Notice that your pit bull starts snoring in their sleep? And it’s getting more frequent to the point where you start wondering why does my Pit Bull snore? Is it normal for them to snore so much?
Well, just like us humans, some dog breeds, including Pit Bull, are more prone to snoring than others when they sleep.
In this article, we will be explaining in detail the reasons why Pit Bulls snore in their sleep so you can decide to take the right precaution for such a situation.
Why Do Pit Bulls Snore?
Snoring in dogs is usually due to an excessive vibration of the internal walls of the animal’s muzzle when they’re breathing. The air hits when it encounters an obstacle and generates the noise known as snoring.
Besides, Pit Bulls are among the dog breeds that snore. Even so, it is best to be alert and take precautions on what causes the snoring noises. Yes, it is cute to see the big boy snoring, still, there are chances that some underlying health condition is the culprit.
Get the 7 Biggest Training Mistakes free report!
Reasons On What Causes Pit Bulls To Snore
1. Brachycephalic Breed
Brachycephalic breeds, also called shortened heads, are animals — both dogs and cats — that are born with short and wide skulls, having a disproportionately longer bottom jaw than their upper jaw.
These exaggerated features are the result of focusing on the animal’s physical traits and appearance when breeding to comply with the pedigree breed standards. Some examples of brachycephalic dog breeds include Pit Bulls, Pugs, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, and others.
Generally, dogs with such features, with short muzzles and noses, are prone to snore in their sleep. This is because the abnormal features cause the throat and breathing passages regularly get flattened or undersized, disrupting the air flow.
2. Something Is Blocking The Air Intake
Dogs have between 200 and 300 million cells specialized to capture odors. Plus, they usually will use their nose to sniff and explore their environment.
With that being said, your Pit Bull will not always explore smooth surfaces. Thus, it is not uncommon for them to sniff sandy or particulate soil that can end up inside their muzzle. As a result, the entrance of the foreign objects into the respiratory tract can be the trigger of abnormal snoring.
Of course, the blocking of air intake is not necessarily caused by foreign particles. Sometimes, the reason might be due to the Pit Bull’s excessive mucus production. Excessive mucus can block the passage of air into the lungs and consequently produce abnormal noises.
3. Your Dog Is Overweight
Sometimes, the snoring is an indication that your Pit Bull might have gained a few extra pounds, or is overweight. When a Pit Bull is overweight, it means that there are excess fats surrounding the tissues of their upper airways. These excess fats will then vibrate when the Pit Bull breath, hence the snoring.
So, when your Pit Bull start snoring out of the blue moon, perhaps it is time keep an eye on their weight. Keep in mind that Pit Bull is a breed that have high energy level and are very active. Keeping them inactive throughout the day not only cause harm on their mental health, but also on their physical health.
Thus, to keep your Pit Bull in shape, you can create a fixed exercise routine for them. One quick and easy exercise routine you can have is to walk your Pit Bull consistently. Additionally, control their diet. Avoid overfeeding them and only feed high quality kibble and protein sources.
4. Allergies
Allergy can also be the culprit on why Pit Bulls snore in their sleep. Dogs can be allergic to certain substances or elements that cause rhinitis or nasal obstruction.
Generally, allergy reactions can manifest in different parts of the body. Some Pit Bulls shed excessively, in addition to itching and swelling on the skin; others have nasal inflammation and mucus.
Hence, It is crucial to be aware of your Pit Bull sleeping patterns to identify if the snoring is caused by a potentially allergenic element. In addition, remember to clean your dog bedding frequently and maintain a good hygiene practice in your household.
5. Poor Sleeping Position
Have you ever noticed that whenever your Pit Bull snoring, it is always when they’re sleeping in a poor sleeping position. Well, some sleeping positions can cause your dog to snore, especially the one where their head is out of the bed, falling to one side as if the neck is broken.
You might think they look adorable, the reality is this particular sleeping position is blocking the entry of air into their nostril, hence the snoring. Luckily, there is no harm for your dog to sleep in such a position.
Still, if you intend to decrease the likelihood of them snoring, perhaps consider getting a round bed for your Pit Bull. This way, you can prevent them from sleeping in a poor sleeping position and snoring.
6. Old Age
Sometimes, your Pit Bull’s snore due to old age. As they get older, they might end up snoring more than before.
Although snoring from being old is not something you need to worry much about, it’s still best to bring your Pit Bull to the vet. At least, you can have an ease of mind after making sure the snoring is not caused by other underlying health issues.
7. Sickness Related To Respiratory Diseases
Sickness related to respiratory diseases can also cause your Pit Bull to snore in their sleep. Respiratory diseases usually cause inflammation and the buildup of mucus on your dog’s respiratory tract, making them snore.
The most common respiratory diseases in dogs include fungal or bacterial infection, which usually can be cured easily. However, with diseases like kennel cough, or tumor in the respiratory tract, the situation can get trickier, especially for older dogs.
As such, it is important to bring your dog for a frequent vet visit to check on their overall health, as well as detecting any underlying diseases.
8. Dental Problems
If your Pit Bull has an abscessed tooth or other dental problem that is affecting their sinus, it might be the culprit that causes them to snore.
The thing is dogs have teeth with long roots that reach their nasal area. Thus, any infected tooth can cause inflammation in their nose as well as the back of their throat, blocking the air passage that allows them to breathe normally.
9. Medications
Certain medications such as painkillers or muscle relaxants may affect the throat muscle mobility of your Pit Bull, hence causing them to snore.
So, if your dog is under medication, there is nothing to be worried about if you heard them snoring in their sleep. Of course, if you’re unsure that it is caused by the medication, you can always consult your vet for further confirmation.
What Can I Do To Prevent My Pit Bull From Snoring?
In general, you shouldn’t worry too much if your dog snores in their sleep, unless it’s an older dog. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should be slacking off in their well being. It is important to stay alert and precautions so to keep your Pit Bull healthy.
If your goal is to reduce or prevent your dog from snoring, below are some action you can take:
- Keep their bed and surrounding clean from any dust particles.
- Provide an adequate and high quality diet.
- Create exercises routines to keep them in shape
- Observe and correct the sleeping posture if necessary.
- Clean their nostril clean
Hopefully from doing all above, you can see some reduction in the snoring frequency.
However, if nothing changes, instead, there is unusual snoring going on, then pay a visit to the vet right away for further check up.