Why does my dog have a runny nose?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra -My dog has a runny nose. It drips like mine will when I have a cold. What's going on with her?

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Carol Marek

Answer

Hi Carol – thanks for your email. Some dogs can have a runny nose at times. They can have "rhinitis" – inflammation of the nose. Some will have sinus problems, upper respiratory infections, foreign bodies, nasal irritation, nasal mites, nasal tumors and other things but those problems are usually associated with other signs such as sneezing or bloody nose (epistaxis).

A runny nose that consists of clear fluid with no other signs can be normal in some dogs. Most dogs lick their noses quickly and you never see the discharge.

An article that might be helpful to you is Nasal Discharge in Dogs.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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