monitoring pets behaviors to catch health problems

Pet Snoring: Cute Or Dangerous?

You might find it cute or amusing that your pet is audibly snoring when they sleep. However, snoring is sometimes dangerous to a pet's health. If your pet is snoring, and especially if they didn't earlier on in their lives, you should read on to learn how this seemingly-harmless condition can hurt your pet.

Why Pets Snore

There are a few potential reasons why your pet might be snoring. For example, some breeds naturally snore: Persian cats and pug dogs, for example, have shorter muzzles and noses, which leads them to have breathing difficulties. If your pet has a short muzzle and has always snored, you may not have anything to worry about.

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean all pets are off the hook. Pets can also snore because they weigh too much, or they have a problem-like a growth or tumor in their throats or nasal passageways. As a result, it's a good idea to take your pet to a veterinarian if they regularly snore while sleeping.

Blood Pressure

Even if the cause of your pet's snoring is harmless, that doesn't mean that the snoring itself is safe. Snoring can lead to a wide variety of problems for pets, just like it can for humans.

When your pet snores, their body has to work a little harder to pull in a breath than if they were breathing normally. This typically causes an increase in blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure isn't any better for pets than humans, and if left untreated, it can potentially lead to heart conditions.

Poor Sleep Quality

Lastly, consider that your pet's sleep quality may simply not be very good. Although cats are notorious for how much they sleep, there's a difference between restful sleep and poor quality sleep.

If your pet isn't sleeping well, they may spend more time sleeping as a result. They may also be more likely to get sick, less likely to want to play or engage in social activity, and their moods might even shift. Just think of how you feel after a bad night's sleep and you'll understand!

In short, if your pet snores once or twice in their life, it's probably not the end of the world. However, if your pet regularly snores or recently developed a tendency to snore recently, it might be a warning sign of a problem. If your pet's health is important to you, bring up your pet's snoring at their next health check-up with your local veterinarian.