Does your pup share your bed? If that is the case, chances are you have heard them snore at least once or twice. Laika doesn’t usually snore but does tend to howl in her sleep which is why she sleeps on the couch (more about that another time…).

Snoring in dogs may seem harmless enough, but it may also indicate an underlying medical problem. If your pup suddenly started snoring unexpectedly or you’re uncertain why he or she is doing it, having them checked out by your vet might be wise – here’s some common causes of canine snoring:

Why Do Dogs Snore
In order to understand why dogs snore, it’s essential to first understand why snoring occurs in general. Snoring occurs when air gets restricted as it tries to pass through your throat or nasal cavity and vibrating airway tissues create the sound we know as “snoring.” While in humans obstructive sleep apnea may cause this condition, such as is rare among canines.

Why Do Dogs Snore? Snoring itself isn’t an illness; it’s simply a symptom, which could be brought on by extra weight or physical attributes of your pup; therefore it is wise to get them checked if their snoring increases significantly. Below is a list of common causes of canine snoring.

Do You Sleep on His Back, Which Increases the Chance of Snoring
Does your dog prefer sleeping on his back? If that’s the case, they are more likely to snore. 5-10% of dogs sleep with their bellies up which has been linked with increased levels of snoring both from dogs and humans alike. When sleeping on their backs their base of tongue can slip back into their throat, blocking airflow into their passageways and leading to snoring episodes.

Snoring Can Happen with Any Breed of Dog Its Any amount of restricted airflow can lead to canine snoring, with certain breeds more prone than others. Brachycephalic dogs with short noses like Pugs, Bulldogs & Boston Terriers being especially susceptible due to their short air passageways causing regular obstructions that result in airway snoring episodes.

Overweight Can Cause Your Dog to Snore
An overweight lifestyle is one of the primary contributors to human snoring; and that holds true for canines too. Extra tissue due to excess body mass can narrow their airway and limit airflow resulting in restricted airflow and subsequent snoring.

Tip: Looking to help your pup shed pounds? Try these 5 daily habits for maintaining optimal fitness in their lives.

Allergies Can Cause Snoring in Dogs
Dogs that suffer from allergies are more prone to snoring due to airway restriction and congestion, making breathing through your nose difficult at times. Allergens cause mucus buildup which then reduces airflow through nasal passageways resulting in restricted breathing patterns and can increase mucus buildup leading to airway restriction resulting in mucus buildup causing airway restriction which leads to airway restriction resulting in mucus buildup which leads to restricted airway space resulting in restricted airway passageways leading directly into their airway passageways resulting in increased likelihood of snoring as a result of mucus buildup resulting from restricted airway restriction due to limited nasal passageways due to airway restriction caused by congestion caused by allergens; both factors contributes directly snoring from airway restriction caused by congestion as a result; allergens also increase mucus buildup in your nasal passageways as a result, making breathing difficult due to sinus passageway obstruction; as they also create mucus buildup which causes congestion through which breathing difficulties while breathing through nose passageways making breathing difficult through. Both factors increase likelihood of snoring.

Secondhand Smoke Can Cause Snoring in Dogs Just like for humans, secondhand smoke can have similar negative impacts on canines’ lungs and airways as it does to humans, leading to respiratory conditions like bronchitis, asthma and snoring in them.

Snoring in Dogs
Dental issues, infections and growths may all cause your pup to snore; therefore it’s vital that they visit their vet to pinpoint its source.

Snoring is not an illness; rather it is a symptom that needs to be checked out by your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical problems. If your dog has suddenly started snoring or experiencing interrupted sleep patterns it should be evaluated by their veterinarian to rule out any potential medical problems.