nasal discharge

My 13 year old jack russell has a thick nasal discharge from one nostril only - no evidence of blood.  At present he is on steroids and anti-biotics but not improving.  Appetite good but breathing not good when his nose is congested.  Any suggestions please.  

[Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.]

Dear hartley345,

In any animal with a single sided nasal discharge we worry about some tye of physical abnormality rather than an infectious abnormality. In younger dogs foreign bodies might be most likely to "disrupt" the anatomy, either inhaled through the nostril or regurgitated into the back of the nose. In an older dog we must consider various cancers that may affect the nasal cavity and sinuses. Less ominous, but perhaps more common are dental issues such as tooth root abscesses which may become severe and drain inward into the nasal cavity.

In sum, this is not a condition which lends itself to empiric treatment and a wait and see approach. With a 13 year old, I would move ahead rapidly towards obtaining a diagnosis. Perhaps the most direct and rapid way to do so might be MRI. An internet search will help you determine the closest place to do so.

It is possible plain x-ray imaging may discern the exact problem, but soft tissue tumors are often indistinguishable in x ray images from fluid (nasal fluid) and normal tissue. Advanced imaging can tell these apart. If it were a dental problem, dental xrays would likely sort it out. If your dog has and has always had excellent teeth and gums, that diagnosis is less likely.

There are some infections, such as fungal infections, that could be temporarily limited to to one side. Lab testing may provide clues in such cases. Nevertheless, I wouldn't expend valuable time with empiric treatments in the absence of a diagnosis, if a cure is to be sought. We have to know what we are dealing with.

I wish you the best of luck. Please do let us know the outcome. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Arnold L. Goldman DVM, MS

[hartley345]

Many thanks for your quick and detailed response I will let you know how we get on.  I quite agree that the dog shouldn't be treated without diagnosis so much seems to be guess work.