Ah-choo! Umgekehrtes Niesen bei Hunden

Wir alle niesen von Zeit zu Zeit, wenn Staub, Schuppen oder andere Reizmittel unsere Nase und Kehle kitzeln. Es stellt sich heraus, Hunde Hunde niesen, auch für viele der gleichen Gründen. Eine fesselndere Reaktion ist jedoch das umgekehrte Niesen: der Reflex, durch den Hunde schnell Luft in ihren Körper ziehen, um Reizstoffe aus dem Bereich hinter ihren Nasenlöchern zu entfernen. Viele Besitzer verwechseln diese lauten, keuchenden Episoden für Asthma-Angriffe, wodurch Panik und Dringlichkeitsfahrten zum Tierarzt. In Wirklichkeit aber sind die erschreckenden Töne ein relativ normaler Teil des Lebens für einige Hunde, genauso wie das Niesen für den Menschen. Ihre Hunde-Begleiter kann betrübt aussehen, wenn die Reverse-Niesen schlägt, aber in Wahrheit ist es harmloses Verhalten bei den meisten Hunden und hinterlässt keine dauerhaften schädlichen Auswirkungen.
 
Reverse sneezing typically occurs when something irritates a dog’s soft palate (the fleshy bit at the back of the roof of his mouth) or throat. Whereas air is forced out through the nose in a regular sneeze, air is pulled rapidly in through the nose during a reverse sneeze. This causes a dog to make a loud snorting or gasping sound as he extends his neck and gulps in air.  It is a disturbing display, but veterinarians agree that reverse sneezing is actually fairly common in dogs. Smalls dogs are more prone to it due to their smaller air passageways, as are breeds such as pugs and bulldogs with elongated soft palates. Episodes can last anywhere between a few seconds up to a few minutes and may appear in dogs at any stage of life. Whether it’s allergies or mites, treating the underlying cause is the best way to prevent reverse sneezing. Some dogs simply have an attack when they’re excited, while other may reverse sneeze due to perfumes or household chemicals; exercise intolerance; pulling on a leash; or even eating and drinking. If an episode doesn’t end quickly, you can try helping your wheezing companion in several ways. Gently massage his throat to stop the spasm; cover his nostrils to make him swallow and clear the irritant from his throat; or press his tongue down to aid breathing. Different techniques work for different pets, so you will have to experiment gently to find out the best way to help your pooch.
 
Reverse sneezing doesn’t usually require treatment, but if it becomes a chronic problem, you should seek your veterinarian’s advice. As a general rule, if your dog is reverse sneezing more often than the average human sneezes, you should seek help. If allergies are the root of the problem, for example, your vet may prescribe antihistamines. He can also rule out other causes such as respiratory tract infections or foreign bodies that could be blocking your dog’s airway. Asthma, on the other hand, is vastly less common in dogs and is typically accompanied by a chronic cough. Though rare, dogs with asthma likely struggle more with exercising and fatigue and the condition is almost always caused by an allergic reaction to something in the environment.