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Whippet With A Stuffy Nose

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Dayve

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Hi all,

We have a 2 1/2 year old whippet bitch (Blue) and dog (Zepp). Both are from the same litter. Blue has developed some reverse sneezing, which seems to be normal, but she has a virtually constant blocked nose and she coughs often (it's like when we have catarrh at the back of the throat). Blue does bring up some mucus, but usually swallows immediately. She seems otherwise fine and runs normally with Zepp (Zepp's not affected at all, so I can't think it's anything contagious). The vets are not very helpful, so we've given up taking here there.

I just wondered if anyone has any ideas or experiences of these symptoms? We wondered about a dust mite allergy and we are trying to vacuum up and wash their bedding more often. The symptoms do improve in waves, but never really vanish.

Hope someone can shed some light.

Cheers,

Dayve
 
Reverse sneezing sounds like nasal mites. They can be allergic to it, maybe that explains the blocked nose.
 
Dayve said:
Hi all,
We have a 2 1/2 year old whippet bitch (Blue) and dog (Zepp). Both are from the same litter. Blue has developed some reverse sneezing, which seems to be normal, but she has a virtually constant blocked nose and she coughs often (it's like when we have catarrh at the back of the throat). Blue does bring up some mucus, but usually swallows immediately. She seems otherwise fine and runs normally with Zepp (Zepp's not affected at all, so I can't think it's anything contagious). The vets are not very helpful, so we've given up taking here there.

I just wondered if anyone has any ideas or experiences of these symptoms? We wondered about a dust mite allergy and we are trying to vacuum up and wash their bedding more often. The symptoms do improve in waves, but never really vanish.

Hope someone can shed some light.

Cheers,

Dayve
Click to expand...
Hi Dayve

Is this something that's just come on recently??

Have you considerd the possibility of Hay Fever? the symptoms sound very similar, if it is, not sure what your vets can do though, anti-histamines I suppose.
 
Hi willows & starcastle,

Thanks for your reply. Blue's had this for nearly two years! It's been an on-going thing and doesn't appear to be related to the seasons. Maybe she's a little better after she's been out for a walk / run though. The vet said that dogs don't respond to antihistamine and they did say is wasn't an allergy (well, one said it might be, the other one in the practice said not!).

I'd never heard of nasal mites to be honest. Would they be easy to remove do you think (or easy to check for?). It's just that our vets don't have an endoscope and it would mean a hefty bill to take her miles away, stay overnight and pay for the examination etc.

Cheers again,

Dayve
 
Nasal mites isn't that easy to detect. Very often they simply choose to treat for them, and if they get better then that is what is was ;)

It is easily treated with Interceptor, one pill a week for 3 weeks. 3 pills!

Don't let them talk you into using Ivomec, that is overkill...

Nasal mites are highly contagious but all dogs don't show symptoms.

To make it effective, all dogs your dog is socialising with should be treated or he will just get it back.

There is many a hunting dog that has been ruined for hunting, loosing it's scent, until medication for this came along.

The bad thing about nasal mites is that lot's of people choose not to treat. They say their dog does not have much problem and it is so common they will soon get it back anyway. This way there are dogs that just keep spreading it, year after year.

Interceptor is not cheap. I once had a visitor coming bringing a dogs with nasal mites. All of mine got it, one of them really bad, he stopped eating because he was so bothered. Treating 8 medium sized dogs cost me about 250 euro...

So personally I get real mad at people that choose not to treat, not caring at all about other people and their dogs and the trouble they get in...
 
starcastle said:
Nasal mites isn't that easy to detect. Very often they simply choose to treat for them, and if they get better then that is what is was ;)
It is easily treated with Interceptor, one pill a week for 3 weeks. 3 pills!

Don't let them talk you into using Ivomec, that is overkill...

Nasal mites are highly contagious but all dogs don't show symptoms.

To make it effective, all dogs your dog is socialising with should be treated or he will just get it back.

There is many a hunting dog that has been ruined for hunting, loosing it's scent, until medication for this came along.

The bad thing about nasal mites is that lot's of people choose not to treat. They say their dog does not have much problem and it is so common they will soon get it back anyway. This way there are dogs that just keep spreading it, year after year.

Interceptor is not cheap. I once had a visitor coming bringing a dogs with nasal mites. All of mine got it, one of them really bad, he stopped eating because he was so bothered. Treating 8 medium sized dogs cost me about 250 euro...

So personally I get real mad at people that choose not to treat, not caring at all about other people and their dogs and the trouble they get in...
Click to expand...

Hi starcastle,

Thanks for your reply. I need to ascertain that it's nasal mites and not an allergy etc first. But I'll be sure to treat what ever. Our vets don't seem to be very helpful with this. It seems that we are a bit of a cash cow to them. That might well be untrue, it's just how it feels. All they've done so far is treated the symptoms, but not given a cause.

Dayve
 
My Macy is 8 now and has had this problem for the last 6 years or so. We did initially take her to the vets she had a camera up he snoz the whole works and still no nearer finding out what it is. She has been treated with steroids and anti biotics - that clears it up for a few months and then back it comes.

We know keep a diary of sorts and it seems worse and different times of the year. I used to give her piriton but couldnt see any changes. We just now manage it. But she is always better after a good run it seems to clean out her nostrils.

I have never heard of nose mites and the vet never mentioned it and would be interested to know how we would find out if Macy had these mites. We have been told its Rhinitus.

Who knows I just felt in the end our visits to the vets was a waste of time they just didnt have a clue what it was and it seemed like paying out money for a consultation where we were non the wiser!
 
BevPh said:
My Macy is 8 now and has had this problem for the last 6 years or so. We did initially take her to the vets she had a camera up he snoz the whole works and still no nearer finding out what it is. She has been treated with steroids and anti biotics - that clears it up for a few months and then back it comes.We know keep a diary of sorts and it seems worse and different times of the year. I used to give her piriton but couldnt see any changes. We just now manage it. But she is always better after a good run it seems to clean out her nostrils.

I have never heard of nose mites and the vet never mentioned it and would be interested to know how we would find out if Macy had these mites. We have been told its Rhinitus.

Who knows I just felt in the end our visits to the vets was a waste of time they just didnt have a clue what it was and it seemed like paying out money for a consultation where we were non the wiser!
Click to expand...

It sounds like we have identical dogs! (and vets!). On reading about nasal mites on the web, it seems that they can grow up to 1mm and that, although very contagious, don't show symptoms in every dog. I keep trying to get a sample when she sneezes and place it in a clear polly bag. That way I can used a magnifying glass to examine for mites (non found so far). She, like Macy, does seem much better after a run. I wondered if this could be due to being away from the house, where she may be subjected to allergens (maybe dust mites?). We've upped the washing of bedding, bought an ant-allergic pillow for her bed and try to vacuum the short piled carpet more (might need to steam clean to kill any dust mites). The good news seems to be that she can run ok, without getting short of breath, so it's probably not a lung thing. She also eats well and seems in generally fine health (she sleeps a lot, but that's whippets for you!). It's a pity that it can be so expensive to try and diagnose it, without any success. In fact, when we needed to insure Blue, our vet told us that we must mention this condition. Like fools, we did and now the insurance will not cover Blue for anything respiratory at all (same premium though). Think we might take the vet's advice with a pinch of salt in future.

Just for your reference, the site about nasal mites is: http://www.ehow.com/how_7716605_tell-dog-mites.html

Dayve
 
Been reading some of the stuff about nasal mites and read that the medicine the vets prescribe Ivermectin has been shown to be unsafe for certain breeds and whippet is noted as one of them. So dont think I will be consulting a vet to get this.

I have another whippet and she is not bothered by this sneezing at all and it is said that these mites are contagious so I dont know what to think.

I do wash Macy's bedding regularly and spray the carpet and surrounding area with this flea spray vet advised as he said it kills all dust mites etc and that seems to help. But we just sort of deal with it now cleaning up snot daily!!

She seems to be worse when we come home and she is all excited or when she knows she is going for a walk we have to get her outside quickly to have "a big sneeze" she knows what that means now and rushes out the garden. Poor love. It must me so annoying and itchy and I wish it could be cured.
 
BevPh said:
Been reading some of the stuff about nasal mites and read that the medicine the vets prescribe Ivermectin has been shown to be unsafe for certain breeds and whippet is noted as one of them. So dont think I will be consulting a vet to get this.I have another whippet and she is not bothered by this sneezing at all and it is said that these mites are contagious so I dont know what to think.

I do wash Macy's bedding regularly and spray the carpet and surrounding area with this flea spray vet advised as he said it kills all dust mites etc and that seems to help. But we just sort of deal with it now cleaning up snot daily!!

She seems to be worse when we come home and she is all excited or when she knows she is going for a walk we have to get her outside quickly to have "a big sneeze" she knows what that means now and rushes out the garden. Poor love. It must me so annoying and itchy and I wish it could be cured.
Click to expand...

Hi Bev,

I think that, although the mites are contagious, they don't affect every dog. I guess it's like hay fever in humans, it may only affect one member in a family. Interesting that treating your carpet helps (perhaps it's not nasal mites in your case, but dust mites in the carpet?). Our Blue is also worse when suddenly active. Maybe this isn't surprising as the sudden breathing due to the excitement could set off a sneezing attack. Does Macy try to rub and scratch her nose at all? I think I've read that that's a possible sign of nasal mites.

Dayve
 
Dayve said:
BevPh said:
Been reading some of the stuff about nasal mites and read that the medicine the vets prescribe vermectin has been shown to be unsafe for certain breeds and whippet is noted as one of them. So dont think I will be consulting a vet to get this.I have another whippet and she is not bothered by this sneezing at all and it is said that these mites are contagious so I dont know what to think.

I do wash Macy's bedding regularly and spray the carpet and surrounding area with this flea spray vet advised as he said it kills all dust mites etc and that seems to help. But we just sort of deal with it now cleaning up snot daily!!

She seems to be worse when we come home and she is all excited or when she knows she is going for a walk we have to get her outside quickly to have "a big sneeze" she knows what that means now and rushes out the garden. Poor love. It must me so annoying and itchy and I wish it could be cured.
Click to expand...

Hi Bev,

I think that, although the mites are contagious, they don't affect every dog. I guess it's like hay fever in humans, it may only affect one member in a family. Interesting that treating your carpet helps (perhaps it's not nasal mites in your case, but dust mites in the carpet?). Our Blue is also worse when suddenly active. Maybe this isn't surprising as the sudden breathing due to the excitement could set off a sneezing attack. Does Macy try to rub and scratch her nose at all? I think I've read that that's a possible sign of nasal mites.

Dayve
Click to expand...
Hello there, yes Macy sometimes rubs her nose you know sort of paws it like a cat cleaning, but I couldnt say that was all the time. I've had a look at her snot and I cannot see anything in it at all. Are they micro scopic? If so then thats the reason I can't see anything!. When she went into the vets they also washed out her nasal cavity and I would have thought they may have found something then. I dont know its mystery. Its annoying but we have come to terms with the fact we have to manage it and its like having a snotty kid - tissues at the ready all the time!
 
Dayve said:
Hi willows & starcastle,
Thanks for your reply. Blue's had this for nearly two years! It's been an on-going thing and doesn't appear to be related to the seasons. Maybe she's a little better after she's been out for a walk / run though. The vet said that dogs don't respond to antihistamine and they did say is wasn't an allergy (well, one said it might be, the other one in the practice said not!).

I'd never heard of nasal mites to be honest. Would they be easy to remove do you think (or easy to check for?). It's just that our vets don't have an endoscope and it would mean a hefty bill to take her miles away, stay overnight and pay for the examination etc.

Cheers again,

Dayve
Click to expand...

i have to disagree with this, as i give my dogs piriton and it works wonders for bee stings!!

3 times now star has come in with swollen face (she likes to eat bees) and on advice from a vet nurse we gave her half a table of piriton and within 30mins her face is back to normal. :thumbsup:
 
k4tie-d said:
Dayve said:
Hi willows & starcastle,
Thanks for your reply. Blue's had this for nearly two years! It's been an on-going thing and doesn't appear to be related to the seasons. Maybe she's a little better after she's been out for a walk / run though. The vet said that dogs don't respond to antihistamine and they did say is wasn't an allergy (well, one said it might be, the other one in the practice said not!).

I'd never heard of nasal mites to be honest. Would they be easy to remove do you think (or easy to check for?). It's just that our vets don't have an endoscope and it would mean a hefty bill to take her miles away, stay overnight and pay for the examination etc.

Cheers again,

Dayve
Click to expand...

i have to disagree with this, as i give my dogs piriton and it works wonders for bee stings!!

3 times now star has come in with swollen face (she likes to eat bees) and on advice from a vet nurse we gave her half a table of piriton and within 30mins her face is back to normal. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That's interesting and good to know. I simply believed our vet, but I should listen more to members on this forum instead!

Thanks for the advice.

Dayve
 
I too have a whippet bitch who at the age of 2 started with these symptoms, after many visits to the vets and lots of £££££'s later and possibly a year or more going backwards and forwards,she never altered, a bit better with exercise and she raced and raced well with this being no detriment to her career in fact becoming a veteran champ at the age of 5. Millie is now 16 years old, still snuffles, sneezes has a dirty nose most of the time, wipes and tissues at the ready all the time, but this obviously has not been detrimental to her long and happy life. By the way I have 5 other dogs and the only other one that has the snuffles is one of Milli's daughters who is now 11(although not as bad as her mum), the other litter sister is fine. :thumbsup:
 
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