Imagine just falling asleep after a hard day. You are wrapped in a soft duvet. Far away in the background, the soothing murmur of music. Your beloved dog lies in its paws. It hugs nicely and warms your legs. Your eyelids are getting heavy. You close your eyes. You get lost and … suddenly you are kissed by your pet’s loud, regular snoring! Do you know this scenario? If so, be sure to read our article on dog snoring. We investigate the reasons, find solutions and give hope to sleepy hosts.

Snoring in a dog

At the very beginning, we distinguish between two types of snoring: nauseous snoring and snoring, which is not a sign of our friend’s health problems. Fortunately, the second type of snoring is much more common. So, if your dog plays music at night, you have nothing to worry about and you can sleep soundly (well, maybe not quite soundly).

Snoring is not a medical condition, but in some cases it can indicate a health problem. Then you should see your doctor immediately to find out the cause of the problem.
How do I know if my dog’s snoring is a sign of a problem? By observing the behavior of a friend and changing him. Below are some of the factors that cause your dog to snore while sleeping. Become familiar with these factors as they will help you distinguish alarm snoring from normal nighttime music playback.

Why does the dog snore

There are several main factors that cause a dog to snore while sleeping. Here are the most common ones.

Snoring and dog breed

Any dog ​​can snore, but there are breeds for which snoring is unfortunately the norm due to the structure of the mouth. These are the so-called breeds of dogs. brachycephalics, that is, pugs, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Boxers, English Bulldogs or Pekingese.

Snoring in dogs caused by obesity

Some dogs (see Labradors) can use any minute to sneak into the kitchen and roll something off the counter or (worse) from the trash can. Both stealing food and feeding the dog between meals often lead to obesity, and obesity leads to snoring. Make sure your dog doesn’t play more music during periods of weight gain. If so, change your diet, give him more exercise, and snoring problems will be forgotten or less bothersome.

Exercise is another important thing when losing weight. If our pet has become heavier and snores more, let’s provide him with a solid dose of exercise. It is not necessary to go for kilometer walks right away (although they are recommended for medium to large dogs). We can help ourselves with toys such as discs, Kong throwing toys that roll well on the ground and bounce off the ground.

Dog snoring and allergies

Dog snoring can be caused by allergies such as dust, grass pollen, cigarette smoke, or cleaning products. Allergies cause narrowing of the airways, which in turn causes snoring. If you take your dog to nature, where there is hay, dust rising from a dirt road – pay attention to the dog’s reaction. If snoring appears or increases after such trips, allergies can cause discomfort and, at the same time, sleepless nights.

We also recommend using cleaners based on natural ingredients. Such measures are suitable for both us and our dogs, because they are less aggressive.

Snoring dog has a cold

Breathing difficulties that lead to snoring can also be caused by an infection, a cold that causes inflammation of the mucous membrane, a runny nose, enlarged tonsils, which, pressing on the trachea, reduce air flow. Snoring can also signal inflammation of the trachea or lungs, or a dog’s cough. However, in such cases, snoring is accompanied by other symptoms: fever, apathy or weakness.

Foreign body, polyps and tumors

If your dog is passionate about vomiting toys and chewing on objects, it may be that more or less of the toy or object gets stuck in his airway, especially his nose. In such a situation, a naturally undesirable fragment prevents the free flow of air. If your dog starts snoring after vigorous play, after which chewed rags, hair and soft toys remain on the floor, you should see a doctor and check for foreign bodies in the airways.
Sneezing, rubbing the nose with paws, and even fever are also common reactions to a foreign body in the nose. This condition is life-threatening – urgent veterinary assistance is required. Kong teethers
Safe Teethers have been designed for dogs that love to bite.

Pieces of sharp pine cones, food, or a blade of grass can also get caught in your pet’s nose. These foreign bodies also contribute to the dog’s snoring. Snoring is also caused by tumors and polyps. Some of them can be dangerous. Tumors and polyps always require urgent medical advice.

Dog age and snoring

A healthy dog ​​snores because during sleep the throat muscles are flabby, the soft palate and uvula tremble and sometimes touch the root of the tongue. Elderly people experience sagging muscles, which is also a cause of snoring. Thus, older dogs are more likely to play music than younger dogs.

A way to prevent dog snoring

Snoring is not a disease and therefore cannot be cured. If the dog is healthy, it is enough to make sure that he has a bed that is comfortable and suitable for his size. It is important that the entire body of the dog, including the head, fits in the den. Positioning the head below the body can increase snoring. Positioning the belly up, with the tongue dropping to the throat, also contributes to snoring.

If your pet makes night sounds, gently ask him to change position. Clean and fresh air is also important, so it’s a good idea to ventilate your bedroom before bed. Cleanliness of air and bed linen is especially important for allergy sufferers. The last thing to do is correct your dog’s weight, amount of exercise, and diet.

If your dog snores loudly and regularly, take an additional X-ray and see a doctor. For dogs from the brachycephalic group, such a test is simply necessary.

Dog snoring pathological background

However, when we discover that other ailments may be the cause of snoring, we must carefully study the case, test and prescribe treatment to help the dog. When should we worry about snoring? When it is accompanied by other symptoms: the aforementioned runny nose, chronic runny nose, fever, sneezing, rubbing of the nose with paws, lethargy or vomiting.

If you closely observe your dog, you will notice if something is wrong and if the intervention of a doctor is required. A separate topic is veterinary care for the so-called brachycephalic dogs, in which snoring often occurs during the day (except for wheezing and wheezing).