While owning a dog is fun, it's also a serious responsibility. You need to handle checkups with your vet and make sure the dog gets enough exercise and attention. Whether you're a new pet owner or had dogs in the past already, you may not know when to call the vet about small issues.
If your puppy sneezes a lot, it can indicate many different things. Take a look at some of the causes to find out when you should get in touch with your vet.
“We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life." – William Osler
Foreign Objects
One common cause of sneezing in dogs is a foreign object. Puppies love sniffing things and can easily inhale an object that goes up its nose. The puppy will keep sneezing as a natural way to get it out. There are certain types of plants that puppies can inhale as well as toys and other things around your home.
As much as you love watching your puppy run and play, it may be wise to keep certain things away from their reach, such as cleaning supplies, small toys, toxic flower pots, etc.
Allergies
Allergies are a common cause of a puppy sneezing a lot. In the same way that humans can have allergies to things in their environment, so too can puppies. This is more common in some breeds than others and can often last for weeks or even months at a time.
Puppies with allergies will sneeze and present other symptoms such as having chest congestion and trouble breathing. They can also develop runny noses. Your vet can help you create a treatment plan to cope with your puppy's symptoms.
Diseases
It's often better to talk to your pet than try to cure sneezing at home because it can be a symptom of a serious disease. Kennel cough is just one of those diseases. Most of these conditions spread among pets. Not only can your puppy pick one up from a kennel, but the dog can spread it to other animals in your house.
Many of these diseases come from fungi and other environmental issues. With help from your pet, you can treat the condition at home.
Airway Issues
Depending on the type of puppy you have, the sneezing may occur simply because of airway issues that are common with that breed. The symptom can also occur due to other airway issues such as obstructions.
When anything lodges in the dog's nasal or sinus cavity, it can lead to sneezing. This is the body's natural way of getting the object out. Puppies can also sneeze because of a tumor or polyp that grows inside the cavity. Only a vet can diagnose a tumor or polyp, which will require a trip to the office and some x-rays.
Mites
Mites might be one reason why your puppy keeps sneezing. You might hear about ear mites and not realize that dogs can also suffer from nasal mites. These are small parasites that wreak havoc on your poor puppy.
- Ear mites often leave behind tiny red or pink bite marks. Dogs can also develop patches of inflamed skin because they keep scratching.
- Nasal mites often cause the same problems but inside the nose and are hard to see. Puppies with nasal mites both sneeze and have runny noses. Your vet can use a special tool to examine the puppy's nasal cavity and design a treatment plan.
Irritants
A common reason why a dog sneezes is because it inhaled some type of irritant. Have you ever seen a puppy sneeze after running through a yard filled with flowers? The puppy likely sneezed because of the seeds and pieces of the flower it inhaled.
Irritants can include many different things found around your home such as air fresheners and carpet powders as well as dust and cigarette smoke. If you recently started using new cleaning products, you might find your dog sneezing.
Reverse sneezing in dogs is similar. This can often sound as if the puppy is choking and occurs as it tries to push out the irritant.
Sinus Problems
“Dog sneezing and runny nose is a popular search term, especially among first-time pet owners. Do you occasionally have problems breathing and develop a runny nose? This often relates to sinusitis, which occurs when the lining in your sinus cavity is inflamed. Your puppy can develop a similar condition because it inhaled feces particles or other irritants.
Bacteria and fungus can also cause sinusitis. Puppies with this condition may paw at or rub their noses and experience appetite changes.
Other symptoms include bad breath and bleeding from the nose. At the first sign of sneezing or any other symptoms in your new puppy, make an appointment to talk to your vet.
Pets can shed a lot, making your house cleaning efforts feel much more tiring. Contact a local house cleaning company and save yourself the time and effort!
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