Why Is My Dog Sneezing So Much? (And How To Help?)

Just like us, even our four-legged buddies can fall prey to the seasonal sniffles. But if you’re finding yourself wondering – why is my dog sneezing so much out of nowhere? – it can be a concerning sign. (Especially if it persists.) Let’s dive right into the reasons behind sneezing in dogs, when you should head to your vet, and how keeping track of your buddy’s whereabouts can help you figure out if they’re heading into any sneeze-prone zones in your neighborhood.

Why is my dog sneezing? The main causes

Now the occasional sneeze or two is (usually) not a cause for concern. In fact, dogs might even sneeze out of excitement or in the middle of playtime – like to show another playmate that they’re friendly and not a threat.¹

Besides, sneezing actually helps your dog’s nose clear out any irritants – or even something that might be stuck inside. So it plays an important role in keeping your buddy healthy, even if it doesn’t sound like it!

But as it turns out, the reasons your dog might be sneezing could range from completely harmless to more serious health issues. With common culprits including:

Airborne irritants (which might trigger allergies)

Your dog’s sense of smell is nothing short of a superpower – it’s at least a million times more sensitive than ours. So watch out for strong scents in your home environment – like: 

• Air fresheners, 
• Scented candles, 
• Deodorants and perfumes,
• Cleaning products,
• and even some hair sprays – all of which can trigger a sneezing fit.

(Besides other common culprits like smoke and dust.)

⚠️ However, just like us, your buddy can also run into some seasonal allergens – both indoors and outdoors.

Which, if your dog’s developed an allergy, might also turn up as watery eyes, and even coughing. (Meaning, their immune system considers it a threat and is now on “fight mode.”)

Including:

Spring	Heavy pollen in the air, which can trigger some major sneezing in dogs – especially if your buddy’s already allergic to it.  LIkewise, if your dog spends time outdoors, playing in grass might trigger some sneezing from any pollen there.
Summer	If your dog is allergic to bug bites, it might trigger some sneezing. Watch out for mosquitoes and bees when you’re both out enjoying the sun.
Fall	Fallen leaves, humid air, mold, and even some mushrooms and fungi might irritate your buddy’s respiratory system in the crisp fall months. Likewise, some plants like ragweed still release pollen during fall months, which can lead to sneezing. Some fleas can survive even up to the fall months – and cause your buddy a world of discomfort if they’re allergic to flea bites!
Winter	Staying indoors can mean your heating system stirs up some dust, which can also trigger some sneezing – and possibly a dust mite infection.

So keep an ear out for if your buddy tends to sneeze most often after they’ve been outside – or if you’ve kept a window open indoors.²

In these cases, their sneezing might be caused by seasonal allergies and may be on the shorter side. If your buddy primarily tends to stay indoors, it might be something in your home environment that’s triggering their allergies. (Maybe any dust from sleeping near the floor or exploring under your bed.)

But if your dog spends any amount of time outdoors – where to start? Just about anywhere you two go out on walks together or they explore by themselves could end up triggering an allergy.

💡 But if you’re tracking your buddy’s whereabouts throughout the day, you’re now better informed what spots around your neighborhood they might be running into any allergens.

And with this knowledge, you can:

• Avoid these areas altogether,
• Warn fellow pet parents about the health risks involved, 
• Better identify what might be causing your dog’s sneezing – and take an active role in your buddy’s health

Foreign objects

Even if your dog is more of a home-buddy – they’re still going to be sniffing around and getting their nose up just about any nook, cranny, and dusty corner they can find. Which means, it’s possible their sneezing might be an attempt to get rid of:

• Grass,
• Dust,
• Dirt,
• Sticks,
• Pebbles,
• Or even small bugs stuck in their nasal passages!

In fact, nasal mites are most common if your buddy tends to dig around or rub their nose in dirt. Their bites often irritate your poor buddy’s nostrils and lead to inflammation.

⚠️ So if your dog is suddenly sneezing out of nowhere – take note. It could just be something stuck in their nose which they’re trying to release. If it persists or if you see other, alarming signs like thick or bloody discharge – drop by your vet for a checkup.

Infections

If your buddy’s picked up a viral, bacterial, or even fungal infection, it can wreak some havoc on their respiratory system. Which could include health conditions like:

• Upper respiratory infections, including kennel cough and canine influenza, which your dog can pick up from other dogs at shelters or parks. These often spread through nose droplets.
• Fungal infections, especially from moist and/or rural areas bordering woodland. Some mushrooms can be fatally toxic to dogs, so watch out!
• Canine distemper, which is a serious viral infection that includes sneezing, coughing, and even some gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Pneumonia, which can develop from both bacterial and viral infections.
• Rhinitis or sinusitis, which can result from bacterial or fungal infections, and can lead to an inflammation of your dog’s nose or sinuses.

Watch out for symptoms like excessive nasal discharge and incessant sneezing – and get your dog to a vet right away.

Other medical conditions

Besides infections and allergies, here are some other medical conditions that can trigger sneezing as a symptom:

• Nasal tumors, 
• Other respiratory parasites,
• Asthma – especially if your dog is breathing weirdly along with sneezing
• Dental diseases, especially from infected gums or abscesses 
• Tracheal collapse, especially in small or toy dog breeds
• Autoimmune conditions, like idiopathic rhinitis, which can cause chronic inflammation of the nasal passages.

In some cases, your dog’s breed can play a role in how much at risk they are for respiratory problems. Brachycephalic dog breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers tend to have short nasal passages and flat faces. This can make it difficult for them to breathe properly – and make it more likely they’ll sneeze, especially when excited or overexerted.

These dogs might also be vulnerable to reverse sneezing – as well as smaller dog breeds in general.

Why is my dog reverse sneezing? And is it cause for concern?

Not always – but it could be, depending on how severe and frequent it is.

Reverse sneezing is when your dog suddenly inhales sharply – kind of like they’re sucking back in a sneeze. They might breathe suddenly and repeatedly through their nose, almost sounding like honking or if they’re having trouble breathing. 

• In general, reverse sneezing isn’t always a cause for concern. Your dog might even reverse sneeze out of excitement, on some occasions.
• But this condition could also be triggered by irritants in the air or inflammation in your dog’s nasal passages. 
• On other occasions, reverse sneezing helps your dog clear out something irritating the roof of their mouth.

So keep an eye out for how frequent their reverse sneezing is – and take a video for your vet for your checkup.

When to head to your vet

In general, a bit of sneezing really isn’t a reason to panic. But it does count as an emergency if you notice your dog experiencing:

• Excessive sneezing,
• Excessive itching or licking themselves,
• Nasal discharge that’s thick and/or bloody,
• Nasal swelling, 
• Coughing,
• A reduced appetite, seeming more reluctant to eat or drink
• Lethargy,
• Fever

How your vet might diagnose & treat your dog’s sneezing

Your vet will most likely begin by checking your dog’s nose and throat to rule out any obvious causes of sneezing. (Like foreign objects.) In more severe cases, they might recommend an X-ray or rhinoscopy, where they’ll use a tiny camera to check inside your dog’s nasal passages. Your vet might also suggest testing your dog for any allergies – to environmental allergens, but also the commercial dog food you might be feeding them.

Based on what’s causing your dog’s sneezing, your vet might recommend:

• Nasal drops or sprays to help clear out your buddy’s nostrils,
• Decongestants, to help get rid of any blocking,
• Allergy treatments, including antihistamines or specific shots
• Antibiotics or antivirals to deal with any secondary infections,
• Corticosteroids, in case your buddy’s sneezing is caused by inflammation or tumors

How you can care for your buddy at home

As your dog gets better from their treatment, here are some steps you can take to create a supportive home environment for them:

• Do a thorough deep clean indoors to get rid of any indoor irritants that might be triggering your buddy’s sneezing. Which can include dust and smoke, but also cleaners or air fresheners.
• Wipe down your buddy extra thoroughly after your walks outdoors to get rid of any pollen. (And don’t skip on their allergy medication!)
• Use a humidifier near your dog’s sleeping area to help with any congestion.
• Let your dog lie on the bathroom floor with a hot shower running. This can also help with any symptoms as they get better.
• Avoid using any over-the-counter medications designed for dealing with colds or sneezing in humans. Many of these aren’t the safest for dogs to ingest and might actually worsen their health!
• Follow your vet’s instructions to a T, for the full course of treatment. (Yes, even if your dog seems to be getting better.)
• Keep an eye out for any change in your dog’s symptoms.

Why it makes sense to stay aware of your dog’s whereabouts

As your dog gets better and you get the green light from your vet to go back to your normal routine – you do want to ensure your buddy doesn’t run into any spots they picked up the infection from in the first place.

Which is why it’s a good idea to stay aware of your dog’s whereabouts – like where they like to go exploring, if they spend any amount of time outdoors by themselves. Dogs tend to explore the world with their noses – which means they’re likely to run into things that trigger sneezing. Including tall grass, weeds, insects, dust, and debris. All of which might be in areas you two go to most frequently for walks, hikes, or out running together.

So with the knowledge of where your dog likes to spend most of their time – you’re that much better-equipped to keep them healthy, safe, and sneeze-free, for good.

💡Which is why dog parents around the world – just like you – are using GPS trackers as an emergency measure.

With your trusty Tractive GPS strapped to your dog’s collar, you can now follow their every step:

• In real-time,
• Over an unlimited range,
• Across a Heat Map of their most frequented spots,
• And even while on vacation (or 175 countries on a Premium subscription)

All with just a glance at your phone.

Discover Location History

Say goodbye to the sniffles this season – for good

While the occasional sneeze is no big deal, you’re best off heading off to the vet if you notice your dog:

• Sneezing excessively,
• Itching or licking themselves more than normal,
• Experiencing any thick, bloody nasal discharge or a nasal swelling, 
• Coughing,
• Not eating as much,
• Having a fever,
• And not moving as much as usual

Which could be due to a combination of airborne irritants, seasonal allergies, foreign objects in your dog’s nose, infections, or even other more serious respiratory conditions. Steps like deep cleaning your environment (and your dog’s paws after a walk), using a humidifier, and following your vet’s instructions can help your buddy get better in no time.

💡 We’d also recommend staying aware of your dog’s whereabouts – and where they’re off exploring, nose-first. Which could include any nearby fields, woodland, or around other dogs. Aka, all places they might pick up an infection.

“I’ve used a Tractive tracker for over 6 years and have found it very effective in keeping an ‘eye’ on my sometimes wayward hound!

I particularly like the History feature which gives a graphic view of where the little beastie has been when out of my sight.

I just feel a lot happier knowing that, even when my dog is rootling around in the bracken I can pinpoint where he is at any given moment. I highly recommend this tracker as it is very reliable and easy to use.”

– Linda Ann, UK (Source: Trustpilot)

Always know where your dog is

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

Discover Tractive GPS

Here’s Dr. Alex from Our Pets Health covering some of the main causes of sudden sneezing in dogs:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.

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Your furry friend’s health and wellbeing means as much as to us as it does to you. So we’ve made it a priority to only share medically-relevant content on our blog.

This post was checked, double-checked, and medically verified by Georgia-based vet, Dr. Dwight Alleyne.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Alleyne began his career at a no-kill animal shelter before becoming a licensed veterinary technician. He graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 2006 and completed an internship at Purdue University.

Now practicing in Georgia, Dr. Alleyne specializes in soft tissue surgery and ultrasounds. He also writes pet health articles on his website, “The Animal Doctor Blog” (www.anmldrblog.com).