It’s amazing to think so much sound can come out of something so small, but those wee grunts won’t be so cute if those midnight murmurings keep you awake at night. Dr Chris Brown has a few tips on how to get your pet to shhhh.
Why does my pet snore?
For exactly the same reason as humans! The soft palate on the roof of their mouth at the back of their throat vibrates as they breathe in. What really dials up the decibels is when that soft palate is longer than normal. Then, like a flag on a windy day, it flaps in the breeze!
Which pets snore more than normal?
The major snorers tend to be pets with shorter, rounder heads and flat noses. Their facial features are compressed into a small space and the soft palate hangs over the back of the throat, meaning there’s more to vibrate, effectively turning your pet into a mound of sound.
Here are some of the biggest snorer breeds:
Dogs: Boxers, Staffordshire bull terriers, pugs, bulldogs.
Cats: Persians, British shorthairs.
How to stop your pet snoring
While you may have unsuccessfully tried to quash your partner’s snoring, the good news is it’s possible with pets.
Step 1: Open up the airway.
The key factor in big snorers is a lack of space at the back of their throats. A narrow opening means the air is moving faster and there’s more potential for vibrations to start.
But you can free up more space by putting them on a diet. When our little mates carry extra padding, that fat doesn’t just hug the hips – it’s everywhere. So taking away fat around the neck, throat and even the soft palate itself can really make a difference.
Treating allergies can also help. Lots of pets have undiagnosed allergies that cause swelling around their airways. Something as simple as antihistamines can really help to open things up.
Step 2: Stop the vibration.
Often it all comes down to the fact they have an extra-large soft palate in a medium-sized mouth. Fortunately, it’s possible to trim things down to size. An operation is available that shortens the length of the membrane and it generally has a good success rate.
