Just like in people, a dog’s nose may run for several reasons and usually, these reasons are not serious. Most dogs with runny noses do not need vet care. However, sometimes, a runny nose in a dog may indicate a serious underlying condition that does need treatment by a vet.
How do you tell the difference? By looking at other signs of illness and using common sense.
It helps to have a complete understanding of what can cause a runny nose and look for other signs of illness. Below, we’ll describe several of the most common reasons a dog may have a runny nose. Of course, when in doubt, it’s always best to call your vet.
The 6 Reasons Why My Dog’s Nose Is Running
1. Allergies
Just like humans, dogs can get seasonal allergies, which lead to signs like runny noses. Seasonal allergies are the most common cause of a runny nose. However, food allergies do cause runny noses in some canines. Often, allergies caused by pollen and food allergies are extremely similar in terms of their symptoms.
Allergies can also cause signs like sneezing, coughing, itchiness, and eye discharge. Canine allergy symptoms and human allergy symptoms are extremely similar.
The best way to treat allergies is to avoid allergies in the first place. If you know what your dog is allergic to, your best option is to avoid the trigger. If your dog is allergic to chicken, you can eliminate chicken from their diet, for instance. However, other times, it simply isn’t possible. You probably cannot eliminate your dog’s exposure to pollen, for instance.
Your vet may also prescribe a range of different medications to help control your dog’s allergy symptoms. Antihistamines, immunosuppressants, steroids, and other medications can all help reduce allergy symptoms.
2. Anatomy
Brachycephalic breeds can cause facial issues—Pugs and Bulldogs fall into this category. These canines may have a runny nose simply because that is how their face is built. Brachycephalic breeds commonly have runny noses due to their short snouts and flat faces. Their nasal passages are more prone to irritation and inflammation, which causes a runny nose.
Sadly, there is no treatment for this condition. In severe cases, brachycephalic dogs may have surgery to correct their palate. However, this is usually due to difficulty in breathing—not because of a runny nose.
You can help the condition by keeping your dog’s nose moist, avoiding extreme temperatures, and using a humidifier in your home where your canine tends to hang out.
3. Foreign Bodies
If your dog gets something stuck in their nose, it may run in an attempt to dislodge the object. Common obstructions include things like foxtails and grass awns. Signs of a foreign body may include sneezing, pawing at the nose, and nose bleeds. Your dog may be obviously distressed by something in their nose, but other dogs don’t seem to care much at all.
If you think your dog has something in their nose, you can try to have a look. However, depending on the breed of dog, the nose canal can be very long, making it impossible to see properly. If you see something, you can try to dislodge it with a pair of tweezers if you feel comfortable doing so. However, the nose bleeds after very little irritation, so it is often best to contact your vet for treatment.
4. Infections
Many types of infections can cause sinus problems, including a runny nose. Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections all fall in this category. Even nasal mites are a possibility. Therefore, you need to contact your vet for testing and treatment. This isn’t something you can treat at home.
There are many other signs of an infection, too. For instance, pus, mucus, bad odors, nosebleeds, coughing, and choking. How exactly the infection is treated depends on the cause.
5. Polyps and Tumors
Blood, pus, and mucus can all be signs of nasal polyps or nasal tumors. Polyps are an overgrowth of the mucus-producing glands. When these get too big, extra mucus is often produced. Tumors are sometimes benign, but they can also be cancerous. Therefore, a biopsy is often necessary.
Other signs of these problems include difficulty breathing, bulges in the nose, and nose bleeds. Your dog may breathe noisily or have trouble breathing at all. These problems often cause inflammation and infections, so they’re important to get treated—even if they aren’t causing serious issues.
Treatment usually involves surgery, as the obstruction needs to be removed. Sometimes, medication or radiation may be necessary afterward.
6. Abnormal Openings
Abnormal openings such as oro-nasal fistula and cleft palate may cause runny nose due to the access of food and liquids entering the respiratory tract.
A cleft palate is a congenital abnormality or a birth defect of a dog’s mouth and/or lip incomplete fusion with different types affecting the hard, soft, or both palates inside the mouth while others affect the nostrils and lips.
Depending on the age of the dog, a corrective surgery can be done. However, if it is too young for it, supportive care such as temporary prosthesis and feeding tube could be used while waiting for the animal to be ready for the said surgery.
Oro-nasal fistula is an abnormal opening between the oral and nasal cavity secondary to periodontal disease or loss of a maxillary tooth that may cause chronic nasal infections. These cases are corrected surgically.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the most common problems that can cause a dog’s nose to run. However, other less common problems may also cause excessive mucus.
In many cases, if your dog’s nose suddenly starts running badly, you should take your dog to the vet. Whether or not you take your dog to the vet largely depends on the extent of the problem and their previous diagnoses.
It is always advisable to consult your vet if your dog has a persistent or severe runny nose that does not improve with home remedies or over-the-counter medications.
Featured Image Credit: Anake Seenadee, Shutterstock
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