Dogs sneeze. Sometimes it’s just occasional, but sometimes they can sneeze so much they get a bloody nose. But do dogs sneeze for the same reasons we do?
“Sneezing is a normal response to stimulation of irritant receptors in the nasal passage,” says AKC Chief Veterinarian Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM. “Sneezing is most often seen as a medical issue in combination with other medical signs in respiratory infections.”
Dogs sneeze for many reasons, some innocuous, but some concerning. Here’s some of the most common causes, and how to know which sneezes call for a trip to the vet.
What Signs Can Help Determine Why a Dog Is Sneezing?
Different kinds of sneezing can be signs of different causes. Your veterinarian may ask you these questions that can help in a diagnosis. It might be helpful to write down any observations that you have about your dog’s sneezing before going to the vet.
How Frequently is Your Dog Sneezing?
Occasional sneezing is typically not much cause for concern, and can even result from inhaling an irritant such as dust, soil, pollen, air freshener scent, smoke, or cleaning products. This can cause sudden intense sneezing that goes away once you remove the dog from that irritant.
Has your dog been sneezing regularly over the course of a few weeks, or are they suddenly sneezing often? Sudden onset is usually better, whereas a slow onset could be due to an infection or mass.
Is Discharge Accompanying Your Dog’s Sneezing?
Is there a nasal discharge? If so, is it from or both nostrils? How does it look? A discharge that’s watery and clear is at least cause for concern. One that is thick and yellow may indicate an infection. One that’s bloody might indicate an infection or mass. If it’s just from one side, it is more likely due to a foreign body, mass, or a fungal infection.
Does the dog have a nosebleed? A bit of blood that occurs from vigorous sneezing is seldom an emergency. But a heavy nosebleed can also cause sneezing and suggest a bleeding problem.
Is Your Dog Coughing While Sneezing?
Is the dog coughing or wheezing? That could suggest a respiratory infection such as kennel cough or canine flu, or lung involvement.
Could your dog be reverse sneezing? That could suggest an irritant, allergen, or parasite.
When Does Your Dog Sneeze?
Does sneezing just occur when playing or sniffing? Sneezing is a way of communicating playfulness. Dogs that are using their nose often sneeze to clear out their nasal passage.
How Are the Causes of Sneezing in Dogs Diagnosed and Treated?
Your veterinarian will have a good idea of what to look for based on your answers to the above questions. Based on the suspected cause, some additional diagnostic tools can pinpoint the problem and, in most cases, lead to an effective treatment.
Foreign Bodies
Dogs can inhale some objects, causing them to sneeze until the object is dislodged. A foxtail can work its way in from the skin and into the nasal cavity, causing prolonged sneezing (and possibly bloody discharge) because the dog can’t dislodge it. A foxtail (or any other stuck object) will require a veterinary visit for diagnosis and removal under anesthesia.
Allergies
Allergies are less often the cause of dogs sneezing compared to people, but they can still be responsible. Allergies could be the cause if your dog’s sneezing is seasonal or only occurs when they’re around common allergens. Treat by avoiding the allergens or by giving drugs to quiet allergic reactions, after consulting your veterinarian. If you think outdoor pollen is the culprit, close the windows and run air filters. If house dust, try to move your dog to a room that hasn’t had dust stirred up. Remove your dog from air fresheners or new carpeting.
Bacterial Infection
Bacterial infections can cause yellow or yellow-green nasal discharge, sometimes with pawing at the face. Sneezing can be associated with sinus or respiratory infections, or by a root abscess from an infected upper tooth. In this case, there are often signs of tooth pain, and sometimes swelling just below the eye. Diagnosis involves radiographs or possibly use of a camera on a flexible tube inserted into the nose to look for other causes. Treatment involves antibiotics and removal of any abscessed teeth.
Fungal Infection
More common in long-nosed breeds and hunting dogs, and in certain regions of the country, fungal infections are most often caused by aspergillus. A fungal infection can cause systemic illness and death if untreated. They typically cause a bloody nasal discharge initially from just one side. Your veterinarian will optimally make a diagnosis with CT or MRI scans, but may also use a combination of radiographs, rhinoscopy (inserting a tiny camera on a flexible tube into the nose), and fungal cultures. Treatment is with antifungal medicines infused into the dog’s nasal cavity.
Nasal Mites
These tiny white tiny parasites (1 to 1.5 mm, or 0.04 to 0.06 inches long) live inside the dog’s nasal passageways. Nasal mites can cause sneezing, as well as bloody discharge from both nostrils, facial itching, head shaking, and reverse sneezing. Your vet will need to anesthetize your dog and insert a flexible scope with a camera to see them; or a perform a nasal flush to rinse them out. Treatment is with anti-parasitic drugs such as ivermectin, as well as steroids or other drugs to quell the itching.
Nasal Tumors
While nasal tumors are fairly rare, these cancerous growths can cause sneezing that comes on gradually, along with chronic mucous nasal discharge, initially usually just on one side. The tumor may even cause facial deformity or cause the eye to bulge. They occur more often in longer-nosed older male dogs. Diagnosis is with radiographs or computed tomography, or in some cases, high-pressure saline infusion into the nose. Treatment of choice is radiation therapy, but surgical removal and chemotherapy are also used.
Primary Nosebleed
Dogs may sneeze to clear their nose of blood from a nosebleed. Excessive bleeding can result from clotting problems caused by exposure to rodent poisons, tick-borne diseases, or autoimmune conditions. Other systemic problems, such as kidney failure, can cause high blood pressure, leading to a nosebleed. Blood tests can help diagnose the problem and guide treatment.
How Can Sneezing in Dogs Be Stopped at Home?
A little sneezing may be good to clear the passageways, but prolonged sneezing can cause a bloody nose, shortness of breath, and keep both of you up all night. It could even be an emergency, although not common.
“Sneezing can present as an emergency if it’s severe and persistent, or if sneezing results in blood from the nose,” says Dr. Klein, who was an emergency veterinarian for over 30 years. “Sneezing could also be an emergency if a dog is having difficulty breathing or is pawing excessively at its head and nose.”
A definite emergency would be if the dog is sneezing because of a nosebleed and has pale gums, little red splotches on the gums (called petechia), or black, tarry stools, or if they’re lethargic or have a fever. These could suggest a serious clotting disorder leading to excessive bleeding.
For most other causes, with the possible exception of allergies, you need to schedule a veterinary appointment during regular hours as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, you may be able to slow the sneezing yourself:
- If you suspect sinus infection or kennel cough, use a humidifier (or hot steamy bathroom) so the warm steamy air can help unclog their nose.
- Consider placing ice packs on your dog’s muzzle, right above their nose, for 5 to 10 minutes
- If your dog has a bloody nose from sneezing so much, you may just need to give them something to make them drowsy, so they can sleep. Elevate their nose if possible.
Dr. Klein adds: “Dog owners occasionally bring their dogs in emergency when their dogs have an episode of ‘reverse sneezing,’ a common and relatively harmless response to any irritation of the dorsal nasopharyngeal mucosa. In most cases, removing the dog from the irritating environment corrects the problem. Saline nasal spray may prove to be beneficial in some cases. If the problem persists, a veterinarian should be consulted.”
What Is the Prognosis for Dogs That Are Sneezing?
The prognosis totally depends on the cause, but most often, it’s very good given appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Systemic diseases, fungal infections and cancerous masses carry the worst prognosis, but are comparatively uncommon and can still be treated successfully—the sooner the better.
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