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Your heart sinks and you say to yourself, “Oh no, is my dog choking? Is this an emergency?”

Take a breath. What you're seeing is probably what's known as reverse sneezing, and although it may look and sound alarming, it is usually harmless.

Today, we'll discuss what a dog reverse sneezing is, why it happens, what to do when your dog is reverse sneezing, and when to call your vet.

🌬️ What Is a Reverse Sneeze in Dogs?

While a normal sneeze is air forcibly being pushed out of the nose, a reverse sneeze is the opposite: air is sucked rapidly into the nose.

It's often heard as loud snorting, honking or gagging and can look like your dog is having a spasm or can't catch their breath. This can take a few seconds to a minute or two, and your dog may look confused about what has just happened — but he'll generally rebound and feel fine the moment it's over.

Veterinarians call it “paroxysmal respiration.”

😨 Why Do Dogs Do Reverse Sneeze?

The origin is not always clear, but these are typical triggers:

✅ Environmental irritants: Dust, pollen, smoke, strong perfumes or cleaning sprays.

✅ Excitement or pulling on the leash: Overexcitement or excessive pressure on the collar can bring on an episode.

✅ Sudden temperature changes: Transitioning from cold to warm air can also cause reverse sneezing.

✅ Nasal or throat irritation: Whether from mild allergies or the inhaled presence of a tiny particle.

✅ Breed tendency: Smaller breeds (the likes of Yorkies, Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas) tend to be more affected because of their smaller than average airways and elongated soft palates (1) (2) (3).

You can think of it as a dog clearing their throat or basically doing the animal version of blowing their nose.

❤️ Does It Hurt Your Dog?

It can be frightening to see your dog reverse sneeze, but it is not painful and causes no harm to your dog.

Many dogs play, eat, and otherwise go about their happy lives just fine once someone has helped them to recover from an episode. But it makes sense to be worried, especially if you're seeing that for the first time.

👀 What Does a Reverse Sneeze Look Like?

Here's what you may notice:

🐾 Abrupt stop and pose, elbows out.

🐾 Neck extended, head forward.

🐾 Snorting, honking, or gagging sounds.

🐾 Eyes may be wide or appear panicked.

🐾 Can happen anywhere from seconds to a few minutes.

But like many terribly annoying dog behaviors, it often stops as abruptly as it began, as your dog licks his lips and moves on.