Rocky — IMHA, day 16

[Vally]

Sheena, Lauren is certainly over-analysing. Unfortunately Lauren, I hate to tell you this but it will now NEVER go away. Yes, we all feel exactly the same and you are officially welcomed to the Crazy Paranoid Club.

Love Crazy Paranoid Vally & Whatever Bingo.

[Lauren]

Help!
Came home to a green runny nose! Vet seems to think it can wait til tomorrow. But I’m really scared. Should we go to the emergency vet?

[Vally]

Lauren, I wouldn’t wait. Sounds like an infection to me and the prednisone will suppress the body’s antibodies fighting anything so I would think Rocky may need an antibiotic. What’s his breathing like?

Let us know. Vally

[admin]

Darn… I am on the fence on this one Lauren. Just like Vally I would look at how he is breathing. if your vet is not too concerned and you described color and all (lovely) I think it could wait for tomorrow. The thing is how are YOU? If you can’t sleep, are concerned, by all means take him in. Peace of mind is worth a lot.
How is Rocky behaving? Is he lethargic? How are his gums? Do a blood flow test, press a finger on his gums, you can press pretty hard for a couple of seconds. Then remove the finger. It should be white, the faster the color comes back the better. If it does not come back fast (I really don’t know exactly what that means, but it is not good) I would be more concerned.
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Patrice]

Canine nasal discharge that is green is purulent or indicates infection.

This is sometimes seen with a fungal infection. There are some fungal diseases that are serious but it depends on the area of the country you live in. Tell me where you are at.

There can be a foreign object in the nostril. This can be a very common but serious grass called fox-tail. These grasses are very dangerous because they can not only embed in nostrils but can enter the blood stream and travel the body.

There can be a tumor of some kind in the nostril that would cause this as well.

So here is the diagnostic we can figure out now. Is this one side or both? A fox-tail or tumor is most likely going to be one sided. A fungal infection may be both sides.

Allergies would be both sides as well. Chance’s eyes used to have horrible colored goop in buckets at this time of the year due to his severe allergies. I had to remove it several times a day so he could see.

Is there any blood at all? Are the eyes also affected, red or goopy? Is one eye bothered and not the other?

We need to decide if this is something that needs immediate attention (fox-tail that must be removed asap) or just allergies.

I’d say if this is both sides, isn’t profuse and/or bloody, he seems to not be rubbing his face all over everything then it can wait until tomorrow morning. If this is causing him great discomfort, call your vet tonight.
my best
patrice

[Patrice]

Further research indicates that some dogs that have a compromised immune system (like those on prednisone and cyclosporine etc) may developing sinonasal aspergillosis, a fungal infection. This can produce a purulent discharge that may be unilateral to start and could become bilateral as it worsens. Do you see any raw or white areas on the nostrils?

Reading the medical information on diagnosing this indicates to me that this can take significant work to diagnose properly and that a vet would not begin treatment until there is a definitive diagnosis. In other words, if they are going to pursue looking for this, it will take days.

I have never, in all the years we have been helping owners, heard of this happening to a dog being treated. I can understand that this is horrible for you to look at and I would feel as panicky as you do. I am telling you all of these possible diagnoses because I want you to be educated when you walk into the vet’s office. Let’s hope your vet says, oh this looks like allergies to me.
my best
patrice

[Lauren]

My gut was to take him in, so we did. It’s the beginning of an upper respiratory infection. Started him on augmentin. He had a sight fever, so we are going to watch him closely.
Thank you for all the quick responses! !

[admin]

With this disease it is never a bad idea to listen to your gut:) At least now you know what it is and start treating it. Remember that the antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in the Gi tract. Add a bit of plain yoghurt or kefir to Rocky’s food. He will like it:)

Best wishes,

Brigitte