too.

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. You need to see your vet as soon as possible, it sounds as though he has a respiratory infection that is getting worse. Your vet will examine your dog and establish the cause of the problem and will then be able to treat appropriately.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Dogs can get a blocked nose due to allergies. They can be allergic to dust, mites, mold, even grass! They could also be suffering from a bacterial or fungal infection in the nose. One other cause to watch out for is botfly parasites.
A nose discharge of mucus or pus could indicate your dog has a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. Additional signs of an infection might include a bad odor, a nosebleed, and coughing or choking resulting from post-nasal drip. Treatment depends on the cause.
Feline upper respiratory tract infections are a frequent cause of sneezing in cats; often with goopy, green or blood-tinged snot and watery eyes. The cat may sound congested and cough or gag. An infected cat may have thick discharge from its eyes and have difficulty holding its eyes open.
Because of increased amounts of mucus, dogs with longterm rhinitis often develop bacterial infections in the nose and sinuses. Signs of rhinitis include nasal discharge, sneezing, snoring, open-mouth breathing, and/or labored breathing.
Dogs and cats do catch colds, and their symptoms are just like humans. Both may have discharge from their noses, “wet” or labored breathing from congestion, sneezing (especially wet sneezes), watery eyes and lethargy (napping more, showing low energy). The cold symptoms will likely last 5-10 days.
Nasal discharge and sneezing can be a sign of relatively benign viral infections or allergies, but parasitic infections, more serious infectious diseases such as distemper, or nasal cancers can also trigger discharge. Assessing the type and severity of the discharge is necessary to determine appropriate action.
Cats utilize sneezing as a natural reaction to blow their nostrils when their nasal canals get irritated. Stuff like dust, pollen, germs, or a bit of fiber entering the nose might be the source of this sensation.
If your cat is sneezing more than normal, it`s more than likely that your feline friend has an upper respiratory infection or URI. The most widespread respiratory infection is Feline Herpesvirus or FHV. It`s estimated that as many as 80-90% of all cats are infected with FHV.
All stages occur within the nasal passages or sinuses. Adults are 1 to 1.5 mm long, light yellow, and visible to the naked eye. They have long legs that extend beyond the edges of the body, and their overall appearance is similar to that of the avian mites, Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus.
Nasal mites (Pneumonyssus caninum) are a species of parasitic arachnids commonly found in the nasal cavity of dogs. • Nasal mites affect up to a quarter of the canine population in some areas. • Symptoms of nasal mites include sneezing, nose bleeding, nasal discharge, and reverse sneezing.
If they sound congested or are breathing more heavily than they usually would, it can be alarming. There are many reasons your dog may experience congestion, most of which are nothing to worry about. They may have a cold or have changed into an odd sleeping position.
Just like us, dogs can suffer from nasal problems like a runny nose or congestion. Many mild cases resolve on their own, but lingering congestion and cases that involve additional symptoms will require veterinary attention.
What Are the Symptoms of Colds in Dogs? You`re probably already familiar with the symptoms of colds in dogs, as they`re pretty much identical to the ones you experience. In addition to sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion, signs and symptoms may include watery eyes, runny nose, sore throat, and body aches.
A viral infection is the most likely cause of sudden congestion or sinusitis in your dog, and congestion is the result of inflammation and excess mucus. Several common respiratory infections and conditions develop in dogs, including kennel cough, pneumonia, dog flu, rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and tracheal collapse.
Typically congestion is a sign of fluid in your dog`s lungs and can result from conditions and diseases like infections, kennel cough, allergies, and like we said, heart failure. Like humans, dogs will get a runny nose, coughing symptoms, have difficulty breathing, and will often have a fever as well.
An occasional sneeze in a cat is normal and no real cause for alarm. Just as in humans, sneezing in cats is an explosive release of air through the nose and mouth – often the body`s response to irritants in the nasal passages. Sometimes, excitement or movement can bring on sneezing in cats.
Allergies, infections, foreign objects, and even rhinosinusitis may be the culprit to why your cat is sneezing excessively.
Yes, they can. Sneezing and sniffles are signs that your cat has a cold, but you may be wondering how it happened in the first place. And, more importantly, how you can avoid it in the future. Just like colds in humans, cat colds are contagious.
Rhinitis in cats is a common complication of upper respiratory infections (cat flu). Viral infection (feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus) is the most common cause of these infections. Other causes of feline rhinitis include: Bacterial infections (usually secondary to viral infections)
Noisy breathing is common in cats. It can result from a variety of conditions, including: an upper respiratory infection, a sinus infection (from dental disease or a nasal foreign body), a tumor in the nose, nasopharyngeal stenosis (a narrowing of the back of the throat) or a nasopharyngeal polyp.
If you suspect your cat`s stuffy nose is caused by a common upper respiratory infection, you can just let the illness run its course. Most of these infections are short in duration and will clear up on their own within 7 to 10 days. Clean your cat`s nose regularly.
Symptoms of canine nasal mite infection in dogs may include nasal discharge, itchiness of the face, sneezing, reverse sneezing, and nose bleeds. The only way to be certain a dog has nasal mites is to perform a nasal scoping or a deep nasal flushing.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. Stuffed up nose and sneezing occasionally but no mucus discharge at all. You can hear the snot in his nose but never see it. Now he is tired too.
ANSWER : A. You need to see your vet as soon as possible, it sounds as though he has a respiratory infection that is getting worse. Your vet will examine your dog and establish the cause of the problem and will then be able to treat appropriately.

Q. Hello, my cat has the sniffles and is very tired. He is approximately five years old and loves to run around the house drink water and eat.
ANSWER : A. It is possible your cat may have a cold or the beginnings of an upper respiratory infection. Cats may have a runny nose or eyes with clear discharge, cough, wheeze, have a fever or become more lethargic (tired). If you see any other signs of illness such as green or yellow discharge from the eyes and nose, it may indicate a secondary infection has formed. It is best to keep your cat eating and drinking and allow him to have plenty of rest to help him recover. If you see signs of secondary infection, symptoms worsen, or if symptoms do not get better in a few days, then scheduling an appointment with your vet for additional care is best.

Q. What can I do if my pet is suffering mucus nasal discharge?
ANSWER : A. Diseases of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses or lower respiratory tract typically cause nasal discharge, sneezing and snorting.

Other common causes of nasal discharge include viral, bacterial or fungal infections, foreign bodies, allergies, polyps, neoplasia, and extension of diseases from oral cavity.

In most of instances dogs will require treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory or antihistamine medications and in cases of persistent nasal discharge further investigation like x-ray of the nasal cavity, endoscopy, culture of the nasal mucus is warranted. Therefore, it is strongly advised to have your pet checked by your veterinarian if the discharge persists.

Q. We brought 2 new kittens home. One of them is sneezing. We have a Sr cat and an adult who is now coughing. What to do?
ANSWER : A. Commonly respiratory infections (viral -Herpesvirus and Calicivirus- and possibly bacterial) can cause sneezing episodes in kitten especially if not vaccinated yet. If your kitten is affected by respiratory infection could develop or have more signs such as discharge from eyes, more discharge from nose, coughing, being lethargic, depressed and inappetent.

The coughing episodes of the adult cat could be completely unrelated to the cause of sneezing of your new kitten, especially if your adult cat is already vaccinated.

The cause of cough in adult cats are not necessarily related to respiratory problems, heart problems could cause that as well.

Keep the nose and the eyes of your kitten free from discharge, keep your kitten warm and take both of them to your veterinarian as soon as possible to identify the cause and the relationship of the two problems and treat appropriately.

Q. My cats nose is stopped up on antibiotics. She has a loss of appetite, acting normal though. Is 3 ounces of can food enough in 24h? 9 pound cat
ANSWER : A. Cats with stopped up noses tend to eat much less, as you’ve noted, because they can’t smell their food as well. And the smell of food is pretty important to a cat’s appetite. You can start by warming up the food in a microwave – not too hot, test it yourself by putting your finger right in the center, as the temperature of microwave food can vary – as this will intensify the smell and hopefully make your cat more interested.

Saline nose drops, like those that are used on little kids, are safe to use on a cat to clean the discharge that is dried around and in the nose. There’s a brand called Little Noses that’s available in the U.S. That I like. You can put it on a q-tip and try to remove the debris. Humidifying the air with a humidifier can help as well, or you can put the cat in the bathroom and run the shower enough to generate steam. Don’t use “real” nose drops like Neo-synephrine or anything else like that – cats quickly build up resistance to them.

A 3 oz can of food is an OK amount in 24 hours, but do try the techniques above to help your cat get more interested in food. You might also try some baby food – no garlic or onions in the ingredients – as cats usually really like the taste of it.

Q. My cat is sneezing and has a warm runny nose. What can I do for him. Can’t afford a vet right now
ANSWER : A. If the discharge is clear, this may be a mild self-limiting viral infection. Many cats have the herpes virus living dormant in the nerves around the face and head. In times of stress the immune system is suppressed and the virus replicates and makes the animal clinically sick.

You can stimulate his appetite by offering canned foods that you’ve warmed slightly in the microwave – this intensifies the smell and encourages them to eat. You can also flavor his water with a small amount of chicken broth or clam juice. Put him in the bathroom when you take a shower or run a humidifier to get some steam in the air and soothe his nasal passages. And you can use children’s saline nose drops – Little Noses is a brand I like – to clean dried debris from the nose.

If the discharge becomes cloudy, yellow, or green, I’m sorry but this indicates bacterial infection and he needs to see a vet.

Q. My cat has a runny nose along with runny eyes. Should I worry?
ANSWER : A. Runny noses and eyes are common disorders in cats, and are usually a sign of an underlying condition. The most common one being an Upper Respiratory Infection.

This condition, also known as “cat flu”, is seen most often in kittens. It is caused by one of several viruses or bacteria and common symptoms include a runny nose, runny eyes, sneezing, wheezing and congestion.

In some cases, the discharge may change color to greenish or yellow, indicating a secondary infection. Cats that are in high stress environments or in contact with other cats are most likely to get URIs.

At home, be sure to keep your cat eating and drinking to prevent dehydration. You can also use a warm washcloth to remove any debris from the eyes or nose that is making seeing or breathing difficult.

Finally, keep in mind that if the symptoms continue for more than a day or two, the discharge becomes green or yellow, or your cat appears to be feverish or in distress, veterinary care should be sought without further delay.

Q. Our 8 year old Chocolate Lab started sneezing. Violent sneezing; 8 – 15 sneezes. No mucus, no phlegm, she rubs one side of her head & eye is red.
ANSWER : A. Dogs can definitely get allergies to things in the air, so the sneezing, itchiness and red eye could be caused by that. They can also “snork” stuff up their noses – I’ve seen dogs do it with kibble, believe it or not – that then get stuck above the soft palate and cause violent sneezing attacks. Plant material can get inhaled and stuck as well.

Dogs can also get chronic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) due to infectious (viruses, bacteria, even parasites) causes or immune-mediated causes. Your vet should be able to tell you more after an exam and some testing. She may benefit from anti-histamines or other drugs, but it’s important to figure out the cause so that appropriate treatment can be determined.