What Does It Mean When A Dog Snorts: Causes, Signs, and Remedies

A dog snorts when it makes a short, loud noise by forcing air quickly through its nose. This sound is often sudden and can surprise dog owners.

Image Source: images.ctfassets.net

Deciphering the Snorting Sound in Dogs

Dog snorting is a common noise, but it can mean many things. Sometimes it is harmless fun. Other times, it signals a health issue. Knowing the difference is key to helping your pet. We will look at the many dog snorting causes.

The Difference Between Snorts and Other Noises

It is easy to mix up a snort with other sounds your dog might make. A good owner needs to know the difference.

Dog Reverse Sneeze vs Snort

Many people ask, “dog reverse sneeze vs snort?” They sound similar but happen differently.

• Reverse Sneeze: This is a sudden, rapid inhalation of air through the nose. It sounds like snorting or gagging. It often happens when the dog is excited or pulls on the leash. The dog usually stands still with its neck extended. It stops quickly on its own.
• Snort: A true snort is a louder, more forceful expulsion or quick intake of air, often sounding like a pig or a quick puff. It usually happens during play or when the dog is sniffing deeply.

Dog Snorting Noisy Breathing

Sometimes, the issue is not a distinct snort but general dog snorting noisy breathing. This means the airway passage is partially blocked or narrowed. This noisy air movement can happen all the time, not just in quick bursts. It often points to a structural issue in the nose or throat.

Common Dog Snorting Causes

Why is my dog snorting? The reasons range from simple excitement to needing medical help.

1. Excitement and Play

This is the most common and least worrying reason. When dogs get very happy, they often make strange noises.

• During intense play, a dog might snort as it tries to take quick breaths while excited.
• Greeting their favorite person can bring on a quick snort or two.

2. Irritants and Allergies

The nose is sensitive. Things in the air can easily irritate it. This leads to sneezing, snorting, and clear nasal discharge.

• Dust and Pollen: Just like people, dogs get dog snorting allergies. Spring and fall can bring on more snorting episodes.
• Strong Smells: Perfumes, cleaning sprays, or smoke can trigger a reaction.
• Foreign Objects: Sometimes a blade of grass, a small seed, or debris gets stuck in the nasal passage. This causes sudden, intense snorting as the dog tries to blow it out.

3. Brachycephalic Breeds

Short-nosed breeds have unique anatomy. These breeds often snort, snuffle, and snore. This is due to their flattened faces and compacted airways.

• Breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, and Shih Tzus naturally have less room for air to move.
• This condition is called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Snorting is a common sign.

4. Nasal Issues

Problems inside the nose cause airflow blockage.

• Nasal Polyps or Tumors: Growths in the nose can narrow the passage, causing noisy breathing or snorting.
• Nasal Mites: Tiny parasites living in the nose can cause itching and irritation, leading to snorting.
• Infections: Bacterial or fungal infections can cause swelling and mucus buildup. This results in dog snorting and sneezing.

5. Dental Problems

Believe it or not, a dog’s teeth can affect its nose. Severe tooth root infections, especially in the upper canines, can erode the bone between the tooth socket and the nasal passage. This creates a hole, or fistula, allowing air and sometimes food or water to pass into the nose, leading to strange noises like snorting.

6. Respiratory Issues

More serious health issues can also show up as snorting.

• Tracheal Collapse: Common in small, older dogs, the windpipe weakens and flattens. This causes a honking cough, but sometimes breathing sounds are affected, leading to snorting noises.
• Laryngeal Paralysis: The voice box muscles don’t work right. This affects breathing sounds and can sometimes present as snorting, especially when the dog is active.

When Does Snorting Happen? Context is Key

The time and situation surrounding the snorting episode give clues to the cause.

Dog Snorting While Sleeping

If you hear dog snorting while sleeping, it is often similar to human snoring. This happens because the throat and nasal tissues relax. When these tissues relax, they partially block the airway.

• Fatty Tissue: Overweight dogs have more soft tissue around the throat, making snoring and snorting more likely when lying down.
• Sleeping Position: Sleeping on their back can cause the tongue to fall back, blocking the airway slightly, resulting in snorts.
• Mild Cases: In brachycephalic breeds, this is normal nighttime behavior. If it is new or very loud, it needs checking.

Dog Sudden Snorting

A dog sudden snorting episode that appears out of nowhere warrants attention.

• Foreign Body Aspiration: If the dog was sniffing the ground or eating something new, a sudden, violent snort might mean something went up the nose.
• Allergic Reaction: A sudden exposure to a strong allergen can cause immediate irritation and snorting.

When to Worry: Red Flags Accompanying Snorting

Most snorts are fine. However, certain accompanying signs mean you must call the vet right away.

Accompanying Sign	Potential Concern	Action Required
Nasal Discharge (Thick, colored, bloody)	Infection, tumor, or foreign body	Urgent Vet Visit
Difficulty Breathing (Gasping, blue gums)	Severe airway obstruction	Emergency Vet Visit
Lethargy or Loss of Appetite	Systemic illness or pain	Same-Day Vet Visit
Persistent Snorting (Lasts over a minute)	Reverse sneeze complication or severe irritation	Monitor Closely, Call Vet if Recurring
Facial Pain or Pawing at Nose	Foreign object or severe infection	Vet Visit Recommended

Investigating the Causes of Snorting

To help your vet, you need to observe the behavior closely. Knowing the dog snorting causes helps narrow down treatment options.

Assessing Environmental Factors

Start by looking at your dog’s surroundings.

• New Products: Did you recently switch cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, or use strong air fresheners?
• Yard Changes: Have new plants bloomed, or have you recently used pesticides or fertilizer outdoors?
• Dietary Changes: While less common, some food ingredients can cause mild allergy symptoms, including nasal irritation.

Physical Examination Steps You Can Take

If your dog seems otherwise well, you can perform a gentle check at home.

1. Check the Mouth: Open the dog’s mouth gently. Look at the gums to ensure they are pink. Check the back of the throat for anything lodged there.
2. Examine the Nose: Look closely at the nostrils. Is there swelling? Is there discharge? Do not try to stick anything inside the nose.
3. Observe Breathing Pattern: Note if the snorting happens only on the inhale, only on the exhale, or both.

Solutions and Dog Snorting Remedies

Treatment depends entirely on what is causing the snorting. Here are common dog snorting remedies based on the cause.

Remedies for Mild Irritation and Allergies

If irritation is the main culprit, environmental changes are the first step.

• Improve Air Quality: Use a HEPA air purifier in the rooms where your dog spends the most time.
• Control Humidity: Keep your home humidity levels moderate. Too dry air irritates nasal passages. Too humid air encourages mold growth, which can trigger allergies.
• Nasal Rinses: For mild irritation, your vet might suggest a sterile saline nasal rinse. This helps flush out dust and mucus. Only do this under veterinary guidance.

Managing Brachycephalic Snorting

For flat-faced breeds, management is often about lifestyle adjustments, not a cure for the anatomy.

• Weight Management: Keeping these dogs lean reduces pressure on their airways, significantly easing snorting and breathing difficulties.
• Temperature Control: Keep them cool. Overheating instantly worsens their breathing. Use cooling vests or air conditioning in warm weather.
• Harnesses Over Collars: Always use a harness. Collars can put pressure on the neck and throat, exacerbating breathing issues.
• Surgical Intervention (If Severe): Vets can perform procedures like widening the nostrils (rhinoplasty) or trimming excess tissue in the soft palate to improve airflow.

Addressing Foreign Objects

If you suspect a foreign body (like a grass seed), immediate veterinary attention is crucial.

• Vets often use a tool called an endoscope to look inside the nasal cavity under sedation.
• They can often remove the object using small tools inserted through the nose.

Medical Treatments for Chronic Issues

If infections or chronic inflammation are present, your vet will prescribe medication.

• Antibiotics/Antifungals: Used to treat active bacterial or fungal infections.
• Steroids: Used short-term to reduce severe inflammation in the nasal passages caused by allergies or polyps.
• Antihistamines: Over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines can help manage seasonal dog snorting allergies. Always consult your vet before giving any human medication.

The Vet Visit: What to Expect

If the snorting persists or is accompanied by concerning signs, a veterinary visit is necessary.

Diagnostic Tools

Your vet will perform a thorough physical exam. Depending on their findings, they might suggest further tests:

1. Blood Work: To check for underlying systemic diseases or specific allergens.
2. X-rays (Radiographs): Can show abnormalities in the sinuses, soft tissue swelling, or signs of tracheal issues.
3. Endoscopy: Inserting a small camera to visualize the nasal passages or throat directly. This is the best way to find foreign bodies or polyps.
4. CT Scan or MRI: Used for detailed imaging if a tumor or complex nasal disease is suspected.

Differentiating Snorting from Related Respiratory Events

It is vital to distinguish dog snorting from other frequent respiratory events to ensure proper home care and vet communication.

Snorting vs. Gagging

Gagging is usually an effort to bring something up from the throat or stomach. It often involves retching sounds. Snorting is purely nasal and involves forcing air through the nose, up or down.

Snorting vs. Reverse Sneezing (Revisiting the Contrast)

While related, the intent is different. A reverse sneeze (paroxysmal respiration) is an involuntary reflex to clear irritation from the nasopharynx. The dog is trying to reverse the action of a sneeze. A snort is often a more conscious sound or a simple manifestation of noisy airflow. When a dog is doing a reverse sneeze, they often make a loud “snorting gasp” repeatedly in a short burst.

When Snorting and Sneezing Occur Together

When you observe dog snorting and sneezing together, it strongly suggests irritation within the upper respiratory tract—the nose and sinuses. This points heavily toward environmental irritants, infections, or allergies as the root cause.

Long-Term Management Strategies

For chronic snorters, long-term commitment to management plans is essential for a happy, healthy life.

Diet and Supplementation

While diet doesn’t cure structural snorting, it can help overall respiratory health.

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish oil, these supplements can help reduce general inflammation throughout the body, potentially easing allergic irritation in the nose.
• Maintaining Ideal Weight: This is perhaps the single most effective dietary intervention for minimizing noise in heavy dogs or brachycephalic breeds.

Creating a Calming Environment

Reducing stress minimizes episodes of excitement-related snorting.

• Controlled Excitement: When you know playtime leads to excessive snorting, keep the play sessions slightly shorter or less intense until the dog learns better breath control.
• Safe Spaces: Ensure your dog has a cool, quiet area to rest when they feel overwhelmed or tired.

Monitoring Changes

If your dog has always snorted due to breed, you are familiar with the baseline noise. Any deviation from that baseline noise requires a check-up.

• Increased Loudness: If the normal night snore becomes dramatically louder, it suggests swelling or a new blockage.
• Change in Frequency: A dog that rarely snorted but now does so several times a day needs investigation into dog sudden snorting triggers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Dog Snorting

Is dog snorting always dangerous?

No, dog snorting is often completely normal. It is common in brachycephalic breeds, when a dog is excited, or when minor irritants briefly affect the nasal lining. Danger arises when snorting is accompanied by difficulty breathing, lethargy, or bloody discharge.

Can I stop my dog from snorting?

If the cause is anatomical (like a flat face), you cannot stop the snorting entirely, but you can manage it through weight control, keeping the environment clean, and sometimes through minor surgery. If the cause is allergies, medication or environmental control can reduce the frequency.

What if my dog snorts and shakes its head?

Head shaking often means something is irritating the ear or the back of the throat/nose area. This combination strongly suggests a foreign object (like an insect or seed) or an active infection deep within the nasal cavity. Contact your veterinarian promptly.

How can I tell if my dog is choking versus snorting?

Choking usually involves panic, pawing at the mouth, and often an inability to vocalize clearly. The dog will look distressed and may gag or cough violently. A snort is a more controlled, short expulsion or inhalation of air through the nose and the dog usually remains calm.

Are puppy snorts normal?

Puppies often make funny noises as they explore their environment and learn to control their breathing. As long as the puppy is energetic, eating well, and not showing signs of respiratory distress, occasional puppy snorts are usually nothing to worry about. Monitor closely as they grow.