Expert: Jannie Balliett - 12/28/2010

Question
Just got an 8 week old boxer puppy. I noticed he cannot breathe well out of his nose, his nose sounds snotty / boogery. Is this is common of this breed. However  He seems to feel fine, running and playing. I notice the other day he had a light greenish snot on the side of his nose, but just like he sneezed and it was left there. Is this common?

Answer
No, it is not common. He obviously has congestion; a cold, even possible pneumonia. There is a problem with breathing it means being sick. Not normal at all.

Green snot in any animal is like humans; it is antibiotics attacking the infection and the "green" is dead cells being excreted as waste from the body. He is ill- he has a cold or worse.

Puppies will often play as children do, when sick. They have to feel pretty awful to not play and be quiet.

He probably did sneeze. And this means he is sick.

Get him to your vet immediately before he gets pneumonia.