Why do dogs snore so much?
Dogs snore when the air passes through their open mouth while they sleep. Their throat gets restricted while they release their breath, causing them to make a loud snoring noise. Reasons behind excessive snoring in a few dogs are underlying medical issues, overweight, or awkward sleeping positions.
Many dog owners prefer sleeping with their dogs in the same bed which is an excellent way to make their dogs feel safe and comfortable. However, identifying that their little dog snores and makes loud noises while sleeping can be annoying for any pet parent.
Humans also make some of the weirdest snoring sounds while they’re sleeping, so it’s perfectly normal for dogs as well. But sometimes, you might wonder if your dog is struggling with any medical problem while seeing them snoring like crazy.
So, this article will discuss some common causes behind snoring in dogs and what you can do to reduce the snoring pattern of your four-legged companion.
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What Is Snoring?
Snoring, in simple words, is a noisy breathing sound that occurs while sleeping. Like humans, the phenomenon and process of snoring are the same in animals. It’s a common condition that can affect any dog breed, but overweight dogs are more prone to it. Snoring once or twice is not a problem; however, few dog breeds snores out too much and too loud. To reduce snoring in dogs, it’s important to identify the sleeping patterns of dogs.
Is It Normal For Dogs To Snore?
Dog snoring can be cute/funny and annoying/irritating at the same time for their owners. Often, you may have wondered, is it normal for dogs to snore, or do they act like snoring?
The answer is, Yes, it’s perfectly normal for dogs to snore. Snoring is quite normal and harmless in dogs and should not be considered a sign of illness or disease.
9 Common Causes Why Do Dogs Snore So Much
After understanding that snoring is quite normal in dogs, it’s time to explore the topic further. Some dogs snore regularly, while some of them do not snore at all. So let us find out the reasons and causes behind snoring in dogs.
Many reasons can force your dog to snore even when they’re not aware of it. So, here are 9 common causes of snoring in dogs:
Blocked Nasal Passages Of Dogs
One reason that your dog snore like crazy is because the airflow in their nasal passageways gets restricted. When they sleep on their back, their tongue can drop back towards the throat, which blocks the breath from moving quickly, hence the weird noisy snoring sound. It is perfectly normal and not a medical condition to worry about.
Overweight Dogs Snore More
Another common and most popular reason for snoring in your furry friend is their excess weight. Chubby puppies can have excess fat in the throat, making easy breathing difficult for them while they sleep. You may think feeding too many treats for your dog is good, but it could be the root cause of loud breathing. So, if your doggie is also overweight, it’s time to make them fit and healthy.
Awkward Sleeping Positions
Dogs can sleep in the most unbelievable positions due to their habit and flexibility, and these awkward sleeping positions can cause your little dog to snore loudly. If your dog also sleeps in unwanted positions, try to improve its posture by providing a comfortable sleeping bed.
Underlying Fungal Disease
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection usually acquired from grass clippings, hay, straw, and dusty objects and common in both humans and animals. Mold and the fungus can penetrate the dog’s nose through its moist lining. Breeds who spend a lot of their time outside are more prone to fungal diseases. The common signs of Aspergillosis in dogs are sneezing, swelling, nasal discharge, and snoring.
Dental Issues
Dental infection, an abscessed tooth, or any growth in the oral cavity can also be one of the causes of snoring in dogs as they block the airways. Sometimes when untreated, these abnormalities can become a severe issue of a dog’s teeth and may require medical intervention.
Respiratory Issues
Respiratory illnesses, including bacterial or fungal infection and asthma, can often cause snoring in dogs. Other symptoms of respiratory disease are; discharge from the eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing, and decreased activity and appetite.
Rhinitis And Common Cold
Dogs often suffer from common cold and rhinitis when they change their shelters or due to climatic changes. Your pet may get a stuffy and runny nose if they’re affected by a common cold. The inflamed and irritated nose, as a result, makes your dog snore.
Sleep Apnea Illness
Some of you might have heard about sleep apnea in dogs, but here’s the simple definition for those unaware of it. It is a type of illness when a dog’s breathing becomes very shallow and stops breathing altogether while sleeping. It is usually a sharp inhale when they start breathing again, which sounds like snoring. If you are concerned that your dog may have sleep apnea, it’s crucial to take them to the vets for proper inspection.
Brachycephalic Breeds More Prone To Snoring
Brachycephalic dog breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, and Boxers are often predisposed to snoring. The skull bones of brachycephalic dog breeds are shortened in length, giving the face and nose a pushed-in appearance. With the narrow nasal passages of these dogs, they often develop breathing problems, which include snoring and bad sleeping patterns.
5 Effective Ways To Prevent Your Dog From Snoring
Occasionally, when a dog snores, it’s not a much bigger problem and should be ignored. However, when they start regularly snoring with loud and noisy sounds, any owner may get frustrated. So, we’ve shared a few ways that will help to prevent snoring in your dog.
5 ways to stop snoring in dogs:
1. Induce Proper Diet and Exercise
With proper diet and exercise, you can treat many of the illnesses and conditions of your dog, and snoring is no different. It’s critical to formulate an appropriate diet plan for your dog to keep them healthy and fit.
If your pet is overweight, you should make a diet plan for your fur-buddy by discussing it with your vet. The weight-loss diet plan will include weight checks, exercises, and calories calculation based on your dog’s health.
2. Make Feeding Exciting With Food Puzzles
Food puzzles are a great way to feed your dog, making dog feeding exciting and fun. Food puzzles aid in slowing down the eating process, which prevents them from gaining weight and kills boredom. Some food dispensing toys are available in the market that makes eating exciting for dogs. We recommend starting with a simple beginner puzzle based on your dog’s preference.
3. Use Air Purifiers and Humidifiers
Dogs also snore because of allergies from dust, smoke, and pollen in the air. Air fresheners help remove specks of dust from your house and make the air clean and more breathable for the dogs.
Also, when there is little humidity in the air, it becomes hard for dogs to breathe, and they start snoring. Hence, a good air humidifier will benefit dogs in humid temperatures.
4. Setting Up Good Sleep Atmosphere
No one wants to sleep in a bed that they don’t find comfortable and cozy. So, if you want your dog to sleep longer with fewer snoring sounds, it’s important to set up a comfortable bed for them. Try to look out for their sleeping patterns and postures, and see what else you can do to make them relax. Also, make sure the room lightning are dimmer with no unwanted sounds near their bedding area.
5. Regular Vet Consultation
Regular wellness examinations and vet inspections are essential for keeping your doggy friend happy and healthy. Annual vet visits will help your dog deal with any underlying medical problems or obesity issues.
Snoring can sometimes be a regular sleeping habit and should be treated gently. However, a veterinary visit is best if your dog’s snoring gets out of control at times.
Should You Worry About Your Dog’s Snoring Problem?
Although snoring can be normal for your canine, it’s essential to understand when to be concerned. Your dog’s snoring could be a bigger problem, especially when they share the same bed with you. If your dog has a habit of snoring loudly with uncommon sleeping behaviors, it’s recommended to try the solutions we’ve provided above. If the problem still persists, it’s advisable to pay a visit to your vet.
Your vet will closely examine your dog’s sleeping behavior, stomach health and look out for the possible signs that induces snoring.
My Dog Snores So Loud That I Can’t Sleep
If you’re also annoyed by loud noises of your dog’s snoring behavior, you’re not alone. Many dog owners often complain when their dogs make weird noises and sounds while they sleep. So, to prevent them from snoring, you can try making their bedding more comfortable, which might reduce their snoring issues. Also, if you sleep with your doggie in the same room, try to change their sleeping area to another room.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Like any other condition, dog snoring is a common problem many dog owners face. This could be due to their dog’s uncommon sleeping behavior and patterns or any underlying medical condition. So, we’ve listed out some FAQs to help you with some common queries related to snoring in dogs.
My Dog Is Snoring With Eyes Open – Is It Normal?
Dogs usually snore while they’re sleeping, and seeing them snoring with open eyes can trouble you. First of all, dogs can snore with their eyes open, which is perfectly normal. Dogs, on average, sleep for 12 to 14 hours, depending on their age. During their sleeping cycle, their eyes may flicker, which signifies that they’re dreaming.
My Dog Is Snoring While Asleep and Awake – What Can I Do?
When a dog snores while awake, the causes are not much different from their snoring habit while they sleep. If their inhaling air passage is getting obstructed with any foreign objects or sore throat, they might snore even when they’re awake. Try examining your dog’s mouth and throat and in case you find anything dicey, visit your vet immediately.
My Dog Snores And Sounds Congested – Is This A Problem?
Many of you might have seen your dog breathing heavily and sounding congesting while they sleep. Congestion occurs in dogs due to their odd sleeping positions, cold, allergic problems, etc. It can be alarming for many of you, especially if you see it for the first time. However, this is again a normal condition in dogs, and you should not be panicking hearing those sounds again.
Why Does My Dog Snores So Much?
Some dog breeds do not snore at all, while some dog breeds do snoring like crazy. If you’re observing excessive and continuous snoring in your dog, it may be due to any underlying medical issues that make them uncomfortable. It will help if you visit your vet to analyze the excessive snoring in your beloved pet closely.
Final Thoughts
No one likes hearing loud and noisy sounds, especially at night. And if your lovely companion is producing these crazy sounds, you can’t even complain about it to anyone. So, in that case, you’re only left with one option, to prevent your dog from snoring so much.
You can start following the above steps to ensure your dog is free from any medical problem and gets a comfortable sleep. Regularly monitoring your dog’s sleeping patterns will also help you identify the common causes of their snoring.
Just remember that snoring is normal, and your dog doesn’t complain to anyone when seeing you snoring. So, please gentle with them!