Dog sneezing now and then is generally nothing to worry about. So when should you be concerned about your dog sneezing? This will be determined by how often it’s happening and if your pup has any other symptoms.
Frequent or chronic sneezing can sometimes be a sign of something more serious going on. For example, if your dog is sneezing due to allergies, it may be worth investing in the best dog food for allergies.
If dog sneezing has you worried, keep reading. Vet Catherine Barnette lays out four possible reasons your dog is sneezing, and the last one surprised us!
Causes of dog sneezing
Allergies
In the case of allergies, your vet will first identify the cause of your dog’s allergies.
There are four common allergies in dogs: grain/dust mite allergy, inhalant allergy, flea allergy, and food allergy. Food trials are typically used to rule out common food allergies in pets, while allergy testing can assess your pet’s response to mites and environmental triggers.
Based on these tests, your vet will characterize your dog’s allergies and recommend an appropriate treatment. Allergies are managed, not cured. Your dog will likely require long-term use of a hypoallergenic diet, oral medications such as apoquel for dogs, and/or other lifestyle changes to control allergies.
Dental problems
Canine dental diseases are best addressed with a comprehensive dental cleaning, performed under general anesthesia. Your veterinarian will examine your dog's teeth closely and take radiographs (x-rays) of each tooth.
Diseased teeth will be extracted, and your dog will likely be treated with antibiotics. In many dogs, addressing dental disease alleviates recurrent sneezing.
Nasal problems
A nasal foreign body, in contrast, is typically addressed surgically. Your vet will sedate your dog, and then attempt to flush or extract any foreign material from the nose. Removal of a nasal foreign body is curative; no further treatment is usually needed, once the object has been removed from the nose.
Nasal tumors are relatively uncommon, but they do occur. Treatment may require a combination of therapies. Depending on the tumor and its location, your vet may recommend surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Sneezing can also be due to excitement
While some sneezing has a medical cause, this isn't always the case. Dogs also use sneezing to communicate with other dogs and their human companions.
Sneezing is often associated with excitement, indicating a desire to play or interact. In fact, many dogs use sneezing to get their owners' attention. Sneezing may be used as a sign of submission in some contexts, or it may be used as a way to de-escalate rough play. Behavioral sneezing usually does not indicate an underlying medical problem.
If you found this article helpful, you may want to check out What causes reverse sneezing in dogs? Vet explains
Dr. Barnette is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she received both her B.S. in Zoology and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). She has 15 years of clinical experience as a small animal veterinarian, treating dogs, cats, and occasional exotic patients. She now works as a freelance veterinary writer, creating educational content for veterinarians, veterinary team members, and dedicated pet owners.
