How to help a stuffy dog? The truth
Dogs and cats get runny or stuffy nose just like humans do. It could be caused by many different things such as, being out in the rain, or playing in the snow for too long.
What can I give my stuffy dog for nasal congestion?
Just like in humans, our pets lose their sense of taste and smell whenever they get a runny or stuffy nose. Luckily for us, there are many home remedies or pharmacy medications that we can give our dogs or cats for a runny nose.
Unlike humans, dogs and cats use their nose to explore the world, so whenever they get a stuffy or runny nose, it is more irritating than when we as humans get them.
Common Medications for stuffy noses dogs
- Nasal Sprays
- Buffered Aspirin
Pediatric nasal spray and saline nasal spray can be given to dogs and puppies to help fight nasal congestion and dryness that is caused by a cold
This should be given to your dog once or twice per day with food. It helps relieve pain and is also an anti‐inflammatory medicine. Please follow the dosage listed in the table below for your size dog.
| Weight (Pounds) | Amount |
|---|---|
| less than 10 | 1⁄2 baby aspirin |
| 11 - 16 | 1 baby aspirin |
| 17 - 32 | 1⁄2 adult aspirin or 2 baby aspirin |
| 33 - 48 | 3⁄4 adult or 3 baby aspirin |
| 49 - 64 | 1 adult aspirin or 4 baby aspirin |
| 65 - 80 | 11⁄4 adult aspirin or 5 baby aspirin |
| 81 - 96 | 11⁄2 adult aspirin or 6 baby aspirin |
How can you tell if your dog or cat has a sinus infection?
The easiest way to tell if your dog or cat has a sinus infection is to observe to see if there are any type of nasal discharge. Other signs to look for would be nasal bleeding, purulent eye discharge, difficulty breathing, and watery eyes. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian to find out what your next move should be.
Causes of rhinitis and sinusitis in dogs and cats
- Autoimmune disease
- Asthma
- Weakened immune system
- Bacterial infection
- Fungal
- Allergens or environmental irritants
- Foreign body lodged in sinuses or nasal cavity.
- Viral infection
- Dental disease
- Orinasal fistula
- Cancer
- Parasites
- Trauma to the face
Nasal discharge in dogs
Usually, you do not need to fret about any type of clear nasal discharge in dogs, unless it remains for more than you a day or two or there are other signs that accompany the discharge. Any discharge that is green, yellow, cloudy or foul-smelling is a good reason to be concerned. Whenever you are in doubt, talk with your veterinarian.
What are the signs of respiratory distress in a dog?
There are several signs to look out for to know if your dog or cat may have (ARDS) Acute Respiratory Distress. Before bringing in your pet to a veterinarian, check for these signs.
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing
- Blue-gray colored gums (cyanosis)
- Crackling noise during breathing
- Nasal Discharge
Why does my dog sound like he has a stuffy nose?
Your dog might sound like he/she has a stuffy nose because of a couple different reasons. The main reason might be a condition called Reverse Sneezing. Reverse Sneezing is where your dog makes repeated snorting noises that sound like he/she has a blocked nasal passageway. This is caused by irritation of the palate/laryngeal area. You will know your dog is experiencing Reverse Sneezing if you see him/her
How Is a Stuffy Nose in Dogs Similar to a Stuffy Nose in Humans?
- Humans and dogs both have mucus in their nasal passageways
- Dogs and humans can both have difficulty breathing due to blocked nasal passageways
- Bacteria affects both humans and dogs.
- Allergies affect both humans and dogs.
Causes of rhinitis in dogs and cats
There are many different things that can cause rhinitis in dogs and cats. Some of the main causes will be listed below.
- Viruses
- Allergies
- Bacteria
- Fungal Infections
- Cancer
- Foreign bodies
- Traumatic Injuries
Symptoms of rhinitis in dogs
- Excessive sneezing
- Bad breath
- Rubbing or pawing at the face
- Lack of scent ability
- Restlessness
- Weight loss
- Facial pain or swelling
- Unilateral nasal discharge
- Bilateral nasal discharge
- Open mouth breathing
- Nose bleed
- Lack of appetite
- Gagging
- Coughing
- Reverse sneezing
- Loss of appetite
- Labored breathing
How Is Rhinitis Diagnosed and Treated?
Rhinitis is usually diagnosed by observing the signs that comes with the illness such as bad breath, Restlessness, nose bleed, coughing, and many others. You are also able to diagnose rhinitis in your pet by observing their environment, their age, or blood work.
The Treatment of rhinitis will be based on many different factors, but the main factor would be the cause of the rhinitis. Anti-histamins, anti-biotics, anti-fungalmedications, or steroids may be administered depending on the underlying cause. There might also be the need for a Surgical procedure depending on the severity of the rhinitis in order to remove any foreign bodies. Foreign bodies such as fungal infections or cancer.
Can I put Vicks on my stuffy dog?
No. Due to certain types of ingredients found in Vicks, it is not safe to put Vicks on your stuffy dog. The most dangerous ingredient is known as Camphor.
Is Honey safe for dogs?
Honey is safe for dogs as long as it is given in small amounts. During a cold, it can help to speed up the process of getting well with all the vitamins and minerals provided.
Stuffy nose in cats
Cats get stuffy noses just like dogs and humans do. However, in cats, a stuffy nose is called Rhinitis. Rhinitis is the condition where the lining of the nose (mucous membranes) becomes inflamed. Whenever the mucous membranes become inflamed, they usually cause swelling, and when swelling occurs, breathing becomes difficult.
Symptoms Of Rhinitis In Cats
The symptoms listed below can give you an idea if your cat is suffering from Rhinitis or not.
- Loss of appetite
- Laboured Breathing
- Nasal discharge
- Pawing at the face
- Breathing through the mouth
- Sneezing
How to treat rhinitis in cats?
To treat rhinitis in cats, firstly, a veterinarian has to figure out what the underlying cause of the illness is. This will ultimately tell the veterinarian the steps he/she needs to take to treat the rhinitis.
- Bacterial Rhinitis
- Nasal Flush
- Antifungal Medications
- Intravenous fluids & nutritional support
- Surgery
If the rhinitis is accompanied by any form of bacteria, then the veterinarian will prescribe the correct antibiotic to combat the infection.
This form of treatment is used for cats with severe rhinitis. A nasal flush will remove any blockage from the nasal passageway.
An antifungal treatment will be administered if the underlying cause of the infection is found to be any type of fungus.
Some dogs and cats are very resistant to drinking water of any type of fluids. However, just like us humans, cats and dogs need fluids and nutritional support to have a strong immune system.
Some times rhinitis gets to the point where surgery will be necessary. The medical procedure to take care of rhinitis is called rhinotomy is necessary when rhinitis causes the growth of cancerous lumps.
Do cat colds go away on their own?
Yes. Much like colds in humans, cat cold can go away too. Cat colds take anywhere between -2 weeks to clear up on its own. However, if there does not seem to be any health improvement by the start of the fourth day, a veterinarian must be contacted.
How do you help a cat that has a cold?
It is always good to offer warmed up cat food as this encourages the intake of needed nutrients into the body. Remove any discharge from their nose by wiping with a damp, clean cloth. Maybe the most important thing to do is to always make sure there is always enough drinking water available.
Can I put Vicks on my stuffy cat?
No. It is very dangerous to put vicks on your cats as certain chemicals within vicks is poisonous. The toxic element in vicks is known as Camphor.
Camphor poisoning signs
- Skin irritation
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Nausea
- Seizures (If taken in large amounts)
- Diarrhea
Can you treat stuffy noses in dogs at home?
Treating your dog's stuffy nose at home can be helpful to your dog or be very bad at the same time depending on the severity of the stuffy nose. It would be wise to try and get a veterinarian to take a look at your dog over a video call before you decide to treat stuffy noses in dogs at home.
If your vet gives you the go-ahead of treating your dog at home, then follow the steps bellow.
- Carefully massage your puppy's nose to loosen up the mucous and permit it to drain. Your dog will feel good when you do this just as how you would feel good when you rub the bridge of your nose.
- Use a nasal aspirator. A nasal aspirator is used to draw out excess mucous. Be really mild while doing so, and make sure that you follow the directions of the aspirator while putting it into your animal's nasal passages. Make certain to clean up the aspirator completely after usage, and, although I truly hope this need not be stated, do not utilize the exact same aspirator on your canine that you utilize for your kids.
- Have your pet lay on your bathroom floor before you start taking a hot shower. The steam will assist your dog in hydrating his nasal passages and possibly permit the mucous to drain. Do not leave the bathroom's exhaust fan on as this will only defeat the whole purpose
- A humidifier should be used to raise the moisture of the air inside your house. It'll likely produce much better outcomes if you restrict your dog to a smaller space with the humidifier close-by. Be specifically cautious to clean your humidifier frequently in the way detailed by the maker-- unclean air humidifiers can trigger extra health issues.
Dog has stuffy nose and wheezing
If your dog has stuffy nose and wheezing, it would be wise to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. This could mean that that your dog has more than one ailment happening at the same time. However, after contacting a veterinarian, he/she might recommend getting over the counter nasal rinse for your dog which might help clear up his/her nasal passageway.
What if there is a foreign object in your dog's nasal passages?
Dog are known to use there sense of smell more than any other of their senses.
Conclusion
A stuffy nose in dogs and cats is not uncommon. It is up to us as their owners to find out what the best steps to take in order to treat them. The first line of defense for stuffy nose in dogs would be to contact a veterinarian to ask the necessary questions.
