Help! We're At A Loss! We Need The Power Of Gt!

[greysmom]

Hey Everybody!

 

We're simply at the end of what we know and what we know to do. He's had this condition since we got him and it's gotten worse and worse as he's gotten older. No one has ever offered us any help with this problem and seem to blow off our concerns over how incapacitating this is for Dude.

 

Description: Everyone we've talked to, including vets and greyhound people, call what he does a "reverse sneeze." Usually after he gets excited or starts to exercise (but NOT always, he will do it out of the blue when he's just lying there too) he begins spazmodically breathing inward, in a sort or snort or snore, or extended hiccup. It sounds just like a human snore except for the rhythmic/spazmodic nature of the problem. Each "snore" lasts about a second and he'll do anywhere from 5 to uncountable repetitions in a row.

 

Like this: SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE. wait a second SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE SNORE, SNORE. Just about as fast as you can read that sentence is how it goes, repeat ad infinitum.

 

He gets quite still and seems unable to walk or move properly. Lately these spells have become very incapacitating due to their length - he does it over and over and can't take a good normal breath. Today, the DH thought Dude was about to fall over and collapse it went on so long.

 

Rubbing his throat helps as long as you keep rubbing quite firmly. Sometimes giving him an icecube helps, if he stops snoring/snorting long enough to crunch it. We've never found anything that works every time.

 

HELP!!!

 

greysmom and Da Dude:D

Edited November 8, 2008 by greysmom

[ahicks51]

Gah. Can't think of the name of it- what's the worm, the parasite, that can get into the sinuses and cause this? Google is failing me, and I need to get to a meeting.

 

Found it. Eucoleus boehmi. I have no idea how to look for it, but that comes to mind.

Edited November 8, 2008 by ahicks51

[Guest LindsaySF]

It could be a lot of things. Does he ever cough and produce sputum? Or is he always inhaling? What about collapsed trachea or something? Allergies and asthma?

 

Did your vet have any suggestions, or did they blow you off too?

Edited November 8, 2008 by LindsaySF

[CaliforniaGreys]

Dr Stack has written a great article on reverse sneezing. From what I remember reading, they don't do anything for it. Wayne is the only Grey I've had over the years who doesn't do it, all the others have, and do. Dude, your buddy Wayne says not to worry your mom!!

[Guest mandm]

Gah. Can't think of the name of it- what's the worm, the parasite, that can get into the sinuses and cause this? Google is failing me, and I need to get to a meeting.

Capillaria, I think is what you mean.

 

Gah. Can't think of the name of it- what's the worm, the parasite, that can get into the sinuses and cause this? Google is failing me, and I need to get to a meeting.

 

Found it. Eucoleus boehmi. I have no idea how to look for it, but that comes to mind.

I had a gh that had it several years ago. The vet found it, urine or stool, I don't remember. But it was easy to fix.

[Newgreymom]

Dylan gets it often. All I do is give him Rescue Remedy and it goes away immediately. You can buy Rescue Remedy at any health food place. A few drops in his mouth will do the trick. It's been a life saver here...

[greysmom]

It could be a lot of things. Does he ever cough and produce sputum? Or is he always inhaling? What about collapsed trachea or something? Allergies and asthma?

 

Did your vet have any suggestions, or did they blow you off too?

 

Vet (and e-vet we took him to after a bad bout) all kind of shrugged and said "Reverse sneezing. Nothing to do about it." It's always an inhale problem, he very seldom coughs at all and never during an "attack."

 

I have to admit, this bothers my husband more than it does me, and me more than it seems to bother Dude. But it has become much worse and the spells last longer. We've tried giving him benedryl, but it really doesn't seem to be an allergy. It sort of reminds me of an exercise-induced asthma, except it happens when he's not exercising too.

 

greysmom

 

[ShantisMom]

Shanti did the reverse sneeze several times. The first time it scared the crud out of me!

 

But yours sounds different. My first thought would be allergy. Have you tried benadryl? Has anything changed? Do you do something before this happens? Is there any pattern?

 

 

Like this: SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE. wait a second SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE, SNORE SNORE, SNORE. Just about as fast as you can read that sentence is how it goes, repeat ad infinitum.

 

 

This makes me think of sleep apnea in humans. Do dogs do something like that? But yours is awake when doing this right?

[greysmom]

Dr Stack has written a great article on reverse sneezing. From what I remember reading, they don't do anything for it. Wayne is the only Grey I've had over the years who doesn't do it, all the others have, and do. Dude, your buddy Wayne says not to worry your mom!!

 

Do you remember where you read this article. I would love to see it.

 

 

[ShantisMom]

You and I posted at the same time. Tried benadryl. Darn.

 

You and I posted at the same time. Tried benadryl. Darn.

[Guest adoptagreyhound]

Dylan gets it often. All I do is give him Rescue Remedy and it goes away immediately. You can buy Rescue Remedy at any health food place. A few drops in his mouth will do the trick. It's been a life saver here...

 

Wow, that's a great tip! I'm going to try that. We've never had a dog of any breed who didn't have that - I call it asthma but it's exactly what you're describing. We have Rescue Remedy, I'm going to try that the next time one of ours does it. I'll let you know if it works. Thanks!!!

[Guest VanillaBean]

I have an iggy that does this. The best thing I have found to do for her is rub her throat. Not too hard, but not lightly either. That seems to calm it down quick here. Good luck!

[CaliforniaGreys]

Dr Stack has written a great article on reverse sneezing. From what I remember reading, they don't do anything for it. Wayne is the only Grey I've had over the years who doesn't do it, all the others have, and do. Dude, your buddy Wayne says not to worry your mom!!

 

Do you remember where you read this article. I would love to see it.

 

Someone actually posted it here once in a thread about reverse sneezing. I'm sorry I can't be more specific than that. Big help...I know Edited to add, I just put greyhound,reverse sneezing in a search and it came up. I don't know how to post a link here or I would

Edited November 8, 2008 by cbudshome

[greyhoundlady]

This might sound weird, but when my greyhound starts a reverse sneeze, I lift up his side 'lips' with my fingers so he can breath through his mouth, instead of his nose. This seems to work for him. It could be that he has just finished his 'sneezing', but it makes me feel better! I also rub is throat for good measure.

[patricia]

I hope all is well! Pavé does something similar...it is upon excitement and sometimes when she eats or comes in the kitchen for a cookie. Hers is associated sometimes with a high pitch wheeze type of sound. I am going to mention this to the vet...It doesn't seem to bother her but it is concerning to us when she does it. Never lasts long.

[RobinM]

Chloe does it, but not to the extent Dude does it.

 

Someone had mentioned a possible allergy. Keep a log to record when, what and where.

[Guest vahoundlover]

Do you have or know someone who has a video recorder? Maybe if your vet could see and hear what's going on, he might be able to offer some suggestions.

[Guest SoulsMom]

Ick, I hope it's not a worm!

 

Soul does this from time to time as well, Archie too. It's usually after a good romp. And it seems like the more they do it, the more panicked they get. So I usually do the throat rubbing thing along with "shhhh, shhhh" calming, relax noises.

[AngelWhispers]

Hatter does the reverse sneezing and has done it since I've had him(6 years) He's as bad or worse than your boy and it's scary sometimes. I rub his throat and it helps, but it does seem like he can't breathe. I've checked his gums when he's having an episode and they've always stayed pink, so I guess he's getting enough oxygen.

 

If you find a cure, I'd sure like to know about it.

Edited November 8, 2008 by AngelWhispers

[macoduck]

Here's Dr Stack's site

 

I couldn't find the reference to reverse sneezing though.

 

[Anne]

 

Sounds like a snore cause both have to do with the soft palate.

I had a friend whose greyhound was pretty much doing it constantly. The put her on allergy meds, tried several different kinds before finding one that worked.

I have a dog who does it occasionally, but it can be frightening even then.

The following article gives some good tips.

 

 

_________________

 

Reverse Sneezing

 

Have you ever been startled by your dog exhibiting snorting, honking and gasping noises? Have you felt helpless while you watched your canine friend appear to be struggling to breathe?

 

What you probably witnessed is the condition in dogs known as reverse sneezing. It actually has nothing to do with sneezing, but is a spasm caused by an irritation of the soft palate. The soft palate is a soft, fleshy tissue extension off the hard palate, or roof of the mouth. Small dogs in particular can exhibit this behavior and certain breeds may be predisposed to it. It has sent many a distraught owner to the vet in panic.

 

Some animals can have this condition for their entire lives, or it may develop as the dog ages. During the spasm, the dog will usually turn her elbows outward and extend her neck while gasping inwards with a distinctive snorting sound. Gently massaging the throat area or pinching the dog's nostrils shut so she must breath through her mouth can help shorten the episode. Sometimes taking the dog outside in the fresh air stops the spasm. Once the attack ceases, all goes back to normal.

 

(Another technique sometimes used to stop a bout of canine reverse sneezing: behavior specialist Sarah Wilson suggests trying to get the dog to swallow, touching the back of the tongue if that is safe.)

 

It is thought that the pharyngeal spasm can be caused by a number of irritants, including dust and pollen, or household chemicals. Moreover, some dogs can launch an episode after eating, drinking or running around, or while pulling on the leash.

 

If your dog experiences this behavior fairly frequently and the episodes are severe, a trip to the vet is in order to determine other possible causes, which can include viral infections, polyps, excessive soft palate tissue, and nasal mites. However, many cases of reverse sneezing appear to have no identifiable cause.

 

There lives a small Chihuahua Beagle mix, Cynthia Louise, who possesses a certain PAW volunteer. Cindy was extremely prone to severe middle-of-the-night reverse sneezing episodes when she first came into the PAW program, sending her terrified then-foster mom (now devoted adopter) to the vet in alarm. The vet anesthetized her (Cindy, not her mom) and explored the little dog's sinus cavities as best she could to see if anything was embedded in her sinus passages. Nothing was found, and after a short course of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, Cindy recovered completely.

 

In hindsight, it seems quite likely that the time of year, autumn, with its accompanying proliferation of allergens, combined with the stress of being in a new household, may have contributed to Cindy's pronounced reverse sneezing. Since the initial episodes subsided, the little dog has had only one or two minor incidences.

 

Reverse sneezing appears a lot worse than it is, generally posing no health threats whatsoever. Typically, an episode of reverse sneezing will end soon on its own. Nevertheless, understanding and recognizing the syndrome can go a long way toward helping dog owners and their dogs cope with it.

 

[Guest sidewaysfallin]

This happened to Sophie once, and I freaked out and brought her to the E-vet. We were told it was due to allergies and that if it kept happening to give her benendryl every night. We did for a few nights and it cleared up, though it still happens on ocassion. I second either blowing in the nostrils, rubbing the throat or getting them water to drink.

[Guest Althea]

Silas has been doing this when the temp comes down at night, but it doesn't continue for a long time... is there any recognizable trigger for Dude?

[Guest keegsmom]

My mixed breed boy Hunter does that a lot. Since he had heartworms before I adoped him and also has a heart murmur, it scare the heck out of me, too. But like everyone else says, it seems to upset the human a lot more than the dog. Hunter has a severely undershot jaw. He has trouble getting food in his mouth because his nose knocks the food away from his lower jaw. Since he obviously has a congenital abnormality in his jaws/mouth,I wonder if it also causes "floppiness" of his soft palate.

[Remolacha]

Fletcher has done it occasionally, but had an extended bout last night. I figured it had to do with allergies. We are moving into one of our prime allergy seasons here in AZ, my allergy-prone cat and I are starting to react. I will try the throat rubbing next time!

Sugar, my old girl, did this all the time, I got used to it since it didn't seem to bother her at all.