TL;DR: Awake snoring, or stertor, is caused by a partial airway obstruction and should be evaluated by a vet within 24 to 48 hours unless your dog shows signs of respiratory distress, which requires emergency care.
What does it mean if my dog is snoring while they are awake?
If your dog is making loud snoring or snorting sounds while fully awake, they are experiencing what veterinarians call stertor. This sound is caused by vibrations of soft tissue in the upper airway, usually due to a partial obstruction in the nose or the back of the throat. While common in breeds with shortened muzzles, any new or worsening noisy breathing should be evaluated to ensure your pet is receiving enough oxygen.
Is awake snoring in dogs a veterinary emergency?
- Medium Priority: Schedule a veterinary appointment within the next 24 to 48 hours if your dog is acting normally, has pink gums, and is not in distress.
- High-Priority Emergency: Seek immediate intervention if the snoring is accompanied by gasping, a blue or purple tint to the tongue, or a complete exercise intolerance.
How can photos and videos help my vet triage my dog's breathing issues?
- Capture a video of your dog making these sounds so the veterinarian can see the physical effort and hear the specific frequency of the noise.
- Provide documentation to help distinguish between nasal congestion, soft palate issues, or more serious tracheal concerns.
- Use visual aids to help the triage team create a faster and more accurate diagnostic plan.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Stertor, a loud, snorting respiratory sound, is commonly associated with pharyngeal disease. In dogs, stertor while awake can be caused by conditions such as acute rhinitis, characterized by nasal discharge, sneezing, and open-mouth breathing. Other causes of stertor include foreign bodies, edema, laryngeal paralysis or paresis, tracheal collapse, and elongated soft palate. Laryngeal paralysis, more frequent in middle-aged to older, large breed dogs, presents with voice changes, noisy breathing progressing to respiratory distress, and stridor. If a dog exhibits loud snoring or stertor while awake, especially with other signs such as nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, or difficulty breathing, veterinary examination is warranted. Laryngoscopy may be needed to confirm diagnoses such as laryngeal paralysis.
Chapter: Emergency, Respiratory
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1662)