« Articles

Conditions That May Cause a Stuffed Nose in a Dog

Tess Thompson

Stuffy dog noses make dogs want to blow outward, as if sneezing. Simply put, if your dog appears to be all plugged up, it is not a good sign. There is very little that you can do about a dog cold on your own, as it may be due to a variety of reasons. If your dog is old, then a blocked and stuffy nose can even be indicative of a heart ailment.

Stuffy dog noses may be due to any of the following conditions:

• A foreign object may have become stuck in the dog’s nose, causing irritation. The snorting or sneezing that may ensue may actually be your dog’s efforts at trying to expel it.
• Stuffy dog noses can also be caused due to an infection or a tooth problem. Nasal infections in dogs can be either viral bacterial or fungal.
• Allergies (dietary, environmental or due to an allergen) are also causes of a stuffy dog nose.

You can be sure that a foreign object is lodged in your dog’s nose if he paws his face too often and with a vengeance. The foreign particle could be the bristly brush-like spikes of a foxtail that are bothering him and you may need the help of a veterinarian to get it extricated.

If a stuffy nose is a recent occurrence and your dog is otherwise in good health, it could be a genuine case of canine cold. Canine olds, although less frequent than human colds, show similar symptoms, including a stuffy dog nose. Canine colds should not be taken casually, as they are not always self-limiting in nature and are categorized under disorders of the canine respiratory system. These canine colds can be an indication of a simple but extremely contagious infection like kennel cough, fungal infection like Aspergillosis, or potentially fatal infections like canine distemper and dog flu.

Just like humans, dogs too feel some irritation in their noses once in a while. Your dog may occasionally lower his head and snort in a way that sounds like he is sucking in and out. This is normal for dogs, and massaging the back of dog’s nose on the top and the puffy parts of his muzzle will help in easing the irritation. However, if the irritation continues longer, you should take your dog to the veterinarian for examination. Apart from canine colds and or infections that can progress to pneumonia, it could also be a sign of prevalence of polyps in the dog’s nose.

Sources
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_can_you_do_for_your_dog_if_he_has_a_stuffy_nose_and_sneezes
http://www.pet-care-experts.com/archive.php?36873
http://www.dogster.com/answers/question/stuffy_nose-841