Why Did My Dog Suddenly Start Snoring?

Dogs who have always snored — especially brachycephalic breeds — are different from dogs who suddenly start snoring. New-onset snoring indicates something has changed in the nasal passages or upper airway.

Allergies and upper respiratory infections are the most common causes. Seasonal allergies cause nasal congestion, postnasal drip, and swelling of the nasal passages. Upper respiratory infections (kennel cough complex, canine influenza) cause inflammation and mucus production. Both make breathing noisier.

Weight gain is a gradual cause that owners often overlook. Extra fat deposits around the throat and neck narrow the airway. If your dog has gained weight recently and started snoring, the two are likely connected.

Nasal foreign bodies — typically grass seeds (foxtails), plant material, or small objects — lodge in the nasal passages and cause unilateral (one-sided) snoring, sneezing, and sometimes bloody nasal discharge. This is common in dogs who root around in tall grass.

Nasal polyps or tumors cause progressive snoring that worsens over weeks to months, often with nasal discharge (sometimes bloody) from one nostril. Nasal tumors are more common in older dogs with long noses (Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, German Shepherds).

Other causes: hypothyroidism (causes laryngeal paralysis and weight gain), soft palate elongation (can worsen with age), and dental disease (upper tooth root infections can extend into the nasal passages).