Common Causes, Medications, and Prevention of Sneezing and Runny Nose in Dogs and Cats

1 Causes, Medications, and Prevention of Sneezing and Runny Nose in Dogs and Cats

1. Sneezing in dogs and cats

A dog’s or cat’s nose, like a human’s, has many very sensitive nerve cells in the nasal cavity. When a foreign object enters the nasal cavity, these nerve cells transmit the situation to the brain, which issues a defense command, and the nostrils forcefully expel air outward to expel the foreign object. If a dog or cat sneezes without other symptoms, it is a normal physiological response; sneezing caused by conditions such as colds and rhinitis is usually accompanied by other corresponding symptoms. Sneezing is one of the typical symptoms of respiratory abnormalities, and is generally accompanied by nasal itching, nasal congestion, runny nose, and coughing.

The specific causes of sneezing in dogs and cats are as follows:

1. When dogs and cats inhale irritating gases, dust, pollen, smoke, and other substances, they will sneeze. This is a normal self-defense response of the cells in the nose. If the irritating substance can be expelled from the nasal cavity in time, disease can also be prevented.

2. When cold air suddenly invades the nasal cavity, the sudden temperature change can also cause dogs and cats to sneeze. Furthermore, there are disease factors that cause sneezing; for example, when a dog or cat has a cold, the reactivity of the nasal mucosa increases when invaded by viruses or bacteria, making sneezing more likely.

3. Dogs and cats with allergic rhinitis will also keep sneezing, because the body releases a variety of inflammatory mediators, which increases the sensitivity of the sensory nerves in the nasal mucosa. Dogs and cats with rhinitis are also prone to sneezing because the blood vessels in their noses are very sensitive to humidity and temperature.

2. Runny nose in dogs and cats

A runny nose is the process of discharging nasal secretions, which may be caused by physiological reasons or by disease. The nature of the nasal discharge also varies and is directly related to physical health.

1. Watery nasal discharge, also known as clear runny nose in humans, is generally a mixture of vascular exudate and mucus. Dogs and cats with rhinitis will have watery discharge in the early stage.

2. Mucous nasal discharge is transparent like clear water but very sticky because it contains a lot of mucoprotein. Dogs and cats are prone to mucous discharge when suddenly invaded by cold air, and it is also common in chronic rhinitis.

3. Mucopurulent nasal discharge is a mixture of mucus and pus, which is more common in the recovery period of acute rhinitis in dogs and cats. Purulent discharge is a relatively serious disease symptom, generally caused by inflammation in the nasal cavity or respiratory tract, usually yellow-green secretions with a foul odor.

4. Bloody nasal discharge, also known as a nosebleed in humans, is generally an early symptom of nasal foreign bodies or nasal malignant tumors.

Causes of runny nose in dogs and cats:

The causes of runny nose in dogs and cats are roughly the same as sneezing, including environmental irritation and disease factors.

1. Dogs and cats will have a runny nose when stimulated by the environment, such as a sudden invasion of cold air;

2. Dogs and cats with colds are often accompanied by a runny nose, mostly watery and mucous discharge. In the later stage of a cold, purulent discharge may also appear, usually accompanied by sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, coughing, and difficulty breathing;

3. Dogs and cats with allergic rhinitis will have more watery discharge, often accompanied by sneezing and tearing. The onset time and frequency are uncertain; chronic rhinitis causes dogs and cats to have mucous discharge, in varying amounts.

3. Medications for sneezing and runny nose in dogs and cats

The specific medications for sneezing and runny nose in dogs and cats are as follows:

1. In the early stage of feline rhinotracheitis, cats may sneeze, accompanied by paroxysmal coughing, purulent eye discharge, and mouth ulcers. Cat rhinitis tablets can be taken to relieve upper respiratory problems such as cough, sneezing, increased eye secretions, and tearing caused by the feline herpes virus. One tablet per dose, twice a day, for six consecutive days.

2. For sneezing and runny nose caused by a cold, dogs and cats can take Shuanghuanglian tablets, a medicine specifically for colds that clears heat and detoxifies and also prevents respiratory infections from colds; for cat colds, cat-specific lysine tablets can be used. This medicine fights feline rhinotracheitis, resists cat colds, relieves runny nose, sneezing, and coughing, and enhances the cat’s physique.

3. For dog runny nose caused by respiratory tract infection, Fernodo can also be used. This is a dog-specific medicine that effectively treats runny nose, cough, and phlegmy noises caused by respiratory infections and viral infections. Once a day, for 5 to 7 consecutive days.

4. Chlorpheniramine maleate tablets can be used to treat allergic rhinitis symptoms in dogs and cats such as sneezing, runny nose, and nosebleeds caused by inhalation of pollen, mold, dust, or cigarette smoke, and can also be used to treat atopic dermatitis in dogs and cats.

4. Daily preventive measures

Overall, environmental irritation, colds, respiratory infections, and rhinitis are the main factors causing sneezing and runny nose in dogs and cats, so owners should take corresponding preventive measures based on these factors.

1. Avoid exposing dogs and cats to dust, smoke, pollen, and irritating gases that cause allergic rhinitis. Once such easily inhaled substances are found around the dogs and cats, immediately move them away.

2. During periods of large temperature changes, also pay attention to keeping dogs and cats warm, and promptly take cold-proof measures, such as laying thicker blankets where they sleep, and try to avoid dogs and cats lying directly on cold floors, otherwise abdominal cooling can easily cause colds, which lowers body resistance and leads to more serious diseases such as respiratory infections and viral infections.

3. Owners can also give dogs and cats immune-boosting supplements that enhance gastrointestinal activity and antibody protection to strengthen their physique. Of course, preventing viral infection also requires vaccination, which is the first line of defense against infection for dogs and cats, and owners must take it seriously. To prevent the dogs’ and cats’ body resistance from declining, internal and external deworming also needs to be done regularly, so that dogs and cats can grow up healthily.

Sneezing and runny nose in dogs and cats are generally early symptoms of certain diseases, and the cure rate at this time is also relatively high, so owners must promptly capture these disease signals and take treatment measures in time to help dogs and cats recover. After the disease is cured, owners should also promptly supplement the dogs and cats with nutrition, because being sick greatly weakens dogs and cats that already have weak physiques, and timely nutrition also helps improve their physique. If you have other questions about sneezing and runny nose in dogs and cats, you can also consult an online pet doctor.