I am sure you are here because your puppy/ puppies have runny noses and you have heard a lot of things about puppy runny noses, some are true while some are just myths.
Before we begin, I would like you to know that it is not your fault your puppy has a runny nose, puppy runny nose is caused by things you can’t control.
I have been in your shoes and with the help of advice from my vet and Reddit communities I and my puppy were able to overcome it.
In this blog post, we would be looking at everything you need to know about a puppy runny nose as a responsible parent owner.
In some cases, a puppy’s runny nose is not serious and does not last for long and sometimes it could be a symptom of something serious.
If you notice your puppy has a runny nose, you should not panic rather you should observe if there are any other symptoms.
Harmless causes of puppy runny nose
Your puppy’s runny nose can be caused by some harmless things and most times puppy’s runny nose caused by these factors doesn’t last long.
These causes include smoke, dust, strong scents/odor, and some other environmental irritants that can cause a brief runny nose.
Summertime: it’s hot during the summer and puppies don’t sweat as humans do. So, you might see them pant and a little clear liquid come out of their nose which would be brief.
Proper ventilation: when your home is not well-ventilated, the trapped dust in your home can irritate your puppy.
So, you should also open a window or two when you notice your puppy’s runny nose, you should also take your puppy out for fresh air.
Also, little changes in the environment could cause your puppy to have a runny nose. So, set back and think if anything has changed lately, has anyone been smoking? did you get a new air freshening product?
Causes of puppy runny nose you should worry about
Fungal diseases
This is more common in long-nosed puppy breeds and also in tropical climates as well.
Foreign bodies
Foreign bodies that have been snouted up into the nose, like a grass seed or a blade of grass or a bit of stick could a puppy a runny nose.
A puppy’s runny nose caused by foreign bodies could escalate into sluty bloody discharge at one nostril or both nostrils if multiple things have been snorted up on each side of their nose.
Nasal tumors
Most times when a runny nose is caused by nasal tumors, the discharge is mucus-like or streaked with blood from one or both nostrils. You may also notice noisy breathing and coughing.
Allergic diseases and immune-mediated diseases
Immune-mediated diseases are when the immune cells attack the body.
Both of these types of diseases are known for causing a kind of long-term inflammation within the nose which causes something called chronic rhinitis that can cause a puppy runny nose.
Chronic rhinitis is also known as a post-nasal drip in humans you might notice other symptoms like sneezing, coughing, or itching.
Infection
Infection is not the primary cause of your puppy’s problem because in the nose, most times something must have happened to warrant an infection.
Do not panic most times a runny nose is nothing more than a runny nose but when you begin to notice other symptoms, you should see your vet.
Diagnostics for puppy runny nose
To find the cause of the runny nose, your vet would ask a lot of questions like; how long has it been going on? has it fluctuated or changed in severity? did it come on very quickly? did it come on quickly? Is it the only problem at the time? does it happen at a certain time of the year?
Therefore you should be very observant when you notice your puppy’s runny nose, so you could answer all the questions the vet asks you, this would help them find the cause faster.
They might also carry out a blood test or a swab test. For the swab test, the vet would stick a swab in your pup’s nose and have a look under the microscope and see what is growing.
They may also do x-rays, IT scans, and biopsies because the nose is a difficult place to try and find out what the underlying problem is.
Treatment for puppy runny nose
If the puppy’s runny nose is not serious it would go away in some hours or days if it persists for more than a week and does not have any other symptoms, you should see your vet.
If your vet thinks your puppy’s runny nose is caused by allergies or immune-mediated problems, he/she would likely put your pup on antibiotics and steroids and monitor their response to it.
Your vet would administer antibiotics and steroids especially if it is the first time you are seeing the problem and it is not been there for a long time or if it is mild and there is no other concern.
The best treatment would also depend on the underlying cause of your puppy’s runny nose because your vet would know what is going on and how to tackle it.
So, treatment is going to differ for different puppies, and if it is the second time your puppy is having a runny nose the treatment might not be the same because the cause would be different.
If your puppy has a runny nose especially when they have a cough, I suggest they are well hydrated, this would help the mucus to be moist, making it easier for the doctor to expel it.
Antihistamines for puppy runny nose
This helps make the runny nose get better, they are safe for dogs and have no long-term effects and they are safe for long-term intermittent use.
If you talk to your vet and he/she administers it and it works for your puppy, then it is going to be a much preferable option to any other drug.
Note: intermittent antibiotic treatment or long-term steroid treatments could have side effects.
How to expel discharge from a puppy’s runny nose
Put your pup’s head over a bowl of hot water and cover him/her with a blanket, so he would inhale the steam, this would help hydrate the mucus and enable it to flow out.
There are some medications you can give in the short term to help with expelling mucus.
Your vet would prescribe these medications to help clear the airway especially if they have gotten a really mucous airway and mucous cough like chronic bronchitis.
Many people have also claimed that honey helped clear their puppy’s airway when their pup had a runny nose, it won hurt to give it a try and see if it works for you.
Frequently asked questions about puppy runny nose
Can teething cause a puppy runny nose?
No, your puppy could be teething and have a runny nose but the runny nose gas is an underlying cause.
Why does my puppy have a runny nose and sneeze?
If your puppy’s runny nose is mild and he/she is sneezing and he/she has a normal appetite and energy level, it is okay to monitor him/her for a couple of days.
You should also keep the pup separated from other dogs until the vet says he/she is okay because he/she may have a contagious upper respiratory disease.
Why does my litter of puppies have runny noses?
Most times, this is because the mother was likely exposed to pathogens and it might have affected the pups.
Canine distemper virus is defiantly one of the suspects, I recommend you see your vet immediately.
Why is my dog’s runny nose a clear fluid?
If your dog’s runny nose is a clear fluid and they are eating well and have no cough, it is probably an allergic reaction. I suggest you see your vet to find out what causes the allergies.
Why does my dog have a runny nose and panting?
This could be caused by smoke, dust, perfume, and other environmental irritants.
If it persists then you should see your vet.
Why is my dog’s runny nose a green mucus?
This could be caused by an infection, it could be viral, fungal, or bacterial. You should see your vet.
Why does my dog have a runny nose and is lethargic?
This means your dog’s runny nose could be caused by a disease and I suggest you see your vet.
Before you go
In this post you have learnt what to do when your puppy’s nose is really wet and dripping, what about when you puppy’s nose is dry? wont you like to know what to do?. i have a blog post that cover that, click the link below to read it.
Puppy Dry Nose – things you need to know, to achieve a healthy puppy nose
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