short palate

Question
Hi;  Can anything be done for a short palate.  I have a Pekingese and the vet says she does reverse sneezing.  Yesterday it was real bad and today she keep trying to clear her nose and white stuff was coming out of her nose.  The vet put her on a pill this morning but was wondering if any thing more can be done for a short palate.  The vet checked her palate when she spay her, before that she thought it was long. Thank you, Fern

Answer
Fern,

Pekinese are a a breed of dog known as brachycephalic breeds, which in plain english means smushed nose breed.  They are prone to elongated soft palates, not short palates and, yes, this condition can lead to reverse sneezing.  

I have yet to find a tried and true method of relieving reverse sneezing.  I know that it sounds like they are choking but in reality they are not.  The reverse sneeze causes no problems at all other than being noisy and uncomfortable for them for a few seconds.  

Some seem to get worse during allergy season and I suspect your vet gave you an antihistamine.  I've used antihistamines in dogs that I suspected had reverse sneeze during allergy season, even though we know that dogs dont seem to have much sinus issues with allergies and instead exhibit skin itching as a symptom of their allergies.  Sometimes antihistamines work... and sometimes they dont.  You'll just have to try it and see.

But if it doesnt work, be rest assured that reverse sneezes cause no harm....

Good luck to you and your Peke...