Snoring in dogs can be just as annoying as lying next to your other half during one of their snoring sessions. Unfortunately, snoring can lead to endless nights of lying awake listening to the continuous noise and then becoming annoyed and tired.
As with humans, there are lots of reasons why your dog may snore and to-date there has been no definitive way to completely stop snoring. However, there are several things you can do to help alleviate the issue, which will make for a more pleasant sleep for everyone.
First and foremost it is best to talk to your vet regarding your vets snoring so they can check that there is nothing medically wrong, as something may have changed in their health since their last visit to the vets. After your dog has received the all clear, then you may wish to check the list below for helpful tips to help alleviate the issue or potentially stop the snoring completely.
Keep a window open when they're sleeping
When sleeping it's recommended that a window is kept slightly open, thus allowing for a continuous flow of fresh air to circulate the room. Sleeping in a hot, stuffy room will make snoring worse as the room will be hot and stuffy.
If you decide to keep a window open as an option, then you must be careful that your dog can’t escape or a small child can’t fall. Safety must remain paramount.
Allergies and second-hand smoke
Many dog breeds suffer from allergies and some sort of allergy towards environmental allergens.
Often, it is hard to detect what your dog is allergic to and will take a lot of work with eliminating certain triggers and working with your vet to pinpoint the allergen causing the issue. Any issues with an allergies can cause your dog to suffer from snoring, especially if they have a blocked nose.
Allergens such as pollen and other things that have they have daily contact with on their walks can also contribute towards them snoring. You will need to look at ways of getting control of your dog's allergies and try to avoid as much exposure as possible Some dogs are allergic to other things such as food or household substances. Again, this is really tricky to detect and will take a lot of patience ruling out various elements which could be causing the allergic reactions.
Normally the dog will suffer from sneezing, running eyes and itchy skin. If you were to rule out something that is causing your dog to have allergies, then this will help with the snoring.
Second-hand smoke poses a real threat to your dog's health as well as your own health, but yet, when it comes to a dog's health this is often overlooked. Smoking around your dog puts them at risk of problems like lung cancer and will affect your dog's breathing which will result in them snoring. It's best to avoid smoking near your dog altogether and wash your hands after smoking before you stroke your dog.
Dog breeds prone to snoring
There are certain types of dogs breeds such as Brachycephalic types of dogs that are most likely to snore. These type of dog breeds are those that have a rather flat looking face and short muzzle. Dog breeds such as French bulldogs, Boston terriers, and English Bulldogs have the worst snoring habits.
For the majority of brachycephalic dogs, there are no real problems caused from their short muzzle, although all dog breeds that fall into this category are more prone to becoming breathless when enduring vigorous exercise and more chance of overheating. Those that have the more exaggerated version of this condition are prone to breathing issues as well as loud snoring because of the way their muzzle is structured.
If their breathing becomes an issue then sometimes they will require surgery to correct the muzzle which will help the dog breathe more easily. This will also help reduce the snoring too.
Exercise your dog
If your dog is overweight and rarely takes part in any form of exercise, then this also be triggering their snoring problem. Snoring, in this case, is the least of your issues and you should be checking if your dog's weight is ideal for their breed and size. Dogs need exercise every day and the amount depends on their breed. Being overweight will have an impact on their health, such as diabetes and arthritis in their joints; it will also cause them to snore.
Working with your dog to bring them back down to a healthy weight will have a significant impact on how much they snore.
