Why does my dog sound like she can't breathe when she's excited?

Question

My 3-yo ACD-GSD mix has been having breathing problems sporadically throughout the day, mostly when she's excited. It's noisy and almost cough-like, sounding as though she's actually not able to breathe. The problem only lasts a few minutes. I checked her gums while she was breathing fine, and though it's hard to tell because of her coloring, I think they're normal. She's otherwise healthy, though she's always sneezed a lot. What might the causes be? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 2 years and 6 months old | 55 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

From your description, my main suspicion is that Brownie is experiencing a reverse sneeze. This occurs when irritation occurs in the back of the nasal passages, causing her to dramatically inhale air. (Regular sneezes occur as a result of irritation at the front of the nasal passages, causing air to be pushed out.) During these episodes, you can try blowing directly into her nose (I realize that it sounds strange!), but this can help to change her air flow and stop the reverse sneezing. If these episodes worsen, she could also be experiencing the start of collapsing trachea (unusual in a larger dog), allergic airway conditions or kennel cough, which would require a visit to her vet. I hope that all goes well!

Why does my dog sound like she can't breathe when she's excited?

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