Mary Allen
Once a dog sneezes or its nose runs, it’s usually not a cause for concern. However, if the runny nose accumulates or continues uninterruptedly, the cause must be investigated and appropriate measures are taken.
Sneezing And Runny Nose In Dogs
The sneeze reflex is triggered by stimuli in the nasal mucosa. Your nose can sometimes run a little after you sneeze.
Additional symptoms of runny nose
- Sneeze
- Cough
- heavy breathing
- increased body temperature
- watery or swollen eyes
- frequent nose licking
- inappetence
- Fever
- rubbing the head with the paw
If sneezing and a runny nose occur together, this indicates a cold. In this case, your dog should be examined by a veterinarian.
Possible Causes Of A Dog’s Nose Running
Temporary Irritation
Irritation and odors that are penetrating the dog can irritate the sensitive nasal mucosa of dogs and cause them to dry out. To counteract this, the body produces more mucus and nasal discharge occurs.
Infections Caused By Viruses, Bacteria, Or Fungi
If your dog has a cold, it will also have a runny nose and sneeze. In the case of infections, the body tries to transport the pathogens to the outside by means of a nasal discharge.
Dental Diseases
Dental disease can also be associated with a runny dog nose. The discharge here is often reddish.
Foreign Body In The Nose
If a dog gets a foreign object in their nose, it should be taken very seriously. It can not only be that the dog’s nose is running, but that the mucous membranes are chronically irritated. This usually leads to complications.
Be careful when your dog is playing in meadows, fields, or in the forest, for example. For example, small parts of plants (e.g. awns, grass seeds) can get into the dog’s nose.
Dust In The Nose
Dust in the nose can also lead to increased nasal discharge.
Dog Allergies
It’s not just us humans who suffer from allergies. Our dogs can also have allergic reactions to a wide variety of things, such as plants, feed ingredients, or cleaning agents. the sneezes rarely, and usually have skin changes.
Tumors
Tumors in the area of the nose or upper airway can also cause your dog’s nose to run. In the case of tumors, in particular, there may be blood in the nasal secretion or even nosebleeds. In such a case, a veterinarian should be consulted immediately.
There are a number of reasons why a dog’s nose can run. This list is therefore not complete. To find out the exact cause, you should consult a veterinarian.
Pay Attention To The Nasal Secretion
Different causes of running nose sometimes have special characteristics:
- Is your dog almost water running out of his nose? Clear, watery nasal mucus usually occurs with allergies or viral infections.
- Viscous, sometimes yellow or greenish nasal secretions, on the other hand, indicate bacterial or fungal infections of the upper respiratory tract.
- If only one nostril is consistently affected by the runny nose, this can indicate a foreign body or a tumor in the nose.
Dog’s Nose Is Running – Act Right
If your dog has a runny nose, there are a few things you can do yourself first:
- Slightly increase the humidity in the room. Use a humidifier or set out a bowl of water.
- When you have a cold, keep your dog warm and, most importantly, dry. Going for a walk is usually not a problem, but you shouldn’t leave your dog out in the rain for long.
- Check your dog’s nose for any foreign objects such as grain or small stones.
When You Should Definitely See The Vet
A veterinarian should always be consulted if your dog has a runny nose over a long period of time, has blood in its secretions, or has a yellow or greenish nasal discharge.
The veterinarian will examine your four-legged friend in detail and treat the cause accordingly. Make an appointment for this.