Malamute + Reverse Sneezing

[smitlau]

I feel like there is a simple answer to all of this, and it looks like this community has some really intelligent users here that I implore your advice.

Details:
- Alaskan Malamute (female) (name: Zeta)
- DOB: March 17, 2012 (3 years old in 2015)
- has a reverse sneeze that's been going on since January 2014

Here's the background:
In January of 2014 we picked up our dog from being boarded for 3 days. She was tired, as expected, when we got home for a day or so, but then started to develop this nasty reverse sneezing. We treated her for Kennel Cough, which went away, but then the sneezing came back and we knew it wasn't the case. At the time we were taking her to a different vet than where we are now, who really had no idea what was going on.

There was a particular weekend in the summer of 2014 where she had such severe and repeated reverse and outward sneeze attacks, that the vet recommended we admit her to the pet emergency clinic in Guelph. Zeta underwent a biopsy that did not provide any known confirmation for the triggers.

We've since switched vets who's prescribed prednisone (1/4 tablet out of a 50 mg tablet, once every other day) and Reactine (10 mg, 2x daily). The Reactine we've just started (been about 5 days now) and it seems to be making her worse - not sure if it's just pushing everything out finally, or if it's counter-active with the prednisone? Since starting adding the reactine into her daily life, it's making her nose runny with thick green mucous constantly!

Question:

(1) Has anyone else experienced this condition?
(2) Is the reverse sneezing a symptom for something else?
(3) Suggestions? Are we on the right track here?

Really looking for some advice, I've scoured the net and cannot find anything new and this poor little dog is not getting better!

Thanks so much!

[orgtweeba]

We just adopted an alaskan malamute and he sneezes all the time.  Vet appt next week!

[Margot49]

Boy, this has been going on for a long time.  
Not sure about nasal mites as I have no experience with those myself.
Yes, the green discharge indicates infection and could be bacterial or fungal.
Has a culture and complete blood panel been done?
Has a chest x-Ray been done to check for pneumonia?
On the off chance something may be stuck in the nasal passages, has a scope been done?  
Is your Vet just treating symptoms?  Was the biopsy of the nasal passage(s)?
If these things haven't been done, I woukd ask for a culture of that discharge and a blood panel to be done to start off and a chest x-Ray.  
I just wonder if something might be stuck in the tissues.  Any dental issues going on?  
I woukd not hesitate to get yet another opinion.  You happen to have a Vet school within traveling distance?
Please keep us posted.

[Misfits4Me]

Your Vet is treating her for allergies with these medications.....However, I believe it's more than that.....You said there was a biopsy that was inconclusive......Nothing???

Has a swab of the fluid been done & cultured??? This is where you need to start.....Green indicates infection, but the infection can be a result of other triggers.....

I personally would have the fluid cultured for bacteria, fungus AND nasal mites.....Any of these three would cause what your seeing, plus all three would be treated differently.....

The culture should be sent to a lab that does specialty testing....It would not be in house unless this was a very large facility or teaching school...

Let us know......Karla

[ginger899]

I have never had experience with severe reverse sneezing. My own dog had the occasional attack, maybe about half a dozen in her whole life. They lasted about a minute each time, then went. So something on this scale, I have absolutely no idea about.

I do know they can be triggered by toxins in the enviroment....so is there anything that possibly could cause this? Cleaning products, fumes of any kind? Or do you live close to a busy road?

But the issues she has right now are more serious.

Okay, the greenish discharge from the nose is infection. My opinion is that antibiotics may be needed. Where exactly the infection is -I can't say.
(Again my opinion only) is that a nasal inspection should be done, perhaps when the antibiotics have had chance to take the infection down -just in case there is something in her nasal passages.
It might be worth taking her for a second opinion to another vet.