Dog Reverse sneezing - stopped breathing!
Discussion
Our dog, Dave, is a 12 year old Miniature Labradoodle. He's always been really healthy and gets at least an hours walk per day. Yesterday my partners daughter took him for a longish walk in the evening in addition to his usual morning walk. When he got back, he did quite a bit of "Reverse Sneezing" and we wondered if he'd overdone it a bit...
He sleeps in his bed in our bedroom. During the night he had quite a bout of reverse sneezing, so much that it woke us up and we were a bit concerned about him. Enough that I got him on our bed so that I could monitor him through the night.
After a while he gave what seemed like a huge sigh - and stopped breathing! At first I scratched him, which he usually loves and responds to, but got no response, so I "moved" one of his legs - again no response. I turned on the light and shook him - nothing! He was laying there, eyes open, not breathing and totally unresponsive! In a panic, I rolled him onto his back and rubbed his chest and called his name. After a short while, he responded but seemed dazed. He was a bit "out of it" for a while so I called the emergency vet - who didn't seem too concerned and just said to keep him calm, monitor him and see how he is in the morning....
So, I got him a drink - he took quite a lot - and settled him to sleep with me keeping an eye on him all night whilst he snored...
This morning he is fully back to his old self - totally normal. I have booked a vets appointment for this afternoon to check him over, but wondered if anyone else has seen anything like this, has any idea what it was - sleep apnoea? over exertion? eaten something on his walk?
Frightened the life out of us, to be honest.
He sleeps in his bed in our bedroom. During the night he had quite a bout of reverse sneezing, so much that it woke us up and we were a bit concerned about him. Enough that I got him on our bed so that I could monitor him through the night.
After a while he gave what seemed like a huge sigh - and stopped breathing! At first I scratched him, which he usually loves and responds to, but got no response, so I "moved" one of his legs - again no response. I turned on the light and shook him - nothing! He was laying there, eyes open, not breathing and totally unresponsive! In a panic, I rolled him onto his back and rubbed his chest and called his name. After a short while, he responded but seemed dazed. He was a bit "out of it" for a while so I called the emergency vet - who didn't seem too concerned and just said to keep him calm, monitor him and see how he is in the morning....
So, I got him a drink - he took quite a lot - and settled him to sleep with me keeping an eye on him all night whilst he snored...
This morning he is fully back to his old self - totally normal. I have booked a vets appointment for this afternoon to check him over, but wondered if anyone else has seen anything like this, has any idea what it was - sleep apnoea? over exertion? eaten something on his walk?
Frightened the life out of us, to be honest.
My hound had a bout of reverse sneezing a few months ago. It scared the bejesus out of me, although she seemed unfazed at the time. I really thought she was going to expire there in front of me. I strongly suspect Dave (fabulous name by the way!) had just taken a rest after breathing in huge amounts of oxygen in a short space of time, hence not needing to breathe for longer than usual - think free-divers who hyperventilate for minutes at a time before going under.
Reverse sneezing can be helped with a throat massage. Rub your hand from the front of their jaw down their neck towards their chest. Firm hand and keep going, it helps the muscle to stop the spasm. You may find it starts again and you need to do it again. Sleep apnoea usually means that the dog will restart breathing again on their own, or by shaking them and rousing them they gasp or retch and wake up to breath again.
I can’t be sure what happened with your pooch but see your own vet and go from there.
I can’t be sure what happened with your pooch but see your own vet and go from there.
Thanks all.
Just to update - I took Dave to the vet for a checkup and they found nothing at all wrong with him. Heart/Lungs checked both resting and after a short run, blood flow etc.. All good.
Vet suggested it was maybe - as one of you suggested - that he had hyperventilated with the revers sneezing and was in a deep sleep and that he probably would have just started breathing again once his body needed more oxygen... However, to be fair to the vet, it must be hard to diagnose something after the event like that.
Very scary, but happy that the old boy is still fit and healthy!
Thanks for the replies.
Just to update - I took Dave to the vet for a checkup and they found nothing at all wrong with him. Heart/Lungs checked both resting and after a short run, blood flow etc.. All good.
Vet suggested it was maybe - as one of you suggested - that he had hyperventilated with the revers sneezing and was in a deep sleep and that he probably would have just started breathing again once his body needed more oxygen... However, to be fair to the vet, it must be hard to diagnose something after the event like that.
Very scary, but happy that the old boy is still fit and healthy!
Thanks for the replies.
bhippy said:
Thanks all.
Just to update - I took Dave to the vet for a checkup and they found nothing at all wrong with him. Heart/Lungs checked both resting and after a short run, blood flow etc.. All good.
Vet suggested it was maybe - as one of you suggested - that he had hyperventilated with the revers sneezing and was in a deep sleep and that he probably would have just started breathing again once his body needed more oxygen... However, to be fair to the vet, it must be hard to diagnose something after the event like that.
Very scary, but happy that the old boy is still fit and healthy!
Thanks for the replies.
Thanks for updating us. I’m so glad Dave is okay. Reverse sneezing is terrifying when it happens for the first time. I had no idea what was going on until Lila started doing it. Luckily my daughter did some ferreting on Google and found out what was going on. Just to update - I took Dave to the vet for a checkup and they found nothing at all wrong with him. Heart/Lungs checked both resting and after a short run, blood flow etc.. All good.
Vet suggested it was maybe - as one of you suggested - that he had hyperventilated with the revers sneezing and was in a deep sleep and that he probably would have just started breathing again once his body needed more oxygen... However, to be fair to the vet, it must be hard to diagnose something after the event like that.
Very scary, but happy that the old boy is still fit and healthy!
Thanks for the replies.
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