Why Is My Dog Wheezing?

Wheezing, Snoring, Honking or Reverse Sneezing?

• Wheezing: a musical whistle, often heard when breathing out, from narrowed airways in the chest.^1,2
• Snoring or snorting (stertor): a low-pitched noise on breathing in, from the nose or throat. Dogs that "sound congested" usually have this.^5,4
• Stridor: a high-pitched noise on breathing in from the voice box or windpipe. It can sound similar to wheezing.^4,5
• Goose-honk cough: a dry, harsh honk typical of a collapsing windpipe, although kennel cough can sound like this too.^10,9
• Reverse sneezing: loud, rapid snorting as air is pulled in through the nose, lasting about 30 seconds. It's usually harmless, but see your vet if it keeps happening or comes with other breathing problems.^6,27 See reverse sneezing in dogs.

A short video of the noise is very helpful for your vet.

Why Is My Dog Wheezing?

• Chronic bronchitis: a cough on most days for at least 2 months, mostly in middle-aged and older small dogs. Wheezing on breathing out can develop as it progresses. Most dogs live a normal lifespan with management, and keeping weight down helps a lot.^28,7,29
• Allergic or eosinophilic airway disease ("dog asthma"): chronic cough, wheezing and fast breathing. Huskies and Malamutes may be prone to one form.^8,30
• Kennel cough and other contagious respiratory infections, which start suddenly 5 to 10 days after exposure.^9,31 See kennel cough.
• Pneumonia: a deep cough, fever and labored breathing.³²
• A collapsing windpipe or airways, mostly in toy breeds aged 4 to 14. Coughing can be worse at night, with excitement and in hot, humid weather.^10,33
• An inhaled grass seed or other object, especially in young hunting and working dogs in spring and summer.^11,34
• Flat-faced breeds: narrow nostrils and a long soft palate cause snoring, snorting and heat intolerance.⁴
• Laryngeal paralysis in older large dogs: noisy breathing, a hoarse bark and tiring on walks, sometimes with weakness in the back legs.^12,16,35
• Heart disease: heart failure causes coughing and breathing difficulty, although fluid in the lungs usually makes crackling rather than wheezing sounds.^13,3 See congestive heart failure.
• Heartworm and lungworm, parasites that cause cough and labored breathing.^36,37,38
• Tumors of the lungs or airways, mostly in older dogs.³⁹
• Smoke and irritants, which inflame and narrow the airways.^20,40
• Allergic reactions to stings or other triggers, which can swell the face and throat.¹⁷

Wheezing at Night, While Sleeping, or in an Older Dog

A collapsing windpipe can cause more coughing at night, and flat-faced dogs may snore heavily or briefly stop breathing in their sleep.^10,4 In older dogs, common sources of new noisy breathing or coughing include chronic bronchitis, airway collapse, laryngeal paralysis, heart disease and tumors, so a vet check is worthwhile.^{28,10,12,13,39} Count your dog's breaths while he's asleep. A sleeping rate that stays above 30 a minute is a reason to call your vet.^15,13 See dog breathing fast.

What You Can Do at Home

• Keep your dog calm and cool, because stress and heat make breathing harder.^14,41
• Use a harness instead of a neck collar.^10,16
• Keep your dog away from cigarette smoke, vaping, candles, incense, air fresheners and sprays.^24,7
• Help an overweight dog lose weight, which can greatly improve cough and breathing.^28,7
• Ask your vet before using steam or a nebulizer. It may help loosen mucus in some dogs, but there's little research behind it, and heat and humidity can make a collapsing windpipe worse. Don't use steam for a flat-faced dog or a dog that is overheating.^42,43,10,4
• Never give your dog a human inhaler or any human medicine unless your vet prescribes it, and keep inhalers out of reach.^21,41
• Don't use essential oils or diffusers. Some oils are toxic to dogs, and scents can irritate the airways.^44,45

Wheezing that doesn't settle with rest, or that keeps coming back, needs a vet visit.⁴¹

What Your Vet Will Do

Your vet will listen to your dog's chest and airways and usually take chest X-rays. Depending on the findings, the next steps may include heartworm and lungworm tests, a camera exam of the airways (bronchoscopy) with an airway wash, a moving X-ray to check for airway collapse, or a CT scan.^46,28,10,38 Treatment depends on the cause and may include anti-inflammatory medicine (by mouth or inhaled), medicines that open the airways, cough suppressants, antibiotics if there is an infection, parasite treatment, oxygen, weight loss or surgery.^{28,43,9,33,16}

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I be concerned about my dog's wheezing?

If it doesn't settle with rest, keeps coming back, or comes with labored breathing, gum color changes, swelling or collapse.

Can dog wheezing go away on its own?

Mild wheezing from an irritant may settle, but wheezing that lasts or returns needs a vet to find the cause.

Why does my dog sound congested when breathing?

A snoring or snorting sound usually comes from the nose or throat, common in flat-faced breeds.

Can dogs have asthma?

Classic asthma is much more common in cats than in dogs. In dogs, "asthma" is usually allergic-type airway inflammation, which is treatable.

Are there home remedies for dog wheezing?

Keep your dog calm, cool and away from smoke. Don't use essential oils or human medicines.