{"id":9487,"date":"2020-09-26T00:04:25","date_gmt":"2020-09-26T00:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happyfrenchbulldog.com\/?p=9487"},"modified":"2023-03-22T21:24:21","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T01:24:21","slug":"french-bulldog-reverse-sneezing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyfrenchbulldog.com\/french-bulldog-reverse-sneezing\/","title":{"rendered":"French Bulldog Reverse Sneezing: Why It Happens & What You Should Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

French Bulldogs are full of character: they\u2019re adorable, cuddly, and playful. Another trait of this special breed is the French Bulldog reverse sneeze. You may have noticed your Frenchie quickly inhaling and snorting, and now you are looking for answers. Below, you will find all there is to know about reverse sneezing from what it is, common causes, how to stop it, if and when to worry, and when to contact your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Reverse Sneeze?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a French Bulldog is reverse sneezing, you will notice fast and repetitive inhalations through the nose and hear sounds of snorting and\/or gagging. It almost sounds as if they are inhaling a sneeze; hence the name \u2018reverse sneezing.\u2019 During a reverse sneeze, a Frenchie will stand in one spot and its head and neck may appear extended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first couple of times you witness reverse sneezing can be scary. It may seem like your pooch is choking or can\u2019t breathe, but this isn\u2019t the case. Typically, a Frenchie is perfectly fine before and after a reverse sneeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s the first time your dog has had this experience, it\u2019s good to be cautious and take a video of the incident, then contact your vet to be certain it actually is reverse sneezing and not coughing or choking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Common Causes of Reverse Sneezing and Solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sneezing is a normal way to rid of irritants, and reverse sneezing is similar in that it\u2019s a way to relieve an irritation that\u2019s further down the throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While several breeds suffer from reverse sneezing, it\u2019s more commonly seen in those with Brachycephalic Syndrome<\/a>, where they have obstructive breathing due to the shape and size of their head, muzzle, and throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blocked airways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A French Bulldog reverse sneeze can happen if it\u2019s trying to remove allergens like dust, pollen, or mold from their airways or if it breathes in an irritant such as seeds, pollen, grass, or smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can avoid having your Frenchie around obvious allergens such as cigarette smoke or pollen coming through an opened window, you can potentially avoid a sneezing episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over-excitement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If a Frenchie is feeling extreme emotion, whether it be from joy or nerves, they may react by breathing faster and harder than usual, which can cause reverse sneezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be aware of what events may cause your Frenchie to become overly excited, and try to help it stay calm. For example, if being left alone results in anxiety, learn more about separation anxiety and do crate training, avoid signals that show you\u2019re leaving, and provide your pooch with toys to keep them busy. If your pup gets overly excited when guests come over, put it in another room until everyone is there, and have them be relaxed when you allow your pup to greet them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nasal mites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mites that are found in nasal passages can affect a dog\u2019s sinuses, and reverse sneezing is a symptom of nasal mites<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nasal mites can sometimes be found in mucus or around the nose. A vet can diagnose and treat them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leash pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you have to be careful of walks with your French Bulldog<\/a> due to their breathing issues, there\u2019s a high chance your Frenchie is so enthusiastic about getting out into the world that they\u2019ll pull on the leash to get all the sights and smells in. The irritation this can cause to their throat may result in reverse sneezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a front-clip harness not only gives you more control and avoids too much pulling but is no-pull and choke-free, which should prevent your pooch from reverse sneezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A sneezing incident can be triggered by throat spasms caused by a change in body temperature. Since we can\u2019t control the weather, this is sometimes unavoidable. Continue reading about how to stop unavoidable sneezing once it begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you observe the situation around you when reverse sneezing is happening, you will likely discover the cause and be able to fix it. When you can\u2019t avoid a reverse sneezing incident, there are ways to stop it after it begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Stop my French Bulldog from Reverse Sneezing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because reverse sneezing is a reflex that is sometimes unavoidable, you can\u2019t always prevent an episode from occurring. While it\u2019s typically nothing to worry about, watching your furry companion appear to be in a stressful situation is not necessarily enjoyable. You also don\u2019t want your pooch to feel overwhelmed, so calming them down is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time, medical treatment for a French Bulldog reverse sneeze is not necessary, and there are simple ways to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps to Instantly Stop Reverse Sneezing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. For just a moment, place your fingers over the nostrils as a way to close them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Carefully massage the throat, and this should encourage your Frenchie to swallow and halt their sneezes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Very gently blow towards the face as a way to allow it to catch their breath.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Have your dog go to a cool area or outside for fresh air as a way to calm them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Attempt to soothe and relax them by talking to them<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Change Its Diet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes reverse sneezing happens because of an allergen. Many French Bulldogs have food allergies.<\/a> If you feel that the above reasons aren\u2019t the issue, try changing your Frenchie diet. Elimination could be the route to take. For example, if their food\u2019s protein is chicken, try changing it to salmon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Limited-ingredient dog food<\/a> is great for dogs with food allergies due to its single protein source and no additives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Reverse Sneezing at Night<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It can certainly be frustrating to be woken up by your dog\u2019s reverse sneezing when you\u2019re sound asleep at night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some ways to potentially avoid this problem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n