Sometimes when I sleep I make strange noises. My owner says that it is something called ‘snoring’ and that there’s no need to worry because she sometimes does the same thing when she sleeps.
I don’t know how she can be so calm about it because when I hear her making the same noise I immediately go into panic mode, but apparently, I’ve made this noise when I sleep ever since I was a little puppy.
Apparently, there are lots of different factors that influence whether or not you make this noise when you sleep, like the position that you sleep in, and even the breed of dog that you are.
I find the concept of ‘snoring’ fascinating, and so I’ve done lots of research into what snoring is and how it affects us dogs.
So I thought I’d lend a helping paw and tell you all that I know about snoring so that you know what’s happening when your dog makes this noise.
Do Dogs Snore?
As I have already said, yes we dogs do snore. The noise that we make when snoring is incredibly similar to the noise that our humans make, and there is one good reason for this.
The reason why we make the same noises as our owners when they snore is because snoring in dogs is caused by the same thing as snoring in humans.
Generally, snoring is caused by restricted air movement in the nasal passages or the throat. The obstruction causing the restriction of airflow can be absolutely anything.
This includes your tongue blocking your throat when you sleep on your back, or simply just the genetic build of your throat and nose depending on the breed of dog that you are.
In human beings, snoring is also often caused by the position in which you sleep, but it is also often caused by other health conditions such as sleep apnea.
However, in dogs, snoring is often caused by something a lot less harmful, so there is no need to immediately be concerned if you hear your dog snoring while they sleep.
Should I worry about my Dog Snoring?
In most cases, there is no need to immediately be concerned about your dog snoring. Like I said earlier, I often snore in my sleep, and my owner has no concern, but the main reason that I snore is because I like to sleep on my back.
Even though there is no need to be immediately concerned, it is important to always monitor your dog’s snoring to see if it gets worse. This is what my owner does with me.
According to veterinary experts, there are some circumstances in which you should be more concerned about your dog snoring than others. For example, it is common for dogs who sleep on their backs, dogs prone to seasonal allergies, and dogs with short snouts to snore.
So if your dog fits into one of these categories then there is no need to rush your dog to the vet as this will often lead to a hefty bill simply for the vet to tell you something you already know.
But if your dog doesn’t fit into any of these categories then snoring should be more of a cause of concern. As well as this, you should be concerned if your dog suddenly starts snoring when they haven’t before, especially if they are overweight or someone in your household smokes.
Additionally, a vet trip might be a good idea if you think your dog is snoring because they have got something stuck up their nose. We are curious animals after all, so it wouldn’t be that surprising if this were to happen.
Why has my Dog suddenly started Snoring?
If your dog regularly snores and has always done this, as I have, then there is almost no need to be concerned about them snoring.
Snoring is only a big concern for dog owners when it comes on suddenly as this could suggest that there is something new obstructing their air passages.
If a dog randomly starts snoring, it is almost always connected to a change in its respiratory system. This could be something as simple as a slight cold, but it could also be something a lot more sinister that is causing this.
Changes to the throat and soft palate often cause snoring to randomly begin, and laryngeal paralysis is also commonly linked with snoring. So if your dog has randomly started snoring you should take them to the vet to get checked over.
Even though this can be scary as a dog owner, it is always best to try and catch any possible health conditions as quickly as possible.
As dogs, we know how much our owners love us, and how scary it can be when we are ill, but remember that we find this scary too and that you are not alone.
What Dog Breeds Snore?
There is no easy answer to what specific dog breeds snore, as all dogs are known to snore from time to time.
That being said, some breeds are more prone to snoring than others. I mentioned earlier that ‘short-nosed’ dogs tend to snore more than other dogs, so the breeds that most commonly snore are the breeds that fit into this ‘short-nosed’ category.
The dogs that are most likely to snore, include breeds such as:
- English Bulldogs
- French Bulldogs
- Boston Terriers
- Boxers
- Pugs
- Shih Tzus
- Pekingese
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Mixed breeds with any of the above breeds
This list does not include all of the dog breeds that are prone to snoring, but it does include the main dogs that are prone to this.
But don’t forget that dogs don’t have to be short-nosed to snore. Some dogs, like me, will simply snore because we find sleeping on our backs the most comfortable way to sleep.
Summary
In short, yes we dogs do snore, in fact, it is incredibly common in some breeds due to their genetic build.
It is also incredibly common in dogs who suffer from allergies and dogs who like to sleep on their backs.
Snoring is not always an immediate cause for concern, but you must monitor it to ensure that nothing more sinister is causing your dog to snore.
