Carver Street Animal Hospital

2703 Carver St

Durham, NC 27705 US

919-477-7319

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Services
    • Meet Our Team
      • Meet Our Wonderful Doctors
      • Meet Our Fabulous Staff
  • Client Info Center
    • Resources
    • Online Forms
    • What to Expect
    • Payment Options
  • Tributes
    • Client Volunteers
    • Pet Memorials
    • Petsimonials
  • Updates
  • Helpful Tips
  • Trusted Links
  • Cat Tips
  • New Puppy Tips
  • Pet Trainer
  • Clinic Hours
    • After Hours Emergency Care
  • Contact Us
  • Veterinary Topics
    • Pet Health
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Digestive and Oral Health
      • Diseases and Viruses
      • Pests and Parasites
      • Orthopedics
    • Today's Veterinarian
    • Choosing Your Pet
      • Finding Your Pet
      • Cats
      • Dogs
      • Exotics
        • Amphibians
        • Birds
        • Reptiles
          • Lizards
          • Turtles
      • Small Mammals
        • Ferrets
        • Rabbits
        • Domesticated Animals
          • Prairie Dogs
        • Pocket Pets
          • Chinchillas
          • Guinea Pigs
          • Hamsters
          • Hedgehogs
          • Rats
      • Livestock
        • Cows
        • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
        • Goats
        • Pigs
        • Poultry
        • Sheep
    • Living With Your Pet
      • Bringing Your Pet Home
      • Children and Pets
      • Providing Care
      • Travel
      • Saying Goodbye
    • Newsletter Library
      • Tips for Pet Owners
      • Seasonal Topics
      • Nutrition & Food
      • Recognizing Illness
      • Visiting the Vet
      • Equine
      • Cats
      • Keeping Pets Healthy
      • Fleas & Parasites
      • Pet Dangers
      • Behavior & Training
      • Newsletter Archive
        • Fun with Pets
        • Unbelievable Pets
    • Video Newsroom
      • Health Topics
      • Technology and Science
      • Other Interests
    • Client Survey
    • Pets4Kids
  • Make an appointment
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • 8 Common Reasons Why Your Dog is Snoring

8 Common Reasons Why Your Dog is Snoring

  • Created in Newsletter Library

A dog sleeping in bed

Do You Know Why Your Dog Snores?

Does your dog treat you to a symphony of snoring every night? Although snoring is often harmless, it can be a sign of a health problem in some cases. Understanding the reasons your dog may snore can help you decide if it's time to call your veterinarian.

What Happens When My Dog Snores?

Snoring occurs when tissues in your dog's nose, mouth, or throat vibrate as air passes through them. The sound effects are more likely to happen if your pet's airway narrows due to inflammation, an obstruction, congestion, or other issues.

What Causes Snoring in Dogs?

Snoring can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Upper Respiratory Infection: You've probably noticed that you are more likely to snore if you have a cold or upper respiratory infection. Nasal congestion clogs your sinuses, making it more difficult for air to flow freely through your nose. Your dog may also develop congestion and begin snoring as a result of a cold or illness.
  • Obesity: Your dog doesn't just gain weight around its mid-section. Weight gain can also cause excess tissues to form in your pet's neck or throat. These tissues restrict airflow, making it more likely that your dog will snore.
  • Allergies: Allergies could be to blame for your pet's snoring. Allergens inflame the nasal passages, causing swelling that limits airflow.
  • Sleep Position: Do you notice that your dog only snores when sleeping on its back? That sleeping position may cause the tongue to fall back against the throat, partially blocking the airway.
  • Abscessed Tooth: The bacterial infection that causes a tooth abscess may be responsible for inflammation and swelling in nearby tissues.
  • Hypothyroidism: Snoring could be a sign that your dog doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. Other signs of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can include dull coat, flaky skin, lack of energy, cold intolerance, reduced appetite, weight gain, shedding, and skin and ear infections.
  • Breed Characteristics: Dogs with short noses, like boxers, pugs, Boston terriers, English bulldogs, and Shih-Tzus are more likely to snore, according to the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Obstructions: Anything that prevents the free flow of the air, whether it's a growth somewhere in your pet's airway or an object stuck in its nose, can trigger snoring.

What Can Be Done About Snoring?

Stopping or reducing snoring can often be as simple as gently nudging your dog to roll over or helping your pet lose a little weight. (If your dog is overweight or obese, your veterinarian can help you create a weight loss plan that will help your pet shed those extra pounds safely.) If a cold or upper respiratory infection is the cause, snoring is likely to stop once your pet starts to feel better.

If there's no obvious reason for your pet's snoring or snoring started suddenly, your vet can help you determine the cause. Removing an abscessed tooth and treating the infection with antibiotics should relieve tooth-related snoring, while prescription medication will improve your pet's health and reduce snoring caused by hypothyroidism.

When allergies are responsible, making a few changes to your pet's environment can be helpful. Wiping your pet with a moist cloth after trips outside can reduce exposure to allergens, as can washing floors and bedding often. Air-conditioners and air filters will eliminate allergens in your pet's environment, while a humidifier will keep your pet's nasal passages moist. Your veterinarian may also recommend medicated shampoos or prescribe allergy medications.

Snoring isn't necessarily a sign of trouble in dogs with short noses. If you have one of these breeds, it's important to keep your pet's weight under control and monitor your dog's breathing if it gets a cold or upper respiratory illness. If snoring is an indication of a serious issue, your vet may recommend surgery to improve airflow.

Are you concerned about your dog's snoring? Call our office to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

PetMD: Does Your Dog Have a Snoring Problem?, 3/24/17

Canine Journal: Dog Snoring: Is It Normal or a Cause for Concern?, 11/5/20

American Kennel Club: Thyroid Disease in Dogs, 1/17/18

  • Pet Health
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Digestive and Oral Health
    • Diseases and Viruses
    • Pests and Parasites
    • Orthopedics
  • Today's Veterinarian
  • Choosing Your Pet
    • Finding Your Pet
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Exotics
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Reptiles
        • Lizards
        • Turtles
    • Small Mammals
      • Ferrets
      • Rabbits
      • Domesticated Animals
        • Prairie Dogs
      • Pocket Pets
        • Chinchillas
        • Guinea Pigs
        • Hamsters
        • Hedgehogs
        • Rats
    • Livestock
      • Cows
      • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
      • Goats
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Sheep
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Children and Pets
    • Providing Care
    • Travel
    • Saying Goodbye
  • Newsletter Library
    • Tips for Pet Owners
    • Seasonal Topics
    • Nutrition & Food
    • Recognizing Illness
    • Visiting the Vet
    • Equine
    • Cats
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Pet Dangers
    • Behavior & Training
    • Newsletter Archive
      • Fun with Pets
      • Unbelievable Pets
  • Video Newsroom
    • Health Topics
    • Technology and Science
    • Other Interests
  • Client Survey
  • Pets4Kids

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you

Featured Links

Click to find out more

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.
    Learn More
  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.
    View Forms
  • Online Pharmacy

     Please visit our online pharmacy for all your needs.

    Shop Now

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • "Wow! Thanks to all the staff at Anderson Vet Clinic. I feel like you all truly love what you do! My kitty, Lola and I always have such a pleasant experience when we come in. Fortunately, it’s usually just for a check-up, but I would not leave Lola in anyone else’s hands but yours. Thank you for your caring commitment!"
    Maya Smith / Los Angeles, CA
  • "I have benefited tremendously from the care my pet received from Dr. Anderson."
    John Doe / San Diego, CA
  • "Fabio wasn’t eating the food I was giving him and I didn’t feel he was getting the nutrition he needed. Thanks to Dr. Anderson, he evaluated Fabio and his current diet to make some recommendations and now Fabio has gone from barely eating to finishing his meals and he looks healthier than ever. You clearly are an expert in your field...thanks so much!"
    Tara Brown / Kansas City, MO

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

    Cat-Safe House Plants

    Not sure which house plants are safe for your cat? Take a look at our list. ...

    Read More

    Feline Skin Allergy Symptoms and Care

    Has scratching become your cat's favorite activity? A skin allergy may be to blame. ...

    Read More

    The Next Step

    The grieving process includes accepting the reality of your loss, accepting that the loss and accompanying feelings are painful, and adjusting to your new life that no longer includes your pet. How do I tell my family? Family members usually are already aware of a pet's problems. However, you should ...

    Read More

    Online Games & Quizzes

    In this version of badminton, your tail is the racquet. Make the dolphin do flips and tricks. Play Zipper's Kennel Chaos game! Can you help get water in Zipper's dish? Use your frog tongue to catch delicious bugs. Create your very own prize-winning pooch! Speed down the ice while ...

    Read More

    Battling Canine Cancer

    Every day, Cindy Fleischner lines up her crew of cuddly canines for breakfast. As the four other dogs eat, Cindy pulls Katy, her 12 year old Shepherd mix aside for a peanut butter treat. Katy is battling lymphoma and this treat hides her daily dose of chemotherapy drugs. Katy is not alone in this war. ...

    Read More

    Gastroenteritis in Pets

    Lengthy bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can be a sign that your pet has gastroenteritis, a common condition that occurs when the lining of the stomach and intestines becomes irritated. Since frequent diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, a visit to the veterinarian is a good idea if you notice ...

    Read More

    What You Need to Know About Antibiotics

    Using antibiotics incorrectly may harm, rather than help, your pet. ...

    Read More

    Training Tips for Your Pets

    Has training your pet been a frustrating experience? These training tips may help. ...

    Read More

    World Rabies Day

    Has your pet's rabies vaccine expired? Update it during World Rabies Day on September 28. ...

    Read More

    Why A Vet Is Your Best Defense During A Zombie Apocalypse

    Could your veterinarian help you survive a zombie apocalypse? ...

    Read More
No form settings found. Please configure it.

Connect With Us

  • Copyright © 2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map