Sinusitis in dogs causes a wide range of symptoms, which will vary according to the cause of the condition. Learning to associate different symptoms with different types of sinusitis can help dog owners isolate the reason for their pets' problems.
Because other more serious conditions can produce the same symptoms as sinusitis, any dog with sinusitis symptoms which either return frequently or linger should be examined by a veterinarian.
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History
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A dog's sinuses are cavities within its skull connected to the nasal cavities, and susceptible to inflammation from bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. This inflammation, referred to as sinusitis, can also result from allergies, dental abscesses, or from an inhaled foreign object which creates nasal congestion.
Types
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Dogs suffering from sinusitis may exhibit a variety of different symptoms. Sneezing and nasal discharge are two obvious ones, but there are many more.
Dogs with sinusitis will sometimes paw at their faces to relieve nasal itching, or breathe through their mouths because of nasal congestion. They may produce harsh cracking noises known as respiratory stertor, or suffer from dyspnea, also known as "air hunger." Dyspnea causes a dog with sinusitis to gasp for breath.
When sinusitis causes severe inflammation of a dog's upper respiratory tract, the animal's eyes may develop conjunctivitis. At the very least, dogs with sinusitis often have watery eyes.
The affected sinus tissues sometimes become engorged with blood and fluid. If the infection spreads to the dog's mucous membranes, they may emit a discharge containing pus.
The most common symptom of fungal-related sinusitis is a long-term nasal discharge beginning on one side of the face and spreading to the other. If the condition is not treated, the discharge will gradually become contaminated with pus and eventually blood.
Significance
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By paying attention to which symptoms of sinusitis your dog exhibits, you might be able to determine the source of the problem.
Frequent sneezing is the dog's attempt to clear the discharge from its upper respiratory tract. Some dogs, however, engage in "reverse sneezing." This is a series of short sharp inhalations meant to remove blockages from the area of the throat directly behind the nose.
Dogs with sinusitis resort to open-mouth breathing, dyspnea, and stertor when their nasal passages are blocked from inflammation and secretory accumulations. Dogs which paw at their faces, however, are probably suffering from sinusitis caused by inhaling a foreign object.
Warning
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In some instances, dogs exhibiting the signs of sinusitis may have nasal neoplasia, or nasal tumors. Canine nasal tumors frequently extend into the sinuses.
Symptoms common to both sinusitis and nasal neoplasia include sneezing and reverse sneezing, dyspnea, stertor, and nasal discharge, often with pus.
According to Cornell University's Dr. Margaret C.McEntee, DVN, DACVIM, DACVR, approximately one-third of all dogs suffering from different types of chronic nasal disease including sinusitis actually have nasal neoplasia.
Prevention/Solution
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Symptoms of sinusitis in dogs which either last longer than two weeks or recur regularly merit a veterinary exam to determine the seriousness of the animal's condition.
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