Snoozing with your furry canine pal may seem like a dream come true for doting fur parents. Aside from the comfort such a gesture brings, it’s also another bonding moment for you and your doggo.
But, while sleeping with a mutt isn’t unhygienic, sometimes it can turn into a nuisance once it starts snoring. Though such an antic’s cute, snoring can have underlying causes that can be worrying.
So, if you’re ready to uncover the truth about canine snoring, then continue reading the article below to get started.
Why does my dog snore?
If your dog starts waking you with its rumbling snores, you might want to check on a few things before panicking. On the lighter side, snoring can be due to its brachycephalic breed or sleep position. Health conditions like obesity, sleep apnea, allergies, rhinitis, canine dental issues, or fungal infections can also cause snoring. Second-hand smoke, as well as objects lodged in the dog’s airway, can also jumpstart this snoring issue.
1. Brachycephalic dog breeds
Brachycephalic what? Though this term sounds too scientific, it means your pup has flatter or shorter faces than usual.
Since they have shorter snouts, these mutts have more trouble moving the air they breathe through their airways.
However, correcting this kind of anatomy isn’t as simple as it looks. More often than not, if your vet finds more significant issues at hand, surgery is the only way to go.
Other than that, if your beloved mutt’s perfectly fine and healthy, then there’s nothing to worry about. It’s just a funny consequence of their anatomy.
But, if there are any changes with your pup’s breathing or he’s struggling, bring him to the vet straight away.
For reference, check some of the dog breeds here included in this classification:
- Chihuahua
- Pug
- Shih Tzu
- Chow Chow
- Boxer
- Bulldog
2. Sleep position
Dogs, like their human parents, have preferred sleeping positions that they deem comfortable. While most dogs sleep curled up on the floor, some love to nap on their backs.
Though it’s hilarious to see mutts snoozing with their bellies out, this position can affect their breathing.
Simply put, when our beloved canines sleep on their backs, their tongue drops backward. This causes the tongue to fall towards their throats, ultimately blocking the air.
So, if you suddenly notice your doggo snoring, and he’s lying on his back, make positional adjustments. Make him lie on his side or prop his head on a pillow. Just be careful not to wake him up.
3. Obesity
Sure it’s cute to see your doggo wearing flabby cheeks. They all the more look adorable with those baby fats.
But, too much fat isn’t a good idea, especially if you’re overfeeding your pup with its favorite treats. Excess fat around the throat area can constrict the airways and eventually collapse.
Worst case scenario, the airways are too constricted that air cannot move through them. This can ultimately spell a medical emergency for your furry friend.
So, to prevent this problem, help your mutt cut down on the excess fat. Speak with your veterinarian on introducing a healthy diet and exercise regimen if this is the case.
Who knows, you’ll have more peace at night once the weight issue is already fixed.
4. Sleep apnea
Familiar with this term? Well, if you aren’t, sleep apnea means shallow breathing with occasional pauses for brief periods during sleep.
And, when dogs start breathing again, they usually inhale loudly, causing them to produce snoring sounds.
If you notice this in your beloved canine, make sure to have it checked out with the vet. Indeed, such a phenomenon’s scary, but talking with your vet can help you sort possible underlying conditions causing it.
5. Allergies
Another relatively common reason for snoring is an allergy. Though it’s quite bizarre, dogs do experience allergic reactions similar to their human counterparts.
And, just like their hoomans, mutts can experience allergic reactions to pollen, dust, and even animal dander.
These particles cause a series of reactions in the body, ultimately ending with constricted airways leading to snoring.
Hence, it’s always advisable to watch out for triggers to a dog’s allergy once he’s diagnosed with it. You can simply change the filter in your home or eliminate the cause.
Also, you can reduce triggering a canine’s allergic reaction if you regularly rinse its feet before going indoors.
Bathing with hypoallergenic soap or dusting its fur with a damp cloth also produces similar effects.
However, if your pup’s experiencing a more severe allergic reaction, bring him to the vet immediately. Chances are they’ll give the doggo medication to help ease the swelling in his airways.
6. Rhinitis
Just like humans, dogs occasionally experience the common cold or rhinitis in medical terms. Sniffles also cause the airways to become irritated and inflamed, ultimately narrowing them.
Hence, it’s not uncommon for our canine pals to experience sneezing, wheezing, and runny nose when they have colds. Occasionally, if their nose’s all clogged up, then snoring isn’t a far-fetched possibility to occur.
To solve this dilemma, go to the vet. Chances are, he’ll give your doggo antibiotics to combat the causative agent. Also, you can help with the clogged nose problem by adding moisture to the air through a humidifier.
Make sure the pup also assumes a comfortable sleeping position to aid with breathing.
7. Dental problems
One of the more uncommon causes of snoring is a doggo’s dental issues. Though it’s rare, an infected rogue tooth can cause an abscess (pus) formation on the oral cavity and sinuses, ultimately blocking its airways.
Once the airways get blocked, then snoring can occur as well. If you leave the infection be, then the worst-case scenario can occur as it can spread to other parts of a dog’s body.
This can lead to more severe problems, even life-threatening ones. Hence, if you notice this straight away, see the vet as soon as possible as this needs serious medical intervention.
8. Fungal infection
Another relatively uncommon cause of snoring for our beloved mutts is a fungal infection called Aspergillosis.
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection that occurs whenever your dog inhales the spores from grass, hay, dusty objects, and straw.
Once the spores enter the dog’s moist nasal mucosa, they cause irritation, leading to swelling. And, once swelling occurs, it can constrict the airways, making the pup snore.
And, like leaving a dental infection be, Aspergillosis can become life-threatening if not addressed. If you notice snoring along with sneezing and other respiratory symptoms, take the pup to the vet.
If Aspergillosis is the culprit, the vet will prescribe antifungal medications to address it.
9. Second-hand smoking
Everyone knows how damaging cigarette smoking is to a humans’ lungs. And, if it’s a health hazard to people, it also can wreak the same havoc in your doggo’s respiratory system.
Though dogs don’t directly smoke, they can still get affected by its effects through second-hand smoking. Inhaling the fumes can irritate the mutt’s airways, leading to swelling.
Hence, snoring isn’t a far-fetched symptom that your pup’s experiencing the effects of second-hand smoke as well.
So, if you finally correlate your smoking with your dog’s snoring, bring him to the vet for further check-up. Also, it’s best to quit smoking altogether for you and your doggo’s sake.
If quitting isn’t workable at the moment, simply make your home a smoke-free zone.
10. Physical occlusion
Since no one can stop dogs from exploring their surroundings, it’s not unusual for bizarre items to end up in their noses. If these objects enter a pup’s nasal passages, they can block airflow, leading to snoring.
Though it can look harmless, objects obstructing a dog’s airway can sometimes lead to more serious complications as well.
If you notice greenish or bloody discharges with airway blockage, send the mutt straightaway to the vet. For sure, the vet will prescribe a series of tests and medications to solve this issue the soonest.
Also, vets don’t want to miss any chances that a tumor or cyst’s the culprit behind your pup’s snoring. Thus, it’s always best to seek consultation from a medical professional in these cases.
No matter what’s the cause behind your beloved mutt’s snoring, it’s always best to investigate thoroughly. As a responsible pet owner, you don’t wish to miss out on anything and endanger your canine.