My pomeranian is 7 years old & I know reverse sneezing is a pom/small dog thing, but I would like some help with this as moving isn't an option & it is getting scary. My apartment has A/C that clicks on & off periodically & every time it clicks on, my pom reverse sneezes. He has other triggers (getting startled, strong smells, etc), but this is the one that is consistent. This isn't the biggest problem, though. I recently was in a hotel for 3 days (not by choice) & he didn't reverse sneeze even once the entire time we were there. When I was at my parents for a month (also not by choice) in another state, he reverse sneezed much less than at my apartment. When outdoors, he rarely reverse sneezes. In my apartment, even with the windows open, he reverse sneezes maybe once every couple hours, if not more, including all through the night. I bought a small air purifier but it doesn't seem to help much. I live in a tiny one bedroom in new orleans that has carpets that I am sure trap smells/triggering things. I don't know what to do for him... the episodes don't last more than 30 seconds to a minute. He has never reverse sneezed this much anywhere else or as often in his life, but since moving here 2 years ago, my apartment seems to be his biggest trigger. He has been reverse sneezing since he was a puppy. Is this wearing down his tracheal cartilage with each episode? Should I be bringing him in to his vet to look for signs of tracheal collapse? What can I do at home to help him? We are most likely trapped here for at least another 2 years, unfortunately... 😔
It is seemed that the common factor to start an episode is the a/c. I suggest that you clean the a/c filter more often than you already have. And while a deep clean of the entire machine is advised to be at least once a year, you might need that more often than the recommendation. I personally get one twice a year for my own bedroom, because I am also allergic.
I cannot say if the reverse sneezing will wear down the trachea. If the dog already had a problem, then it might make the symptom worse.
If cleaning the machine still didn’t help, a vet’s prescription of symptomatic medicine may help, if all other problems are ruled out. If your dog is not experiencing severe respiratory distress, you can wait for your routine vet visit to have a discussion. But of course, sooner is better than later, is my motto. If you can find time and finance, get your dog to vet a little earlier will be beneficial.
