Why Do Dogs Snore So Loudly? Reasons and What to Do

Alright, so today I'm spilling the beans on something kinda random I got into: why dogs snore. It all started 'cause my buddy's pug, Kevin (yeah, real original), sounds like a chainsaw when he's catching Z's. I figured there HAD to be more to it than just "pugs are weird." So, I dove in.

First thing I did was hit up Google. Obvious, right? I typed in "why do dogs snore" and got a whole bunch of articles about breeds, allergies, and weird sleeping positions. I skimmed through a bunch of those, looking for common threads. Saw a lot about brachycephalic breeds (that's the short-nosed ones like pugs, bulldogs, and Shih Tzus) having narrower airways. Makes sense.

Next up, I watched some YouTube videos. I know, I know, sounds lazy, but sometimes seeing is believing! I found a couple of vets explaining the anatomy of a dog's nose and throat. Learned a bit about the soft palate and how it can vibrate when a dog breathes, causing that lovely snoring sound. One video showed how being overweight can also squish the airways and make snoring worse. Poor Kevin is a chonk.

Then, because I'm a nerd, I tried to find some actual research papers. I didn't go too deep, but I found a couple of studies on brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). It’s a real thing! Basically, it’s a collection of problems caused by the short face and squished airways. It's not just snoring; it can affect breathing and exercise tolerance. I got a little worried about Kevin at this point.

After all that research, I actually looked at Kevin. I mean REALLY looked. I noticed he only snores when he's on his back. I also saw that he's definitely carrying some extra weight. And, duh, he's a pug, so the short nose is a given.

So, putting it all together, here's my (totally unofficial, non-vet) conclusion:

• Breed: Kevin's a pug, so he's got the short nose and squished airway thing going on.
• Weight: He's a little overweight, which probably makes the airway situation even worse.
• Position: Sleeping on his back probably makes his tongue fall back and obstruct his breathing even more.

What did I actually do about it? Well, I told my buddy that Kevin might benefit from losing a little weight and maybe sleeping in a different position. I also suggested he talk to his vet about BOAS, just to be on the safe side. And I totally judged him for letting his dog get so chunky!

That's pretty much it. No groundbreaking discoveries, but I learned a thing or two about dog snoring. And hopefully, Kevin will be breathing a little easier soon!