Why Do Dogs Snore? Should I Be Concerned if My Dog is Snoring?
Is your dog keeping you up at night with its loud snoring? Or are you worried that something may be wrong with your pup that keeps snoring and wheezing?
Read on to find the answers to the question – why is my dog snoring?
First of all, you can eliminate sleep apnea, which is a common disorder in humans and can sometimes be life-threatening for people as a cause of your dog’s snoring. It nearly never occurs among canines.
In fact, the most common reason for the snoring of dogs is due to their specific physical traits and structure. There are dog breeds that are classified as brachycephalic. Breeds like Pugs, Shi Tzu’s, Bulldogs, Boxers, and other dogs with shorter muzzles but normally long soft palates are natural snorers. This is because due to the longer palate and the shorter muzzle, part of the fleshy palate can hang down the dog’s throat as it lies down and sleeps, and this can cause snoring.
In many cases, brachycephalic dogs can adapt to these physical differences and will sleep normally and quietly, but in others where the condition is making breathing difficult, surgery may be required to shorten the soft palate of the pup.
While these dog breeds will usually snore from an early age, some dogs may start snoring unexpectedly or suddenly. In some cases, if snoring has started abruptly and is not normal for your dog, this may mean that it has developed some kind of health issue that could require treatment.
Snoring in dogs can be caused by an inflammation of the airway. This inflammation may occur as a result of an infection, an allergy, trauma, or can be caused by irritation from smoke, perfumes, and others.
Snoring in dogs can also be caused by an obstruction of the airway. This obstruction may be due to polyps, tumors, or other reasons. Your veterinarian can check the airway of your dog for any obstructions causing the breathing and snoring problems and whether its larynx opens properly when the dog breathes.
A more mundane reason for your dog snoring can be the sleeping position it is in.
It is not unusual for puppies and dogs to assume pretty awkward sleeping positions, which can cause snoring. The easiest way to resolve the issue is to gently wake your pup up so that it moves into a more comfortable or natural sleeping position.
Dogs which are obese are also prone to snoring. If your pup has excess weight in its belly and chest, this can cause snoring and noisy breathing due to the weight placed on the airways.
In rare cases, snoring in dogs can be caused by certain neurological problems.
If you have concerns about your dog starting to snore or snoring louder or more often than usual, you should speak to your veterinarian.
Here is when it may be time to take your dog for a checkup at the vet:
- If it is a quiet sleeper and has suddenly started snoring
- If it has other worrying symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, or food is falling from its mouth
- If it is showing problems with swallowing and is chocking, or if its sides suddenly start looking droopy
- If the pup has become a slow or reluctant walker or is panting excessively
But while these symptoms may sound alarming, if your dog is a regular snorer, then it is probably just a snoring dog, without any health issues which you should be worried about.
Still, in any case, it will help to speak to your veterinarian to exclude any underlying medical problems causing the snoring.
Then you can go home and put some earplugs in your ears while your doggy enjoys its snooze time.
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