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I have 2 almost 8 month old littermates that are the joy of my life. Jack B has been having some problems with snarfing more lately. It sounds like the regular backwards sneeze, but he goes into fits of it almost everyday. It seems to come on more when he's excited but he'll also do it when he just wakes up or drinks to fast. Is this just sneezing, or maybe something more serious? When he has a snarf attack I always hold him and check his gums to be sure that he is getting enough oxygen, it's just making me nervous. Especially since another chihuahua owner told me it might be collapsing trachea (even though she never heard him snarf!).

Martha, Andre and Jack B

>>I have 2 almost 8 month old littermates that are the joy of my life. Jack B has been having some problems with snarfing more lately. It sounds like the regular backwards sneeze, but he goes into fits of it almost everyday. It seems to come on more when he's excited but he'll also do it when he just wakes up or drinks to fast. Is this just sneezing, or maybe something more serious? When he has a snarf attack I always hold him and check his gums to be sure that he is getting enough oxygen, it's just making me nervous. Especially since another chihuahua owner told me it might be collapsing trachea (even though she never heard him snarf!).
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>>Martha, Andre and Jack B

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Have your vet check him. And do not attach his leash to a collar. Use a chest harness instead, to take all pressure from the leash off his throat. Sometimes you can get a better fit on a tiny dog from a cat harness than a dog harness.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

We only use harnesses unless they wear a collar to look cute. In my research before getting the boys I read that they have delicate throats, I didn't want to risk it