Dog Hacking Cough and Snoring (Should You Worry?)

Dog Hacking Cough and Snoring: Common Causes

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (Short-Nose Breeds)

Short-nosed breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, and Boston Terriers are especially prone to both hacking and snoring. Their airway anatomy includes narrowed nostrils, an elongated soft palate, and sometimes a partially obstructed trachea.

When these structures vibrate or collapse slightly during breathing, the dog snores loudly.

But during the day, the same excess tissue or narrowed passage can cause throat irritation. This leads to hacking, gagging, or a cough that sounds like throat-clearing.

You may notice the coughing worsen with excitement, heat, or exercise. Snoring grows louder when the dog sleeps on its back or after a busy day.

These dogs do not have kennel cough; they have a structural airway condition that requires management and sometimes surgical correction.

Because these dogs already have limited airflow, even minor inflammation can make both symptoms worse.

Read more: Dog hacking cough randomly (Why it happens)

Allergies

Environmental allergies, seasonal pollen, dust mites, and household irritants commonly cause dogs to snore and hack at the same time. When the nasal passages swell, airflow becomes noisy, leading to snoring. At the same time, post-nasal drip flows down the back of the throat.

This constant drip irritates the throat and triggers a hacking cough.

Dogs with allergies may snore more at night because they breathe heavily during sleep when the nasal passages are most congested. During the day, the irritation leads to throat-clearing hacks, soft gagging sounds, reverse sneezing, or repetitive coughing episodes.

Some dogs also show classic allergy signs such as paw licking, face rubbing, watery eyes, or itchy skin. Because allergies fluctuate, both hacking and snoring often come and go depending on environment and weather.

Soft Palate Elongation

Some dogs naturally have a long, thick, or floppy soft palate—even non-brachycephalic breeds. When this tissue partially blocks the airway, it vibrates during sleep and produces loud, rumbling snoring.

During the day, the same tissue can flop backward when the dog gets excited, drinks water, or breathes heavily. This causes an abrupt hacking cough that sounds like the dog is trying to clear its throat.

Owners often describe the cough as:

“Something stuck in the throat”
“A gagging cough”
“A hacking with a honk or snort mixed in”

The important detail is that this is not kennel cough. It is mechanical obstruction. Dogs may breathe noisily, pant more easily, or become tired during exercise because airflow is not smooth.

If the soft palate is significantly elongated, snoring becomes chronic and hacking episodes increase over time.

Laryngeal Paralysis

Laryngeal paralysis is a condition where the cartilage flaps that protect the airway no longer open and close properly. Instead of moving smoothly, they become weak or paralyzed and allow the airway to partially collapse.

This makes the dog snore, wheeze, or produce rasping sounds while asleep. But while awake, the dog may cough or hack because airflow doesn’t move normally through the throat.

Many dogs also make a deep, hoarse, or strained sound when barking.

Laryngeal paralysis is more common in older large-breed dogs such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Setters, though it can occur in any breed. Heat, excitement, and exercise dramatically worsen symptoms because the dog struggles to pull enough air through the narrowed space.

Over time, hacking episodes become more frequent as the airway becomes progressively weaker.

Respiratory Inflammation 

Inflammation of the upper airway or throat—caused by inhaled irritants, mild viral irritation, dry air, or environmental triggers—can lead to both hacking and snoring. This is different from kennel cough, which produces a more intense hacking with a honking sound.

Milder inflammation causes thickened mucus and swelling inside the nasal passages, which makes breathing noisier and leads to snoring.

At the same time, excess mucus drips into the throat, causing periodic hacking.

This type of inflammation may:

• Come and go.
• Worsen at night.
• Be triggered by dust or weather changes.
• Persist during allergy seasons.

Dogs may appear completely normal otherwise, eating and playing without issue, which makes owners unsure whether the symptoms need treatment. While it may be mild, persistent inflammation can worsen over time or lead to secondary irritation if left unaddressed.

Acid Reflux 

Acid reflux is a less common—but highly underdiagnosed—cause of a dog hacking cough and snoring. When acidic stomach contents move upward into the esophagus or throat, they irritate the tissues and trigger coughing.

Dogs with reflux often hack more:

• At night.
• After eating.
• After drinking water.
• When lying down.

At the same time, reflux can cause swelling as the throat becomes inflamed from repeated exposure to stomach acid. This swelling narrows the airway just enough to create snoring, especially when the dog sleeps on its side or back.

Some dogs swallow frequently, lick their lips, or burp softly—subtle clues of reflux. Even without digestive symptoms, throat irritation alone can cause significant airway noise and hacking.

Read more: Dog Hacking but Not Kennel Cough (What else could cause it)

What to Do If Your Dog Has A Hacking Cough and Snoring

When your dog is both hacking and snoring, start by observing patterns. Notice when the coughing happens most often, whether snoring changes with sleep position, and whether the symptoms worsen with exercise, meals, or allergens.

Providing clean, humidified air can help soothe airway irritation. Avoid scented cleaning products, perfumes, candles, and smoke, all of which can worsen both symptoms. Keeping the dog’s sleeping area free of dust and using air purifiers may reduce nighttime snoring.

For dogs that may be dealing with reflux, feeding smaller meals more frequently and avoiding elevated excitement after eating can make coughing episodes less intense. Adjusting the dog’s bed to a slightly elevated position sometimes reduces snoring due to better head and neck alignment.

Short-nosed dogs benefit greatly from weight management, reduced exercise during hot weather, and using a harness instead of a collar to decrease throat pressure. These small changes often make a big difference in day-to-day airway comfort.

If allergies are suspected, wiping the dog’s coat and paws after walks can reduce allergen buildup. Frequently washing bedding and vacuuming carpets also helps minimize nighttime congestion that contributes to snoring.

When to Call or Visit Your Vet

You should contact your veterinarian if the hacking becomes persistent, worsens, or is accompanied by any change in breathing effort. Snoring alone may be normal in some dogs, but snoring with hacking indicates irritation or obstruction that should be evaluated.

Seek veterinary attention sooner if your dog shows:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Gagging without relief.
• Blue-tinged gums.
• Exercise intolerance.
• Collapse or fainting.
• Heavy panting at rest.
• Increasing nighttime restlessness.

These symptoms suggest a more serious airway or cardiac condition that needs prompt care.

If your dog is a brachycephalic breed, schedule a veterinary exam anytime snoring becomes louder or coughing increases. Structural airway issues can worsen gradually and benefit from early intervention.

Senior dogs with new snoring and coughing should also be examined, as airway weakness or neurological changes can appear with age.

Related: Dog coughing up white foamy mucus (Causes explained)

Key Takeaway

A dog hacking cough and snoring often indicates airway irritation, obstruction, or inflammation. While some causes are mild and manageable at home, others—like soft palate issues, reflux, allergies, or structural airway conditions—need veterinary assessment.

Keep track of the timing and triggers, support your dog with a clean environment and calming routines, and contact your veterinarian when the symptoms persist or begin to interfere with breathing or sleep. 

With the right care, most dogs feel significantly better and breathe easier both day and night.