Why Does My Dog Snort When Excited?
By now, you’ve probably noticed a connection between snorting and your pup having a good time. It’s pretty easy to recognize an excited dog: they might bark, do a play bow, wag their tail, pull on their leash, or zoom around.
Yet, have you heard of an “excitement snort”? This is when your dog demonstrates their excitement through a snorting sound, that, as we’ll see in just a minute, is also called a “reverse sneeze”.
The first time you hear it, it’ll probably take you by surprise.
So, why does it happen? Well, for one, it’s an involuntary reflex that happens when pups get giddy with emotions. They gulp in too much for their airways to handle, which ends up sounding like a snort.
Let’s clarify one thing: dogs don’t “snort” in the same way pigs do. Instead, what happens is they let out a shallow sneeze that falls short of an actual, full-blown “achoo”.
This forces them to emit a sort of sudden breath from their noses, which sounds like a snort. Experts call these snorts “reverse sneezing” or Pharyngeal Gag Reflex.
In other words, that snorting sound we talked about? Its official term is a “reverse sneeze“.
When your canine reverse sneezes, their throat muscles spasm slightly, which irritates their soft palate. To alleviate this irritation, they’ll suck in too much air through the nose. As a result, you hear snorting, grunting, as well as the occasional squeal.
Why does my dog snort when he plays?
This “play sneezing” is normal and something dogs use to show that they are excited and having a good time. … Playful sneezes tend to be a short snort that comes from the nose instead of the lungs.
As most snorting or reveres sneezing episodes are harmless some may think there isnt anything to worry about at all. That is simply not the case. One thing to be aware of is that episodes of reverse sneezing can make your sweet fur baby quite anxious. So it is important for you, their pack leader, to stay calm and dont panic. If you absolutely feel the need to do something right away you can try to gently massage his or her throat to stop the spasm. Another option would be to very briefly cover their nose. This will cause your pooch to swallow, which may clear the irritation and halt the snorting episode.
While the occasional snort is nothing to be overly concerned about, you may want to contact your vet if you notice that Rover is snorting quite often. There are methods that can you can learn to check and possibly clear your dogs airway, but few experts feel this is necessary. A quick glance in their mouth and throat could help you see if there is anything obvious, but a call or trip to the vet is ideal if snorting seems to be prolonged or extremely harsh.
One especially interesting thing to note is that certain breeds or types of dogs may be more prone to snorting than others. In the case of smaller breeds they will have smaller airways. This can lead to more frequent snorting than a larger breed. Similarly, any dog having a shorter face will have a longer soft palate. Again, this physical feature may cause your pooch to snort more often than a dog with a slightly longer face.
Another concern that experts mention is your pets weight. Obesity and excess weight can lead to a more frequent occurrence of snorting. Overweight dogs generally exhibit similar symptoms to those who may be suffering from irritation or obstruction of their airways. The excess weight that you pet is carrying can lead to them having a difficult time breathing and feeling as if there is something hindering the flow of air.
Even though you may think that little piggy snorting sound is cute it may mean something a bit more vile. As is always the best rule to follow be aware of your pups environment and try to remove anything that may be unsafe for them to have in their mouth. A safe pup is also a healthy pup.
Why Do Dogs Sneeze When Excited or Playing?
Do you have a dog? Have you ever seen them snorting? Dog snorting can actually be a common behavior, but owners may not always recognize the underlying cause of this behavior. If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering just why your dog is snorting so much, you’re not alone!