How do we determine the underlying cause of sneezing or nasal discharge?
A complete history and physical examination of your dog will provide vital clues. Details such as the duration of the sneezing or nasal discharge, as well as the characteristics of the discharge (color, thickness, presence of blood etc.), may be important. For example, a healthy dog that experiences a sudden episode of severe sneezing may have inhaled a foreign body, such as a grass awn, into the nostril. Depending upon these initial findings, it may be helpful to perform a series of basic screening tests to gather more information about the cause of your dog’s sneezing or nasal discharge. In some instances additional diagnostic procedures may be needed to reach a definitive diagnosis, before effective treatment can be started. What might these screening tests include? Depending upon your dog’s history and physical examination findings, these screening tests may include a complete blood count (CBC), a coagulation panel, a serum biochemistry profile, a urinalysis, a microscopic examinat
