Reverse sneezing?

[dancinbelle2001]

I have an 8 month old Shih tzu that I just adopted about a month ago. A couple of nights ago he woke me up making this horrible weezing/choking sound. I immediately called an emergency vet who told me that it was reverse sneezing. She said that if he kept doing it for more than a few minutes to bring him in but if he stopped and didn't do it again not to worry. My puppy stopped making the noise after a few minutes and hasn't done it since. I'm still worried though. Could he have an allergy to something? The day before I had groomed him and used a detangling spray on conditioner for puppies. Could that be it? Any help would be appreciated!

[Traci]

It may or may not be related to the spray conditioner, watch him carefully and get him to your vet if it happens again....or, if he hasn't been fully examined by your primary vet since you adopted, now would be a good time to do so.

If you continue to use spray conditioners, etc, it would be better to spray on a brush, then brush through the fur, as opposed to directly spraying on your dog, which could cause irritating inhalation.

[dancinbelle2001]

Thank you! I've already taken him to my vet and he was fine then. I'll probably stop using the spray conditioners and just get the groomer to cut his hair a little shorter. Whenever we go for a walk I have to brush him when we get home because his fur picks up all kinds of burrs and twigs! Maybe if it's shorter it'll be easier to keep it from getting all tangled and dirty so easily. Anyway, thanks again!

[Marty]

Usually you can stop a reverse sneeze by cupping your hand over his nose and getting him to gulp. Biscotti does that every so often also, and it's a bit frightening the first time you see it!

[davet]

you can also clap your hand behind their head and sometimes it makes them gulp and swallowiw....in a nother few hundered years dogs will learn to spit and they won;t have this problem

[KB]

My Dobie does/will do the reverse sneeze with air, carpet, fabric fresheners. I try to only use them when he can be outside for a bit. Thankfully he listens when I tell him to get a drink of water.

[momPaws]

Honey does this too and sometimes I can get her to stop by just distracting her or like Marty said..kinda rub her nose. She is actually doing regular sneezes now that allergy season is here.

[dancinbelle2001]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions! I really appreciate it!