backward sneezing

[twix0699]

I was wondering if someone could help me out with this one:

Twix does this wierd thing where it sounds like she is having an asthma attack of some sort. She really acts like she can't breath and it scares her and me. I asked the vet and she said it was called "backward sneezing" and was related to her allergies. She has been doing it more lately and she wakes me up in the middle of the night doing it. Does anyone else have a doxie with this problem? The vet says it isn't anything to worry about but being a concerned (overprotective is more like it) mommy I can't help but worry!!

Teresa

[Mickamack]

Yes, every so often someone will ask this same question. Some of us on the board like to call it "snorking" because that's what it sounds like. And it definitely seems to be a dachsie thing.

Mickey does it when he gets excited, when he's outside running around, or sometimes, he'll wake up in the middle of the night and start doing it. He did it REALLY BAD when he was in obedience class. He didn't like all the bigger dogs and would get all worked up. He'd snork almost the entire time we were there. People would come from all over the store to look at him...they must have thought we were torturing him! It was very embarrassing. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/blushie.gif

When Mickey starts snorking, I usually go over and rub the under part of his chest and belly. That seems to help it subside.

To the best of my knowledge, it's nothing to worry about and many dachsies do it. Hope that helps to ease your mind.

[Augie Dog]

Aug has allergies, sounds like the some thing. It sounds like he is gasping for air, is scared the crap out of us the first few times.

We rub or pad his chest, have him take a drink, and he's off again.

David

[TessieMom]

I always thought it was similar to a laryngal (sp?) spasm. Most of my girls have had them ... usually whenever they get too excited, over exert, or during allergy season. Having watched people who have had them (and having had one myself)... they are scary. You have to get them to focus on anything except breathing... so drinking works, belly rubs, patting the back... anything to distract them for a moment (with a person, you try to get them to talk). My concern has always been that they might have one when I am not there. However, with the pack, Lucy, (the only dog who doesn't seem to have trouble)usually gets something going or starts barking, which works. Rena

[Heather]

The same question was posed on the rescue group I am affiliated with. There was a technical answer, and yes, it is common and not dangerous. I will ask the group to restate the technical answer and post back.

Heather

[wireweiners]

Here's a trick I learned from a very well respected dog handler. My 1st show dachsie would do this at shows because he got excited and because there is a lot of dust and grooming powder at shows. Tilt their head back, gently rub their throat and blow in their nose. For some reason this makes them swallow and relieves the reverse sneezing. It is also useful when giving pills. Put the pill on the back of the throat, tilt the head back and blow in their nose.

[Mark]

Hi Mary,

Good to know . . . thanks for the great tip! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/jacks.gif

Mark

[bigotis]

Otis has not done this yet, but our malamute, Chinook does this! I never knew what it was. Just once in a while, usually when he is lying down in the evening. It is scary!! It is good to know it is nothing too serious.

Thanks!

Otis's mommy, A.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm30.gif" border=0>

[omar_my_friend]

Omar does this too. Omar has a couple reverse sneeze attacks a day. When he does his reverse sneeze the following two things help. Just like wireweiners said tilt the head back and blow at the nose. Second, rub the nose. I know rubbing the nose sounds gross but it helps to break up the stuff that is caught in the nasal passage and besides he is my darling little baby. (I have cleaned up worse.)

<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm28.gif" border=0>

[Roxane]

The blowing on the nose bit will also stop hiccups. But then you have to ask yourself, why were they drinking in the first place? http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif
Seriously, it does work.
Roxane and crew

[twix0699]

Thanks for all the help!! This board is the best!! I don't understand what causes the reverse sneezing. Why does it happen in the middle of the night if it can be from too much excitement? At what point(if ever) does it become something to worry about? Twix used to do it occasionally and now does it several times daily. Can it become worse and last for longer intervals? Can dogs pass out from lack of oxygen from it? I just have lots of questions because I don't understand. The vet said it was due to her allergies but it is winter and we have had several good freezes here. Thanks again for all the help.

Teresa

[Penny's Aunt]

Reverse sneezing ("snorking") has mostly to do with allergies. Excitement may just stimulate it. My dog did it her whole 16 years, & I would estimate at least 2/3 of those times were at night.

I would wake up with an adrenaline rush, heat pounding. Dixie would do it for maybe 20-30 seconds, then yawn, stretch, circle, & plop back down on her blanket & go to sleep. And here I would be, wide awake.

[cps]

Very glad to know this is nothing to worry about. Just got a couple of 6 month old puppies and the female, Shelby, does this - she also sounds like she hiccups a lot, which I think is because she eats too fast!

[Shelbie]

Hmmmm. She doesn't also have a passport with a lot of London stamps and disappears for long periods of time does she? (Possibly wearing earrings?!)<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm6.gif" border=0>

[Tinky's_Daddy]

Tinky does this "Snorkeling" too. She only has a mild case, and does it when we put her on leash and take her for walkies. I think it's dust from the road. After all, her nosie is only about 3 inches above the ground.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm27.gif" border=0> We ignore it and it usually stops after 5 minutes. Snorkeling is a cool description for it; I'll have to remember that one.