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Question

My 4 year old golden retriever is making strange gasping sounds. Last night when sleeping she suddenly started making breathing noises, like she's sucking air in with some force. Seems involuntary and it seems to settle down after a few minutes. She did it again today. Don't know how to describe, it's not like a sneeze, although seems like the best way I can describe is an "inward" sneeze.

Submitted: 29 days and 12 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: 4

Already Tried:
Got up with her to see if she needed a drink of water but she wasn't very interested. A few minutes later, her weird breathing stopped.

Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.

 

What you are describing is most likely a reverse sneeze. A reverse sneeze if an involuntary spasm, and is caused by minor irritation to the soft palate.

 

This is not normally a problem and less it begins happening all the time does not usually require veterinary treatment.Here is a great site that also has videos of reverse sneezing to be sure this is what you are seeing.

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/reverse-sneezing-in-dogs/page1.aspx

 

 

When this happens you can try a few things to help stop the spasm. Rub the throat during the episode to help the soft palate fall back into place.

You can also try placing you finger on her tongue to cause her to swallow, this will normally reset the soft palate allowing it to fall back in place.

 

If this continues or becomes more often you may want to have her seen buy your vet to rule out sinus infection or a foreign body such as a blade of grass stuck in the soft palate area.

 

I hope this has been helpful, please feel free to reply back if I can be of further assistance.

Candy

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Expert: Candy
Pos. Feedback: 99.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 10/24/2009

Veterinary Technician

Practicing Veterinary Technician for 23 years. Veterinary Practice Owner, Technician Trainer

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