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A nasal discharge can be the main presenting sign of a number of different disorders in dogs. The character of the discharge, i.e., is it bloody or does it look like pus, and whether it is from one or both nostrils can give clues as to the cause.There are four common causes: chronic rhinitis, a foreign body, neoplasia and nasal aspergillosis. Chronic rhinitis is a bacterial or viral infection, which may respond to antibiotics. A foreign body such as a grass seed inhaled up the nose produces sudden onset profuse sneezing followed by a unilateral nasal discharge. In the older dog neoplasia must always be considered and in younger dogs a fungal infection, Aspergillus fmnigatufi, can occur. Aspergillus infection causes a chronic mucopurulent discharge which can be bloody. Pain is often a feature in this condition which is most often seen in long nosed breeds such as Bull Terriers. X rays of the nose can be informative showing a punched out lesion in the nasal bones. However, they are never conclusive and should always be supported by a blood test. The fungus invades the tissues of the body and the body fights back by producing antibodies. The blood test looks for these antibodies. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, the condition can be treated. Without treatment, the fungus gradually erodes away the bones of the nose until it eats through the cribriform plate into the brain. Older therapies included the use of fairly toxic antifungal agents given by mouth and the removal of all the bones from the nose, a radical turbinectomy. Despite the use of such drastic measures, the cure rate was about 50%. Recently, a new technique has shown a lot of promise. Two irrigation tubes are implanted into the left and right frontal sinuses between the eyes. These tubes are then stitched in place over the forehead and used to flush a new antifungal drug, enilconazole, into each nasal chamber. This is performed daily for about 10 days. The drug is very bitter and many dogs resent it, necessitating hospitalisation during treatment. The tubes can then be removed. With this procedure, cure rates of 95% are now being achieved. If your dog develops a nasal discharge which seems to persist for more than a few days then you should consult your veterinary surgeon. Please make a note of which nostril is involved because, as you can see, it can be very important! Simon Swift, M.A., Vet. M.B, Cert S.A. Cardiol, M.R.C.V.S.
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| I have come
across some disgusting nasal infections, whilst this sounds bacterial/viral there are
other possibilities and the following is reproduced (by kind permission of the editor - me
from Notts & Derby District Bull Terrier Club's Review No 9 (1992). The article was
written because a club member's dog had this infection - and the vet cured it completely
and almost invisibley. Dr. Brian Hill |
