In the dog care section of our site, we like to answer all sorts of questions that you may have about the general wellbeing of your pets, such as ‘why is my dog shaking?’ or ‘why does my dog howl?’. That leads us to another question we get asked all the time that we will discuss today; why does my dog snore?
Snoring can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. It is loud and obnoxious and makes for a miserable night. The majority of the time its your spouse or partner whose the number one culprit. But it may also be that case that the perpetrator is your dog.
Dogs are pack animals, which means they want to sleep with the pack. The pack just happens to be you and the family. This poses a problem for all sleepers when your precious pooch is the one that is guilty of the snoring. You can’t tell your dog to roll over or kick it out of the room and make it sleep on the couch.
Some people can make a simple solution to having their dog sleep in another room. Most of us, however, love going to sleep with our dogs at our feet or snuggled up with us in bed.
If they snore this can make for a very restless night. The hard thing is finding a solution without having to sacrifice the dog snuggles.
Why Does My Dog Pee On My Bed?
Dog Breeds That Are More Predisposed to Snoring
Not every dog snores. But which dog breed snores the most?
If you are looking into getting a dog there are certain breeds you want to rule out if snoring is a deal breaker for you. This can be difficult as the dog’s who have a tendency to snore tend to be the breeds that everyone falls in love with. Most any dog that has a shorter breathing passage is going to have a snoring problem. The breed that probably snores the most is a pug.
The flat faces and short noses make it difficult for them to breathe and they tend to snore–even it seems when they are awake. These short snouts do pose a problem with these breeds. If one of the breeds mentioned is the one you absolutely fell in love with then there are some tips and tricks to help turn down the volume on the snoring.
This is the same for boxers, bulldogs, and others. These breeds have a short snout and to top it off love to smell everything. Their love for sniffing and their short airway passages can create a breeding ground for allergies and infections. Because these dogs are prone to snore, the allergy and infection issue can only make the snoring louder and more persistent.
This short snout and breathing passage coupled with the angle dogs sleep can create loud and chronic snoring. For these breeds, it can’t be helped. If they are stretched out in a way that allows them to breathe better they won’t snore. The minute they change position, it’ll come on.
Can I Give My Dog Human CBD Oil?
Causes of Dog Snoring: All About Breathing
What can happen with a dog when they are sleeping is a lot of airway blockages. Maybe your dog has big jowells and the air is having a hard time circulating through to the lungs.
Your dog might sleep with its tongue hanging out. This blocks the airways for good airflow. If your dog likes to sleep in the curled up position they could have a hard time breathing. Getting them to sleep with their necks or body stretched out will alleviate the snoring. Why Do Puppies Breathe Fast?
This curled up position can pose a problem especially for overweight dogs because they are already having issues in regards to breathing and snoring. Your dog may suffer from allergies. Believe it or not, this is actually very common and as it hinders our breathing you can bet it hinders your dog’s breathing as well.
Another Cause of Snoring: Overweight
Of course, some dogs don’t fall under the short snout category and still have a snoring problem. If your dog’s snoring has only been recent then there are things that could be a factor.
If your dog is overweight it puts pressure on the airways and this can cause snoring. This holds especially true if you’ve had your dog a while and it has never snored before. If your dog is packing on the pounds, this could be why.
Weight gain can cause a plethora of problems and lack of sleep is one. Just like with humans, if dogs don’t get plenty of sleep they can become lethargic and want to sleep more during the times when they should be active.
When Should You Get Medical Advice For Your Dog’s Snoring?
Snoring seems innocent enough. Yes, it’s annoying but oftentimes unavoidable. If your dog’s snoring seems to be making it difficult for your dog to breathe or your dog has never been one to snore and now is, you may want to make an appointment to visit your vet.
Snoring could be due to thyroid issues (which is common in older dogs) and infections within the nasal cavity. Because your dog can’t just tell you what is wrong, you have to pick up on the signals its body is giving you.
Sometimes your dog is just going to snore. If it has never been one to snore and has picked up the habit just keep an eye out. If your dog’s energy levels or appetite haven’t changed then it could just be your new norm.
How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Snoring?
If you can get your dog to lay straight with its legs out from under them then you may be able to stop the snoring. Most dogs prefer to curl up in a ball and this can cause them to start snoring again.
If they insist on sleeping in a curled up position, try to use an extra blanket or pillow to prop up their head. If allergies are the culprit make sure you are washing yours and your dog’s bedding on a regular basis. Making sure that your house is free of the allergens that are causing your dog to snore is key.
Vacuuming any surface that your dog lays on is also a good idea. Dogs tend to carry dander and other allergens in their fur so bathing them when you can also help.
If your dog is snoring because it is overweight, you’ll want to make sure that you are giving it exercise and feeding it a healthy diet. The healthy diet coupled with the exercise will not only make your dog healthier but the snoring should stop.
The plus side to this is that you are also getting a little exercise while also bonding with your pet. Weight loss should happen pretty fast. This may eliminate the snoring altogether.
Just as our nasal cavities get dry, so does the dogs. Make sure that you have a humidifier going to add the moisture your dog needs into the air.
A dry nose can cause intermittent snoring which is terrible when you are trying to get some shut-eye because it can wake you up suddenly and without warning. The humidifier will not only help your dog sleep better but will also help you sleep better.
How Do You Sleep With a Snoring Dog?
To recap, the same things that can help alleviate your dog’s snoring can also be the things that can help you get some shut-eye with your pooch.
- Run a humidifier
- Prop up your dog’s head or get it to lay flat
- Wash bedding frequently
- Bathe your dog
- Find them a good, supportive orthopedic dog bed
Conclusion
You and your snoring dog can live and sleep in harmony. It just takes some adjustments on both your parts. If the things that are used to help alleviate the symptoms doesn’t work for your dog, then maybe having your dog sleep in another room is going to be what’s best for you.
If you can find something that works for your dog, that’s great. All the better if the snoring is minimal or gone altogether. You both will get better rest. If the thought of your dog sleeping in another room and not with you is too unbearable earplugs are always an option.
Earplugs allow you to muffle out the noise and also cuddle your dog all night long. Give the other suggestions a try too. With both of you getting a good night’s sleep sans snoring, you can’t go wrong.
