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Comment by Rachael Ann on July 4, 2009 at 11:15am

Thanks for all the advice I feel better now =)

Comment by Butter on July 4, 2009 at 9:53am

Very normal, Butter does it particularly in the car, when his head is stuck out the window.

Comment by Michelle on July 4, 2009 at 9:31am

My female does this more than my male. It is a reaction to a nasal allergen. Place your hand or two fingers over this nose or nostrils and make him breathe through his mouth and it will stop, make him continue breathing through his mouth for about 10 seconds after the "sneezing" stops. My female is not especially fond of this treatment but she had been known to awaken me in the night several time with allergy episodes. Trust me the mouth breathing works.

Comment by Amanda on July 4, 2009 at 7:57am

Yep. Reverse sneezing. I've noticed that Dax will do this on his own, but he'll also do it sometimes if he stretches his neck too far. Sounds weird, I know, but a lot of times he'll do it if I hold a treat or a toy above his head and he stretches his neck way up. Point is, it's perfectly normal and while I imagine it's slightly uncomfortable, it won't hurt them. I rub Dax's throat gently when he does it and it usually makes him stop.

Comment by Jan Elsasser on July 3, 2009 at 11:05pm

Same thing happened to me. I had seen this happen in a friends corgi so I knew it was a reverse sneeze. Still is a scary thing. I just tell him to calm down and talk softly while rubbing his chest.

Comment by Sarah C. on July 3, 2009 at 9:58pm

They're right! I wasn't as freaked when mine did this the first few times because I'd seen my friend's beagle do this regularly and it didnt seem to bother her.It can see how it can be scary tho! It sounds like they're choking or having an asthma attack.

Comment by Geri & Sidney on July 3, 2009 at 9:21pm

Sam is right! The first time one of my dogs did this, I freaked out. But now I know it is OK. Just gently stroke his neck in a downward motion when it happens.

Comment by Sam Tsang on July 3, 2009 at 8:18pm

Welcome Rachel, it's call "reverse sneezing" and very normal.