Wheezer

One of the newest interesting elements I’ve faced in bringing up Jazz is reverse sneezing. Sounds weird right? But it is actually a very common phenomenon in dogs according to Veterinary Partner.com. It’s described as a rather “disconcerting event” where dogs make a series of wet, wheezing gasps as if the dog is choking, or in fact sucking sneezes back into their mouths.

Odd, eh?

The Bark.com lightheartedly refers to it as “Dog Honking”.

It’s again a pretty alarming sight the first time you see it, especially when you are watching your own dog endure a gasping fit. The first time Jazz “reverse sneezed”, we had just come back from a walk, and I was under the impression she just had some dust in her nose and was trying to “blow” without sneezing. I passed it off as nothing the first time, but in the days that followed, I saw her continuing to have these little “fits”. I was almost tempted to check for a 24 hour vet’s office, but instead regarded myself to simply investigate the situation online.

Turns out as I mentioned earlier, it’s a pretty common symptom in dogs, with according to All Dog Health.com no particular known cause, outside of common sinus/nasal irritation. It’s also a non-lethal condition that requires no special treatment, just a couple of suggested actions to ease the dog’s “suffering” by pinching their nose shut while massaging their throat, causing them to take a quick breath upon release and ending the spasms. I also found gently blowing at Jazz’s nose when she’s mid fit, seems to end the sneezes as well. 

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