Why Is My Dog Sneezing?

You may be surprised to learn that both pets, and people, have sneezing attacks for similar reasons. Generally a problem with sneezing comes down to two different problems. Either the membranes that line their nose are inflamed, or a foreign object of some sort has become present in the nostrils. Sometimes nasal membranes become inflamed, either because the pet was exposed to a chemical irritant, or it has contracted a respiratory tract infection. We will examine the most common causes of sneezing in dogs-

Infectious Rhinitis-The most common cause of sneezing in dogs, is found in pets that have contracted upper respiratory tract infections. Surprisingly, sometimes the only symptom of the infection, is sneezing. In people, it would be called a cold. Pet colds are typically caused by airborne virus and bacteria. The two most common cold viruses in dogs are the Para-influenza virus, and Type-2 Adenovirus. It should be noted by pet owners that both of these illnesses are highly infectious, and are passed by sneezes, from other sick dogs, or from dogs that silently carry the infection. Vets often report that it is very common for the owners of sneezing pets to tell me that their "baby" was boarded, groomed, or exposed to neighboring pets, or a doggy park, within the past two week. It is important to remember that dogs that were recently obtained from animal shelters are also more likely to have these infections. Dog owners should also be aware that very young, and very old pets, are more at risk. This is because the immune system of young animals is not fully developed. Older pets often have some age-related changes of the nasal membranes that make infections worse.

Bacteria-This is another problem that can cause chronic sneezing. Dogs are especially susceptible to bacterial upper respiratory tract infections that are caused by Pasteurella, Bordetella, Streptococci and pseudomonad bacteria. Bordatella and Adeno-2 are two of the causes of kennel cough. Dog owners should also take note that many of these bacteria are not particular about whose nose or eyes they irritate, and can cause similar problems in you. You should be aware because some pets silently, carry these bacteria and virus in their system. Although your dog can appear perfectly healthy, they can spread the infections to all the animals that they contact. It should also be noted that it is quite common for two or more organisms to be involved simultaneously in respiratory tract infections.
There are also several non-infectious causes of sneezing. Some of these are-

• Household products-Dog owners should keep in mind that the same household products, that cause you to sneeze, can cause your pet to sneeze. Perfumes, cigarette smoke, household cleaners, fiberglass, bug spray and deodorants, are only a few of the products that can cause your pet to sneeze.


• Allergies-Although most allergies in pets are exhibited as itching, some dogs will sneeze due to pollens and mold in the air. Trying to eliminate these allergens in your dog's environment is your best preventative measure.


• Foreign bodies-Dog owners should realize that it is quite common for pets to poke their nose into grassy or dusty areas, and come away with a small portion of grass, or seedpod lodges in their nostril. Keep in mind that any nasal drainage of this type will be confined to the side that has the object. You should remember that most pets eventually sneeze these objects out, but some of them must be physically removed. In addition, older dogs and cat are subject to nasal polyps, tumors, and degenerative changes, in their airways. Again, as with foreign objects, the problem is usually confined to one nostril.

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