps!

Hello, and thank you for your question! It sounds like Prince may be congested, which can be a sign of an upper respiratory tract infection, also known as kennel cough. Other possibilities include a nasal foreign body, such as a grass awn stuck in his nostril, or reverse sneezing syndrome. If the behavior continues over the next 24 hours, I would recommend taking Prince to the vet. They can help determine the cause of his symptoms and prescribe the appropriate medication if necessary. In the meantime, monitor him closely, and try to video tape the episodes if they happen again. This will be valuable information to bring to your vet. I hope this helps, and that prince feels better soon!