Updated 8 Oct 2024
Dog sneezing is caused by a whole host of conditions, viruses and even excitement levels. And because your top priority is your dog's safety and health, here we’ll dive into why your pooch sneezes plus the additional symptoms and causes you can look out for, and types of sneezes. Some conditions can even cause reverse sneezing in dogs. Never heard of it? Not to worry - we’ve got it all covered…
Why do dogs sneeze?
Like us humans, dogs sneeze when their nose is irritated by dust or seasonal allergies, or because something is lodged in their naval passage that shouldn’t be there, such as a small piece of earth. Unlike humans, dogs sometimes sneeze to communicate that they’re excited or feeling upbeat during playtime. If your dog is constantly sneezing, you should contact your veterinarian.
And if you’ve recently been asking yourself ‘why is my dog sneezing so much’, we get how unsettling it can be to notice a new symptom in your furry best buddy - canine sneezing can come as a surprise to dog owners. Here are a few of the reasons why your dog keeps sneezing, and below, we’ll detail causes, treatment and prevention.
- Respiratory infections
- Seasonal allergies
- Nasal tumor
- Inhalation of a foreign object
- Canine influenza
- Kennel cough
- Normal communication
- Nasal mites
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Dog sneezing caused by respiratory infections
Symptoms of a respiratory infection
If you’ve recently noticed that your dog is sneezing a lot, there’s a chance they could be suffering from a respiratory infection. Symptoms to look out for include sneezing, loss of appetite, clear, green or yellow discharge, crusting around the nostrils, decreased airflow and reverse sneezing. If your dog won't stop sneezing and they've also displaying these symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian. A respiratory infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
Treatment and prevention
If your pooch is suffering from any of these symptoms, it’s definitely worth paying your vet a visit. If an infection is present, they will prescribe medications such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or anti-fungal treatments. Your vet may suggest using a humidifier to help moisten mucous, increasing your pooch's comfort levels whilst they recover.
Dog sneezing caused by seasonal allergies
Symptoms of seasonal allergies
Seasonal allergies is a common cause of sneezing in dogs. If you suspect your dog has hay fever and they’re sneezing around the time that yours picks up, you might be right. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies too. Other symptoms include your dog's runny nose (clear), itchy skin, recurring ear infections, swollen or red eyes and of course, frequent sneezing. So if you were wondering, do dogs sneeze from allergies, the answer is yes.
Dogs sneezing can also be caused by common household products, such as perfume, cleaning products and air fresheners.
Treatment and prevention
Contact your vet and find out if allergy medication is suitable for your pooch - occasional and excessive sneezing is always worth a check over by a professional. If your dog is also suffering from itchy skin, they may be able to make some recommendations for home remedies such as soothing oatmeal baths.
Dog sneezing caused by a nasal tumor
Symptoms of a nasal tumor
A more serious reason that your dog keeps sneezing could be that they have a nasal tumor. Along with sneezing, your pooch might also wheeze, cough, and have a runny or bloody nose. Nasal tumors can cause the shape of the nose or bridge of the nose to change so if you see any lumps in this area contact your vet to investigate further.
Treatment and prevention
If you notice these symptoms in your pooch, contact your vet. They’ll organise the correct treatment which could include surgery or radiation therapy, as well as pain relief for your pet.
Dog sneezing caused by inhalation of a foreign object
Symptoms of inhalation of a foreign object
Your pooch might have a foreign object or particle stuck in their nose which is causing the sneezing. This is simply caused by daily life - whether they’re sniffing at the park and get a grass seed stuck in their nasal passage or they’re around the house and hoover up a hair, it’s not unlikely to happen at some point. So if you notice your dog sneezing more than usual, pawing at their nose, reverse sneezing or even sneezing blood, a pesky object up their snout could be the cause.
Treatment and prevention
While there’s not much you can do to prevent your pooch sniffing up unwanted objects, you should contact your emergency vet as soon as you suspect it. Most dogs can remove the object through sneezing within a short space of time, so sneezing for longer than a day should be investigated.
Dog sneezing caused by canine influenza
Symptoms of canine influenza
Like influenza in humans, dogs can pick up canine influenza virus particles through respiratory droplets released during coughing and sneezing from other infected dogs, or through contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. If you suspect your dog might have canine influenza, look out for coughing, a runny nose, fever, reduced appetite, sneezing, lethargy and eye discharge. If you've noticed constant sneezing in dogs accompanied by these symptoms such as dog sneezing and coughing, ensure your dog gets the rest they need and contact your vet if things get worse.
Treatment and prevention
Our four-legged friends can pick up canine influenza anywhere but the virus spreads most rapidly in kennels, which is why we’d always advise finding a pet sitter to care for your pooch while you’re away. Often dogs will fight off the virus with rest and hydration, but contact your vet for advice if their symptoms persist.
Dog sneezing caused by kennel cough
Kennel cough symptoms
It’s a highly contagious upper respiratory tract infection that causes a range of symptoms - the most obvious being the forceful cough which will sound like your dog has something stuck in their throat, or a goose honking. Other symptoms include eye discharge, sneezing and a runny nose, but your pooch will probably keep their normal appetite, and be quite bright in terms of energy levels.
Treatment and prevention
Vaccinating your dog annually against kennel cough will help to protect them against the disease, and reduce the clinical signs if they are unlucky enough to get it. The good news is that a week or two of rest will be enough to make a full recovery in most cases. Otherwise, contact your vet and they can prescribe medications to help your dog recover from this illness.
Dog sneezing caused by normal communication
Signs
Why do dogs sneeze while playing? Well it turns out that it’s perfectly normal for your pooch to have a sneeze or two while they’re playing or excited. Otherwise known as a play sneeze, these little nuggets of communication are exactly that - they’re simply a sign of excitement! So if you're wondering - why does my dog sneeze on me - it's a sign they're excited, enjoying your company and playtime.
Treatment and prevention
If your dog is only play sneezing, there’s nothing to worry about - occasional sneezing of this kind is normal in dogs. But, if it's carried over to other tasks and your dog is constantly sneezing, it’s best to get it checked out by your vet.
Dog sneezing caused by nasal mites
Symptoms of nasal mites
If a pastime of your pooch is rubbing their snout in dirt (who doesn’t love that?!), then they might pick up nasal mites. Picking up these tiny bugs can cause reverse sneezing in dogs, as well as bloody discharge, ‘normal’ sneezing and heavy breathing. So if your dog is dog is continuously sneezing, you should contact your vet.
Treatment and prevention
While picking up nasal mites isn’t all that likely, contact your vet if you suspect them. They may prescribe medication or flush out your dog’s nostrils.
Reverse sneezing in dogs
Often mistaken for dog hiccups, reverse sneezing in dogs - otherwise known as paroxysmal respiration - is caused by the rapid pull of air into the nose. It’s distinct from pushing air out of the nose, which is a regular dog sneeze. Reverse sneezing can be triggered by stimulation of the nose, sinuses or the back of the throat due to nasal mites or foreign material like pollen, or inflammatory conditions.
Any new behavior in your beloved four-legged buddy can be unsettling. So, if you’ve noticed your dog sneezing (or even reverse sneezing), pay a visit to your vet for a diagnosis, treatment and peace of mind. A video recording of the behavior can be helpful, as not all dogs will sneeze when at the vets!
My dog is sneezing after boarding, what should I do?
Your dog may have picked up a respiratory infection or kennel cough from other dogs at your boarding center or kennel.
Respiratory infections should be met with a vet visit, where medication may be prescribed to treat the illness. Dogs with kennel cough should be given the rest and hydration they need, and a vet appointment if symptoms persist.
To avoid your dog picking up infections and illnesses from a kennel or boarding facility, you could instead opt for an in-home pet sitter from the TrustedHousesitters community. Vets agree pets are happier at home, so take a look below to find out how to connect with a verified dog sitter.
How to connect with trusted dog sitters
Considerations for pet sitters on dog sneezing
If you’re a pet sitter, it can sometimes be difficult to know why the dog you’re caring for is sneezing a lot, if the pet parents haven’t pre-warned you. To see what other dog sitters and owners have to say, take a look below for first-hand tips and advice on dog sneezing, from our community forum.
- “This is a heads up that it is possible for a pet to be allergic to a skin-care product that you use. I just finished a sit where a dog developed a drippy nose and sneezing whenever I was in the home” - @AnnieNai
- “Most of the time I just use coconut oil as moisturizer these days which at least is safe for dogs if they have small quantities.” - @Kelly
- “I’ve sat dogs with allergies. They took pills daily in their meals or covered in peanut butter or cream cheese.” - @Maggie8K
- “Whenever the pollen is high, we keep our walks short. He doesn’t need to take as many meds as I do, but the poor thing gets very watery eyes and sneezes quite a bit.” - @wendy_chicago
Now that you’re equipped with all the knowledge you need on dog sneezing, why not find out how becoming a dog sitter works? If the idea of traveling the globe and caring for the canines in it with a place to stay in return is up your street, click below to find out more.
How to become a dog sitter
Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne
The above article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.
My dog is sneezing a lot: FAQs
Dogs sometimes sneeze when they’re excited. Known as a ‘play sneeze’, sneezing while playing communicates that your dog is having fun.
It’s common for dogs to sneeze while playing because it communicates they’re having fun, and are not a threat to those around them. So, if your dog is sneezing while playing only, it’s nothing to worry about.
Yes, dogs sneeze from allergies, just like we humans do. This type of dog sneezing can be down to seasonal allergies (i.e. pollen inhalation), dust, or environmental irritants such as perfumes, air fresheners or cleaning products.
There are a number of reasons that could be why your dog is sneezing, including seasonal allergies, nasal mites, inhalation of a foreign object, excitement, canine influenza, respiratory infections and nasal tumors. If your dog won't quit sneezing, contact your veterinarian.
Your dog may sneeze when you pet them to communicate they’re enjoying playtime. If your dog is continuously sneezing in other situations, speak to your vet as it could be down to allergies, canine influenza or nasal mites.
Dogs sneeze for a variety of reasons, and one of those is communication - your dog may sneeze when you kiss them to show submission or excitement.
Dogs can fake sneeze to get your attention, show interest in something, or to portray excitement and playfulness. If your dog's sneezing continues, speak to your vet.
Puppies may sneeze for the same reasons as adult dogs, including seasonal allergies, nasal mites, nasal tumors, and inhalation of foreign objects.
Your dog might sneeze at you to get your attention or to display excitement during playtime - dogs sneeze when happy. Other reasons your dog might sneeze at you include seasonal allergies, and to release a foreign object. If your dog’s sneezing continues, speak to your veterinarian.
When laying on their backs, their nasal fluid can move down their throat and cause a sneeze.
If your dog sneezes a lot and shakes their head, they could have nasal mites or have a foreign object stuck in their nasal passage. If you suspect either of these issues, consult your veterinarian immediately.
A senior dog may sneeze a lot for the same reasons as a younger dog - sneezing in senior dogs can be caused by seasonal or environmental allergies such as pollen, dust and household cleaning products, or nasal mites, nasal tumors or kennel cough.
Dogs sneezing a lot after waking up can be down to allergies to dust or pollen that have built up in their nasal passages overnight, and cause sneezing once they start moving around. If your dog is congested and sneezing, they may have canine influenza.
Reverse sneezing in dogs can be caused by stimulation of the nose, sinuses or the back of the throat due to nasal mites or foreign material like pollen, or inflammatory conditions.
