Symptoms of Canine Sneezing

Dogs sneeze for a variety of reasons, from allergies to infections. Sneezing may be a one-time occurrence or a consistent problem. Severe or ongoing sneezing is a sign of a serious problem and should be treated by a veterinarian. While the actual sneezing is an obvious symptom in itself, it may be accompanied by other symptoms as well.

  1. Nasal Irritation

    • All that sneezing may result in irritated skin on and around the dog's nose. The bridge of the nose may even swell. You may notice bleeding from one or both nostrils.

    Excessive Rubbing

    • Your dog may spend lots of time rubbing his face when he is experiencing sneezing. He may lick his nose frequently or paw at his face. This is a result of irritation or even a blockage in the nose.

    Breathing Problems

    • Your dog may begin mouth-breathing, a sure sign of a stuffy nose. You may also hear your dog make an explosive sucking nose. This is a reversed sneeze, but is indeed a sneeze. She may also breathe noisily.

    Gagging

    • A dog suffering from sneezing often swallows more often than usual. This is to help rid her throat of postnasal drip. If your dog spends a lot of time sneezing, she may also begin to gag or even throw up. (See References 1-2.)

    Foul Odors

    • Nasal or sinus infections often cause canine sneezing problems. These infections are also notorious for creating abnormally foul-smelling breath in your dog. You may notice a foul odor coming from your dog's nose as well, caused by the infection or a sneeze-inducing nasal blockage.

    Eating Problems

    • A dog with a sneezing problem often loses the sensation of taste. This results in a loss of appetite---because the dog can no longer taste his food, he loses interest in eating. A loss of appetite may lead to weight loss.

    Tiredness

    • Dogs who sneeze excessively use a lot of energy. Sneezing is also often caused by an underlying illness, and your dog's body uses extra energy to fight the illness off. Lack of energy is a sign of many canine illnesses, but in combination with other symptoms listed in this article may indicate a sneezing problem in your dog.