Have you heard of reverse sneezing in Chihuahuas? As dog owners, we often fear for the worst when we hear strange noises from our pets – and Chihuahua parents are no exception. If anything, we can tend to overreact when it comes to the safety of our furry little friends!
Why Does My Chihuahua Snort?
Among the many interesting noise phenomena that our canines are capable of, reverse sneezing is one that’s often a cause for extreme alarm among lovers of these pint-sized pups.
For the most part, though, this behavior is often short-lived and harmless for your friend on four paws, even though it can look and sound like an emergency for your Chi.
It’s a good idea, too, to know the difference between this harmless reflex and more serious respiratory issues like collapsing trachea, another common health problem for Chihuahuas, or Kennel Cough, which is common among all dogs.
What is Reverse Sneezing in Dogs?
When your dog sneezes in their regular manner, the air is pushed out through their nose. With reverse sneezing in dogs, air is pulled in through your pup’s nose instead. It’s essentially a backwards sneeze that makes a very distinct sound.
A Chihuahua reverse sneeze can be head-turning for a pet parent, to say the least!
During an episode of reverse sneezing, dogs will usually breathe in rapidly and stand still with their heads stretched out and their legs apart, making a loud snorting or honking noise that might sound like he’s choking on something. Some owners even describe it as looking and sounding very similar to a cat trying to bring up a hairball!
Generally, episodes of reverse sneezing in Chihuahuas last no more than a minute or two though, with dogs acting normally in between episodes.
Here’s a video that shows a pug doing the reverse sneezing thing and what a Vet has to say about it.
In comparison, tracheal collapse is a condition in which your pup’s trachea partially collapses or flattens out as your Chi is trying to breathe. This particular problem causes irritation to your dog’s airway and results in gagging, coughing, or wheezing symptoms, all of which are quite distinctive and different from reverse sneezing.
When in doubt as to what might be causing your pup to produce odd breathing sounds, take advantage of modern technology and try to record a video of your dog’s behavior for your vet, since this can give them a much clearer picture of the symptoms your canine companion might be experiencing.
The jury is still out on determining the exact cause for reverse sneezing in small dogs, though it seems to serve the purpose of getting rid of irritating nasal intruders like dust, dirt, and pollens. Any breed, age or sex of dog can experience reverse sneezing incidents.
In Chihuahuas, who seem to have a higher incidence of reverse sneezing than many breeds, things like drinking too fast, over-excitement, and use of a collar instead of a harness while walking are all potential triggers.
Canine allergies or inflammation of a dog’s nasal passages can also contribute to the incidence of these episodes.
Should I Worry About Reverse Sneezing?
Most reverse sneezing episodes are completely harmless and your Chihuahua will probably recover problem-free. But there are some occasions that could be cause for concern.
If you find your Chihuahua reverse sneezing a lot, or increasing in frequency, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your veterinarian.
Keep an eye on your pup for other serious signs that could potentially signal a more serious problem such as a viral infection, polyps, nasal mites or even a cancerous growth.
- discharge from their nostrils
- nosebleeds,
- difficulty breathing
- odd facial appearance
- change in appetite
If you suspect your pup is sneezing because of allergies, your vet may be able to discuss giving your dog an antihistamine at certain times of year to decrease your dog’s reactivity to annoying airborne particles.
What Can You Do About Chihuahua Reverse Sneezing?
Although it can be impossible to predict episodes of reverse sneezing in Chihuahuas, there are a few things that you can do to help your pup at the time.
Massaging your Chihuahua’s throat, gently opening their mouth, or blowing on their nose can help to stop the sneezing reflex, as can offering them a small amount of food or water.
If these things don’t help, then briefly and gently pinching your pup’s nostrils closed may help stop the sneezing spasm, too (no more than 3-4 seconds, for example).
I love this video of Dr. Karen Becker explaining reverse sneezing and what to do about it.
Even if your Chihuahua has never experienced an episode of reverse sneezing, it’s never a bad idea to educate yourself about this condition, as these cute little canines do tend to be more prone to a reverse sneezing reflex.
Knowing what to expect and being prepared in advance of an episode allows you to keep calm and help your dog effectively to recover and continue their day happily and stress-free!
And just to make you feel a little more at ease about this condition, I had a wonderful poodle mix (who was a therapy dog for nursing homes and hospitals) who dealt with reverse sneezing throughout his whole life and he lived to be one month shy of his 19th birthday.
Learn more about other chihuahua health problems.
Dr. Sara Ochoa
DVM
This article has been fact-checked and approved by Dr. Sara Ochoa DVM. You can read more about her on our About page.
I finally figured out that my Chi is allergic to peanuts.
Did the peanut allergy cause reverse sneezing Elizabeth?
Mi Chi has this too. I have found that using a harness instead of a collar has helped; as well as gently stroking his throat or covering his nose with the palm of my hand helps too. It’s funny how sometimes he’ll get it when he’s excited, other times he can just be relaxing with me and it starts. I don’t worry about it anymore but I did when I first got him.
It is scary the first time you hear it isn’t it Sami?
Yes, Kilosmom. It was scary and still sometimes bothers me when it goes longer than usual. I’ve had my Chi for over four years and he does it much less since I stopped using collars. He’s been on a harness since maybe a couple of months after I got him.
Many chis have problems with collars. Glad switching to a harness helped your Chi Sami.
My Rosebud, or known as Rosie, has this happen quite often when she gets excited, especially when my son-in-law comes over. She is crazy about him. I didn’t know what it was, so a big Thank You to you for this information. I am glad to know I was doing the right thing to help her, lightly massaging her throat, and talking softly to her. Thanks again.
You are welcome Betsy!
Although it is not something you or your dog to have, it is always good to find out what is causing an allergic reaction so you can try to avoid what causes it.
That’s true Vicki.
My little 3 lb Jose has done this several times a day every day for all of his four years of his life. A couple of years ago he had to have a couple of baby teeth pulled, i had his vet check him for any defect that would cause this, and he didn’t have any. It turned out to be a backwards sneeze. He gets them pretty bad at times. I have found that if the neck massage doesn’t work, i blow into his face, and he takes a normal breath, and he is ok after that.
I haven’t tried blowing in their face but that’s a good idea! Thanks for sharing Kathy!
My little “G.B.” does the reverse sneezing thing also. It’s kinda random so haven’t figured out if anything in particular triggers it. If you will notice..they always stick their nose straight up in the air, which makes it worse…gently push it back down with your palm ON top of their nose & open their mouth if you can with your fingers…this immediately gives them relief. 🙂
good advise Wanda. Thanks!
I was frightened also being a first time chi owner. I thought she was aspirating (food/fluid going into lungs) on water, then came across reverse sneezing. PP mainly does it during or after drinking, but occasionally for no apparent reason.
Yeah they do sound like they are choking on something don’t they. Thanks for sharing Susan.
Our Any does this often especially every day when her Daddy comes home. We just let her get finished, stand her in the floor if were holding her. Her little butt is going a hundred miles an hour the whole time. We just watch her close and let her get it out of her system. Then try to greet her calmly with loss of love, kisses, neatly rubs, but scratches, ant thing she wants. My husband bought her as a Min Pin. But we know better. She looks nothing like her Pin bother. But that doesn’t matter, we love this ugly little girl as much, to the moon and back a zillion times
Awww, she’s not ugly, she’s cute! Sounds like her issues are caused by excitement.
She’s a sweetheart ! My Chi just turned 1 and he usually starts with excitment when the reverse sneezing starts !
Buddy is such a joy !! He even gets along with my 2 older cats.
Do the cats like Buddy Sandra?
My Buddy just had this happen a week ago. It was pretty frequent, which got we worried. I took him to the vet and he gave him a shot of benedryl.
I think Buddy’s was caused by pollen while we were outside. I was glad I thought to video the episode, so I could show the vet when we got there!
Buddy is fine now…still have a very occasional episode of short duration!
You were smart to videotape it. Glad Buddy is doing better! He’s a cutie!
The first time I saw my boy, Paco do it, I rushed him to the vet. At first, I didn’t even believe the vet, I thought Gosh that sounded & looked so awful, it must be something very serious. I went home and did some research and was so relieved to see that in fact it was reverse sneezing. He gets it mostly when he is excited. I massage his throat and it usually goes away quickly. Hope all the fur babies who suffer from this feel better.
I panicked too Sandra the first time I saw it. My terri-poo who was also a therapy dog did it one time when we were at a children’s hospital. He was just so excited to be with all those kids but I thought he was dying! Fortunately I was with someone else who had experience with it and she showed me what to do to stop it and told me what it was. That was about 10 years ago.
Do cats suffer from this as well?
Do cats have this allergy as well. I have an older adult female cat that is making the same noise.
Yes it’s possible Raylene but doesn’t happen as often as it does with dogs. Often times with cats, it’s hairballs stuck in their throat.
Our Snickerz does this, I feel so bad for her! Her little body tenses up & she looks so scared when it happens! The Vet said reverse sneeze – I thought she was crazy!
I felt better after reading up on it being so common.
Glad it helped Lori and Snickerz is a cutie!
My Peanut does this too, but only when he’s excited. I rub his throat, & that seems to help. I never knew what it was until I just read this article. Thanks for publishing it.
You’re welcome Susan and Peanut is a handsome boy!
Thank you, & Happy Holidays from me & Peanut! (Woof Woof!)
You’re welcome and Happy Holidays to you and Peanut too Susan!
my dog continued this backward sneezing a month , after I had taken him to vet. we went back and they did biopsy on his sinus and found it to be nasel cancer. stay vigilant, not always allergies or hay fever. I had never heard of cancer in the nasel prior to this.
Very true Doveva. One of my best friend’s recently lost her beloved little beagle to nasal cancer.
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I did the same thing the first time mine did it (about 15 years ago). I panicked and rushed him to the vet! I think that everyone there thought I was a crazy Chihuahua lady (I am actually :)). It scared me so much, I did some serious research and this is what I learned:
Backward or reverse sneezing is also known as a collapsed trachea and is most common in small dogs; Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Pugs, etc. The trachea is a little like a vacuum hose that has small rings (cartilage) that keep the airways open. It can be something they are born with or a deficiency in calcium, disease, or obesity.
Yep you are right Linda although it’s my understanding that tracheal collapse is a mosre severe form of the reverse sneezing. Luckily, many dogs live with this their whole lives without it becoming too severe or life threatening.
This is my lovely family 8 in all we have several that do this now I now that it’s not bad
Wow Kithie! That’s quite a cute little crew you have!
We rescued our little Cricket about a year ago (she’s about 4) and she would do the reverse sneezing every few days. Then about a month ago she did it 4 times in just 2 hours each lasting a little while, so I videoed it and showed our vet. He said it could be allergies so he put her on an allergy med. It took about 10 days to kick in and she has maybe had 2 episodes in a month. We are so relieved because it is a scary thing to watch!
That’s great her condition had such an easy fix!
Our dog Pinta had this, and it’s what did her in at about 7 years old. She always was alone with my wife and I and would frequently do the reverse barking. It got really bad when we went to visit my parents and our dog came in contact with another dog which caused some anxiety in her and so she reversed barked constantly whenever she was around that dog. When we came back home, Pinta recovered from reverse barking. When we went to visit my parents approximately 2 1/2 years later my parents got a new dog and so it caused some anxiety with Pinta. She started reverse barking and would not stop. I took her out to the car to be away from the other dog but the reverse barking did not stop. We took her to the vet the same day they gave her some oxygen and some sedative. They said she had a collapsed trachea and probably would not make it home for the 8 hour drive. So we had her put down there to save her pain and a slow, uncomfortable death. It was a very sad experience for us and 2 months later we still miss her dearly!
Poor Pinta! I’m so sorry you (and she) had to go through that Cordell.
I WISH SOMEONE WOULD POST A VIDEO OF THE COLLAPSE TRACHEAL! MY CHIHUAHUA DOES SOMETHING WHEN I GIVE HIM LIQUID CHILDREN’S BENADRYL.I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S REVERSE SNEEZING OR COLLAPSE TRACHEAL!
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
Rita I have a post on tracheal collapse that has 2 videos. One with a dog with reverse sneezing and the other with tracheal collapse so you can hear the difference. https://ilovemychi.com/tracheal-collapse-in-chihuahuas/
When my dog he reverse sneezing I pick him up and blow in his face and usually that stops it!
Interesting. It’s worth a try. My Ziggy seems to have developed occasional reverse sneezing. I’ll try it next time he gets a coughing spell.
How much Benadral to you give your chi he is about 8lbs
1 mg per pound so 8 mg for your pup.
Hi my male chihuahua is 3 1/2 years old when he was 2 months old he started having seizures that I found if while he was having the seizure i would rub a little maple syrup on his gums and it would slowly make him stop, then he wouldn’t have another one for a rear and a half later I would do the same thing and he would slowly stop seizing and just be drained so I started him on the CBD oil (Very Little) and it seamed to work for about 2 years and out of the blue started having them a little more often still using the maple syrup and suddenly he just stop eating period I didn’t have a regular vet nor was I working and I didn’t know what to do next so we where on day 5 no food and you couldn’t even touch him because he would scream like something was broken so we rushed him to the closest emergency vet hospital and they did blood work ex rays and did a valley fever test and he tested positive for valley fever and has been on fluconazole since December of last year and was charged $977.00 for a valley fever test and blood work $325.00 and exrays $289.00 he has gotten a little better but his weight has gone from 7 lbs to 11 lbs in 5 month and I have to fight home to get him to eat and I can’t even now get him any kind of pet ins because he has now a preexisting disease and I’m still paying on his last vet visit the good news is I’m working now and paying off the vet bill and I’ve called around to differant vet clinics which I know it’s going cost especially beings I can’t get ins. But also it’s been 5 months since the last test and does he even still need and he also should have his thyroid checked and will need his shots updated so my question is does any one know of a good compassionate vet that cares and truly loves animals and that won’t nickel and dime me to death and to be a caring loving good vet to my fur baby my # is 602-754-0645 my name is Patricia Spencer-Clark
P.S. Also if anybody knows where I can take a class on valley fever after your dog has been diagnosed and what I can do to help him get better and what to watch for while he is going thru the treatment with fluconazole
Wow, Patricia, you have really gone through a lot with your fur baby! I know nothing about valley fever so can’t help you there. Good vets are hard to find. Do you have Nextdoor in your area? If so, ask on there. Also if you have any veterinary colleges in there, check with them. They need patients and will often offer their services at a reduced rate.
Thank you for this article. My dogs do this and the dog I am fostering does this quite a bit. I am printing your article for the lucky person adopting this sweet baby girl.
I’m so glad you found it helpful Lisa!
I have two sisters from the same parents and they both started having clear nasal discharge and swollen sinuses. They seem to have flare ups through out the day and night and they have a hard time breathing. They gasped for air through their mouths to inhale, it’s very upsetting. I’ve had them tested for infections, mites and they have been on steroids, anti biotics, saline, and even homeopathic stuff but it’s not getting better. It’s been going on since October 2025. Hopefully someone has figured this one out on their Chi!
Oh wow, poor babies. I hope someone has figured this out too.