Why Is Your Dog Sneezing Constantly?

Dog sneezing is a condition that may be caused by a wide range of factors, including environmental factors or internal infections. Identifying the problem that causes sneezing in your pet is essential in finding the most suitable course of treatment. Some dog breeds may be more susceptible to breathing problems and sneezing due to flat noses and tighter air ways. If you would like to know why your dog is sneezing constantly, you should suspect the following things.

Allergies

Allergies often affect dogs and sneezing is among the most common allergy symptoms. The dog will inhale the irritant and this will cause constant sneezing. The allergies can be caused by chemicals, dust mites, smoke, pollens or grasses. Dogs over the age of 2 are more exposed to developing allergies. Full treatment of allergies is not possible, but the dog can get medication to control the allergic symptoms and stop the constant sneezing. The allergen should be found and removed from the dog's surroundings.

Upper Respiratory Infections

Upper respiratory infections (URI) can cause constant dog sneezing. A URI may be caused by different viruses and bacteria and are transmitted from other infected dogs through air or direct contact. Watch out for other symptoms such as fever, dry nose, coughing and difficulty breathing, which are very similar to the symptoms of allergies. A URI is treatable through suitable antibiotics. In severe cases, the flushing of the sinuses may also be performed.

Ingested Foreign Objects

A foreign object that is ingested and stuck in the dog's airway can cause constant sneezing as he tries to eliminate the object. Other symptoms may include drooling, sometimes sneezing of blood of shaking of the head. The ingested object may be visible, so you should inspect your dog's throat and try to remove the object. Once the object is removed the sneezing should stop. If you cannot remove the object, visit the vet.

Oral Infections

Oral infections that affect teeth can cause constant sneezing. If a tooth is infected, the dog will have bad breath and there will be an accumulation of pus in the area. The dog may be drooling and avoid eating, due to pain. Inspecting the dog's mouth can help you identify the problem, but the dog may not always allow you to look at his teeth, especially if he is in pain. A tooth infection should be treated with antibiotics and after the infection and pus are gone, the vet may determine if the tooth requires extraction or another sort of treatment.

Oral Tumors

Tumors that are located in the oral cavity or respiratory tract can cause dog sneezing. In some cases, there may be blood when the dog sneezes, if the tumor is affected by food or other objects the dog ingests. The tumor may be visible when inspecting the mouth and throat of the dog. A vet needs to perform a biopsy and determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant.

 

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