AboutJana Connell RVT, CVT Expertise PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME:
I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer.
IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!!
I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals.
I DO NOT do birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!
Experience I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina.
I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.
Organizations Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Education/Credentials Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT.
Certified Veterinary Dental Technician
Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).
Question First, please allow me to tell you how I admire you for answering these questions. I read your previous questions and you have quite a large volume of answers.
I read the one about the Beagle that had inverted sneezing. My 15 year old Beagle started doing the same thing in the past two or three weeks. I believe he has allergies...as his snout is red around his nose and it drips all the time. I will take him to the vet if you say I should. I guess I just am wondering if there is anything that a vet can actually do that I can't if it is allergies.
Still I fear it could be something more, as he wakes up in the middle of the night with the snorting and such. Also, my other dog...a 7 year old Heinz 57 mixed breed....has begun to cough and sneeze also.
I'm on Social Security and will spend the money for the vet if it seems necessary...I know you can't know for sure without seeing them...but what I guess I want to know is this...Can dogs cough and sneeze and snort, etc. if it just allergies...like people...I always thought that dogs presented with itching and chewing their feet,tails, etc. when they have allergies.
I hope I have explained myself well enough so you can give me an idea if a trip to the vet would be the most beneficial. I take good care of them and want to do the right thing...but in this economy, I don't want to waste money if I can do something myself to help them feel better.
Again, thank you for what you are doing. It's just a really nice thing to do.
With appreciation,
Leslee
Answer Hi Leslee,
thank you for the nice comments. I appreciate that. As you know then that I am not a vet but I can give you some suggestions.
Most dogs do present allergies the way you mentioned, by itching and chewing. However, there are many times of allergies. Atopia, which is the all over inhalant allergy many dogs get, usually manifests itself in the chewing and itching.
Dogs can get nasal allergies that make their noses run and sneeze, but they are less common. Chronic rhinitis is what this is usually called if the sneezing and running become chronic.
Cats can sneeze from wood stove smoke and things like that. Some dogs can develop allergies from new rugs, dirt, and pollens too. Smoke aspiration, inhalation of irritant gases, or foreign bodies lodged in the nasal passages also may cause acute rhinitis.
Sneezing, in an attempt to clear the upper airways of discharge or exudate, is seen most frequently in acute rhinitis and tends to be intermittent in chronic rhinitis. Aspiration reflex (“reverse sneeze”), a short paroxysmal episode of inspiratory effort in an attempt to clear the nasopharynx of obstructing material, may also be seen.(from the Merck Manual).
So acute rhinitis is possible for dogs to have. If they are sneezing a lot, then they have the acute type. The chronic type the sneezing tends to be less often.
Rather than place the whole thing in here I will give you a link for this page that has much information about this for you:
I would make this a watch and see issue Leslee. I understand the money dilemma as I am on SSD myself.
So watch especially watch for pawing at the face, a cloudy or blood-tinged discharge or a constant drip. Then you can call the vet.
Just for your information my dog gets stickers in her nose now and then and before I can get her to the vet she has sneezed them out.
So sometimes they can fix themselves!
Along with the other things to watch for make sure you note any lethargy or lack of appetite.
