Relieving the Symptoms of Dogs With Inflammation & Rhinitis

You want your dog to feel comfortable when he's sick and sniffling. Rhinitis describes the inflamed state of your dog's nasal pathways when he's suffering from a viral infection or exposure to allergens. Symptoms of rhinitis include sneezing, thick yellow-colored mucus and open-mouth breathing. Stress and a suppressed immune system can exacerbate these symptoms and lengthen your dog's recovery period. Alleviating your dog's symptoms requires identifying the cause of his rhinitis. Only a licensed veterinarian can prescribe antibiotics or other treatment necessary to cure his condition.

  1. Steam Bath

    • Viral rhinitis causes cold-like symptoms, including thick mucus discharge. Breathing steam loosens the thick mucus oozing from your dog's nose. Close the bathroom door, let the hot water run, and in less than 10 minutes you'll have a steam room. Bring your dog inside the steamy bathroom and stay inside with him for 15 or 20 minutes. Staying with your dog in the steam room prevents him from panicking and hyperventilating. For maximum results, repeat this process twice a day. Note that steam is not an effective solution for dogs whose rhinitis stems from allergens.

    Wipe His Nose

    • Keeping your dog's nostrils free of clumpy, crusty discharge prevents the mucus from clogging his nose and exacerbating the inflammation. Removing the existing mucus from his nose with a tissue also creates a drainage pathway for internal mucus. Wipe his nose with something soft that won't irritate him, such as soft tissue or even a moist paper towel. For dogs also suffering from respiratory congestion and coughing, add a dime-sized amount of vapor rub to the tissue before wiping his nose clean.

    Allergen Elimination

    • Allergies to dust mites and pollen can cause chronic rhinitis in your dog. Minimizing your dog's exposure to these allergens can reduce the severity of his rhinitis. According to the Louisiana State University School of Medicine's Veterinary Medical Continuing Education, washing a dog's bedding in 0.3 percent benzyl benzoate and then encasing any remaining furniture or bedding in allergen-proof materials reduces allergy symptoms in 48 percent of dogs. The allergen-proof casing prevents dust mites and pollen from penetrating the fabric.

    Allergen Prevention

    • While steam is an effective treatment for viral rhinitis, it has the opposite effect on dogs with allergen-based rhinitis. Humidity aids in the growth of mold and other allergens in your carpets and furniture. According to the LSU veterinary school, you must keep the environment at 35 percent moisture or less for 22 hours a day to eliminate the growth of any mold or other allergens. Placing one or more dehumidifiers in your dog's favorite rooms delays allergen growth and can reduce the severity of his rhinitis.