Doggone Nose! 4 Tips To Help Clear Your Dogs Stuffy Nose
Your dog uses its nose a lot. From making new friends, to looking for the perfect place to relieve itself, your dog's nose is working all day long. Unfortunately, sometimes your dog will sniff something up its nose that shouldn't be there, like a bug or a piece of grass. When that happens, your dog can develop a nasty case of sinusitis. While it's not life-threatening, it can make your dog uncomfortable. Here are three simple steps you can take to help relieve the discomfort.
Turn Up the Steam
Adding a bit of moisture to the air is a great way to clear your pooch's sinuses. If you have a warm air humidifier, you can put that in a room with your dog and let it run for about an hour. Add a dab of menthol rub to the water to clear your dog's sinuses and relieve clogged mucus membranes. If you don't have a humidifier, simply turn the shower on to hot and sit in the bathroom with your dog for a few minutes.
Wipe Its Nose
If sinusitis has caused your dog to develop a runny nose, you'll want to keep it clean. Use a soft cloth or tissue to wipe your dog's nose. If your dog develops a crusty residue around its nostrils, use a warm, damp cloth to remove the crust. You can also apply a small amount of menthol rub to its nose to help it breathe easier.
Try Saline Drops
If sinusitis is making it difficult for your dog to breathe – which is to be expected if there is thick mucus in its nose – you can loosen the mucus by placing saline drops inside its nose. Simply place a couple of drops inside each side of your dog's nose several times a day. Saline drops can be found in any pharmacy.
Call the Vet
If you've been treating the sinusitis, and the symptoms aren't improving, your dog may have a condition that will require veterinary care. In fact, your dog may have developed an infection from the sinusitis. If your dog is experiencing labored breathing, has green or yellow discharge from its nose, or seems overly tired or lethargic, you should contact the animal hospital as soon as possible.
If your dog got a little too busy with its nose, and inhaled something it shouldn't have, it might have a case of sinusitis. Use the tips provided above to help relieve the symptoms.
