"Backwards" sneezing and small dogs???

[Beep's Mom]

Just wondering if there is any reason for this strange kind of inverted or backwards sneezing.

Beep started doing it and of course, not knowing what it was, we rushed her to the vet.

It look soooo uncomfortable when she is doing it--her head sticks out, she stays still, and her little sides go in and out like a bellows.

The vet says this is common to small dogs. Any other info would be helpful for me, as I still panic when I hear it!

Thanks!

[JMM]

I cover the nose with my fingers so the dog will breath out of their mouth and that usually stops it. Since mine tend to have it when they are excited, I pick them up to calm them down...ok, to hold them still LOL

It happens a couple times a week between my two

[jdf]

If this reverse sneezing appears to be seasonal, it might be allergy related. Roxy used to have bouts of this and our vet attributed it to post nasal drainage caused by allergens. When it was really bad, we gave her a benadryl and it seemed to help.

[Traci]

I agree with JDF, you might want to ask your vet about a trial of antihistamine treatment. Also rule out other potential physical causes, sinusitis, nasal polyps, various bacterial infections (a swab cytology or culture may be warranted), and even esophageal problems. If your dog is a senior by chance, make sure heart and lung function is A-OK and rule out respiratory infection.

[davet]

in back of the dog..this makes them gulp and then swallow--not every time---but the cause and treatment is a vet problem

[oconnorjoy]

had that problem...much like JMM's...she would sneeze and actually wheeze/cough when she was excited. I brought this to the vet's attention at her first examination and was told not to worry about it. Since she ended up passing away from pneumonia that they say was caused by the anethetic...maybe he should have worried.

I am getting a new pup shortly...I have changed vets but would like to know what I should have them check for if I notice this.

[davet]

is what thise reverse sneesing if=s, i don;t theink there is a check for that but prior to any surgery a blood san etc shouled be run...if you previous pup died during surgery, i would seriuously doubt that ther was any connection to the PND.