Sneezing may be caused by numerous factors, most commonly by the irritation of the air ways. The air ways may be irritated by allergies, infections or foreign objects that got stuck in the nose. In most cases, dog sneeze control is within reach.
Detect the Problem
Before you try to relieve the dog’s sneezing, you should find out the source of the sneezing. There are different treatment options depending on the cause of sneezing. See if your dog displays other symptoms and check if there are any foreign objects that may have been stuck in his nose. You may also pay a visit to the vet if the sneezing persists.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers may eliminate the dog’s sneezing, if the sneezing is caused by allergies. A lot of dog allergies are caused by substances (i.e. smoke, dust) that may be present in the air; the air purifiers will clean the air, so the dog won’t inhale potential allergens.
It would be a good idea to install an air purifier in every room of your home or at least in the rooms where the dog spends most of his time.
Through Cleaning
Cleaning your home can greatly reduce the number of sneezing bouts of your pet. Your home may gather a lot of dust, pollens and other allergens that can cause sneezing in your pet.
Limit Your Dog’s Exposure to Allergens
If your dog sneezes due to pollens or grasses, you should limit his exposure to these. Keep your dog indoors and when he gets back from the outdoors, you should clean his coat with a moist sponge, to remove all allergens that may cause sneezing.
Remove the Foreign Object
Often, the sneezing is caused by a foreign body (i.e. foxtail grass) stuck in the dog’s nose. Try removing this foreign body using tweezers or visit the vet if you don’t manage to extract the foreign body.
Medication
The sneezing may be caused by an upper respiratory tract infection. This may go away without treatment, but in some cases, antibiotics should be administered. The antibiotics will alleviate the sneezing. The type of antibiotics should be established by the vet after determining if the infection is caused by viruses or bacteria. Don’t give your dog human antibiotics.
When the sneezing is caused by allergies, the vet may recommend the administration of antihistamines. You may use human over the counter antihistamines such as Benadryl, but you should consult your vet to get the appropriate dosage and to see if there are other treatment options for this condition. Antihistamines can only bring temporary relief of allergy symptoms or sneezing; as soon as your dog discontinues the drugs, he will start sneezing again.
Sedatives or Pheromone Diffusers
In some cases, sneezing may be a nervous habit of the dog. The vet will establish if your dog has a problem and prescribe a few sedatives that will soothe your dog. Alternatively, pheromone diffusers may be used to calm the dog.