Rhinitis in Dogs：Causes, Treatment, and Related Symptoms

Overview
Dog rhinitis is mostly caused by foreign body stimulation, trauma and secondary infection of some diseases. Clinically, there are symptoms such as nasal tape congestion, swelling, sneezing, and runny nose. The main treatment is to remove the cause and symptomatic treatment.

Causes of rhinitis in dogs:

1, cold weather, nasal mucosa is stimulated, resulting in congestion, exudation, and even residual bacteria in the nasal cavity, followed by development and reproduction, resulting in mucosal inflammation.
2, inhalation of ammonia and chlorine, smoke and dust, pollen, insects and other direct stimulation to the nasal mucosa, which will cause inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
3, continue the disease or spread to the surrounding organs.

Main symptoms of rhinitis in dogs

Acute rhinitis
At the beginning of the disease, the nasal mucosa of the dog is flushed, swollen, sneezed frequently, and often shakes the head or scratches the nose with the forepaws. At the same time, one or both nostrils run nasal discharge, which is transparent and serous at first, then changes into serous mucinous or mucopurulent nasal discharge, and dries to form dry crusts around the nostrils. When the disease gets worse, swelling of the nasal mucosa becomes apparent, causing the nasal cavity to become very narrow, making it difficult to breathe and the sound of nasal congestion can be heard. When conjunctivitis occurs, the eyes will tear. With the onset of pharyngitis, there is difficulty swallowing, often accompanied by cough, and swelling of the mandibular lymph nodes.

Chronic rhinitis
The onset of the disease continued slowly, sometimes more or less runny nose, more commonly mucopurulent. Inflammation, if left untreated, can cause bone necrosis and tissue breakdown, so the nasal discharge may be mixed with blood, accompanied by a foul smell. Chronic rhinitis was the most common cause of asphyxia or encephalopathy. Attention should be paid to this phenomenon in sick dogs.

Diagnostic criteria for rhinitis in dogs

According to the symptoms of the nasal cavity, if the nasal mucosa is found to be flushed, swollen, runny nose, sneezing and scratching the nose, it needs to be diagnosed immediately.

Treatment method of rhinitis in dogs

To treat rhinitis, first you need to understand the cause, then put the dog in a warm place, and stop training and need to rest properly. Usually mild acute rhinitis can be cured without taking medicine.
For severe rhinitis, the following drugs are selected to wash the dog's nose: 1% salt water, 2 ~ 3% boric acid solution, 1% sodium bicarbonate solution, 0.1% potassium permanganate solution, etc., when rinsing the nose, the dog's head must be lowered, after rinsing, and then drop anti-inflammatory agents into the nostrils.
To induce vasoconstriction and reduce sensitivity, 0.1% epinephrine or phenyl salicylate (Saro) paraffin oil (1:10) can be instilled into the nostrils, or a net nasal drop can be used.