While the above video does seem very scientific and official I suspect that there may be other reasons why dogs snore. So I took that hunch and ran with it to see what Raise a Paw could uncover this week when asking Why Do Dogs Snore?

Turns out that much like people there are a variety of reasons why you might catch your pooch sawing logs some much more serious and important to pay attention to than others.

• Rhinitis – Dogs can catch an upper respiratory infection and even be prone to suffering to allergies right along with you. This can cause its nasal passages to temporarily inflame making breathing a little more forced.
• Smooshy Faces – Certain breeds such as Pugs, Boxers, Boston Terriers and English/French Bulldogs are known as Brachycephalic breeds which means that they have short noses and airways. Therefore snoring is a common occurrence with these breeds.
• Your Dog Is Fat – Look, I love it when I see a chubby baby or animal. But an obsese pet is serious and can cause difficulties in its breathing and really create a struggle for your pooch in order to just get its breath in and out which in turn, is not so cute.
• Fungal Disease – Aspergillosis is a type of fungal disease caused by the mold that’s found most often in surroundings with hay or grass clippings. If it’s not treated, Aspergillosis can really cause issues for your dog such as loss of appetite and severe pain.
• Dental Issues – Surprisingly, if your dogs dental health is whack it can cause your pooch to snore. If your pup is suffering from an abscess tooth that is infecting its nasal sinus passages which lead to some seriously uncomfortable snuffling not to mention can lead to a more serious infection throughout your dogs entire body.
• Your Dog Has Something Crammed Up Its Nose That Should Not Be – Such as a penny, a small toy, a tack – really anything small and sniffable. If you take a peek up that snout and see that something might be blocking its ability to breathe you need to get your dog to the vet immediately.

The lesson is that if your dog is a serious snorter it is in your and its best interest to get it to a vet to have that breathing checked out. If it is an infection your vet can treat it and if you find that your dog is in good health but is still snoring for some reason, it could just be that it is sleeping on its back and needs a proper bow-wow bed to encourage it to sleep on its side.