Does your dog’s snoring keep you awake?

Dogs that snore aren’t getting a good night’s sleep — and, chances are, neither are you.

04/01/2015

By Stacey Cohen

Stacey Cohen has been a news broadcaster and talk show host for more than 25 years. She has worked with Sally Jesse Raphael, G Gordon Liddy, Martha Stewart, Jane Fonda and many more. She even did play-by-play for the O.J. Simpson trial.

For some reason we tolerate our pets’ snoring more than we do our spouse’s, but it can be the cover-up for an array of issues. Like any problem, if it is something new, it might be worth a trip to the vet to check out. Snoring can have some underlying serious causes.

If your dog is snoring it is some kind of obstruction that is causing the problem. Digging in the dirt, rolling in the grass, even drinking water and eating can introduce foreign objects into your dog’s nasal passage, resulting in snoring. Extra mucus from a cold will also create snoring.

For the most part, snoring caused by nasal obstructions is temporary and should stop when the passage is cleared. There are some other common reasons for snoring:

Dental problems can be a factor. If your dog has bad teeth. It can lead to an abscess. It will go right through the nasal passages. If you don’t have your dog’s teeth looked at, dental problems can be a source of infection that goes through your dog’s whole body. Infections can be a host for another set of problems.

Extra pounds

Is your dog carrying a little extra weight? If so, that can be a factor that is causing the snoring. Excess tissue in the throat will cause the obstruction that blocks the airways. As your dog breathes in and out, obesity makes the trachea rings slam shut.

Or it could be a fungus that you may not even be aware of but your dog sure is, such as mold found in hay, grass clippings and similar environments. Left untreated, this fungal disease can cause discomfort, loss of appetite and serious health problems.

Any type of upper respiratory problem can cause a blockage, including a temporary inflammation in the nose from a cold or seasonal allergies.

You may have just picked a breed that has this issue through genetics. Because of genetics some breeds may actually have to have a surgery to open up their nasal passages because they are almost completely shut, like a pug or Boston terrier. Brachycephalic breeds — the breeds with very short noses, such as English/French bulldogs, Boston terriers and pugs — have a natural tendency to snore.

Is your dog breathing secondhand smoke? Smoke can irritate the nasal passages and make it difficult to breathe. Smoke away from the dog or better yet quit. You both will be healthier.

How can you help your dog breathe more easily? Try giving your dog a pillow. It will elevate the head.

A round bed will encourage a different sleeping position.  The round bed will encourage a curled position that allows air passages to expand.

A humidifier can help increase the moisture in the air and help, so the nasal passages won’t be so dry.

If your dog is snoring it most likely isn’t getting a restful sleep and if it isn’t getting good sleep that means you probably aren’t either. If the problem persists after trying to change up the sleep environment go back to the vet and see if it is an allergy or if possibly surgery is needed.