Dog Snoring

Dogs, like human beings, have particular sleep patterns and are favorite indoor pets used to sleeping in their master’s room.



Their trust in their human counterparts helps them sleep better, putting them into a deep relaxed sleep. They are sometimes known to paddle in sleep, bark and so on and occasionally have to be shaken really hard to wake them up. Snoring in dog is usually found in dogs that breathe heavily and the only variation is in the degree and frequency of the snores.



Dog snoring causes due to blockage of the air passage either due to mucous, colds, or certain allergic reactions. Their breathing may be hindered by the growth of excess tissue around the area particularly if the animal is obese. The excess flesh dangles around the throat area and once this condition is treated by cutting down on excessive food and giving it more exercise; the snores are likely to reduce.



Some dogs develop polyps in their nasal passage and this causes the snoring. A dog on medication for pain or for decongesting the nasal passages can be prone to snoring and once the course is over, breathing returns back to normal. If the dog has narrow nasal passages accompanied by pushed in facial features, they may breathe partly through their mouth and only twenty five percent of the nasal cavity is employed in breathing. Certain other dog breeds with shorter faces suffer from this problem too and minor surgery is known to cure this condition completely. However, surgery is risky and is often irreversible, hence it is important to consult your veterinarian and get a second opinion on the case before proceeding.

Passive smoking can be an irritant and if the owner and his or friends stop smoking around the dog or in the house, the condition may gradually improve. Avoid feeding the pet alcohol as this too may interfere with its system causing the snoring. Take the dog out for its walk when pollution from traffic is at its lowest and avoid places where pollen can cause an allergy. Dog snores accompanied by gasping, wheezing and other breathing difficulties will need immediate medical attention. If the snoring is not health related, you may have to put your pet in another room for the night or alternatively use ear plugs to keep out the noise. Changing the dog’s position and helping it turn over can sometimes stop the snoring just as it occurs for humans.