My dogs nose is swelling shut...

Question
Hi, my terrier mix dog has had several problems over the years. He's an older dog, around 12 I'd say, and has suffered from seizures for as long as we've had him, about 6 or 7 years now. He's been on medication for it for years and has had minimal problems since, but we recently noticed his nose was severely dry and his nostrils were nearly swollen shut. He has always had an extremely dry nose, possibly due to the medicine he takes? But as of late, it got much worse, he was even laboring to breathe one day, and the vet is actually unsure of what it might be. But he says that possibly it could be an immune system problem where it actually attacks itself, but its just an educated guess...so any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
I have never seen phenobarbital do that to a dog's nose, not even after many years. But dogs do get auto-immune diseases, such as lupus and pemphigus,etc.

There is not much they can do but there is treatment that will help keep the disease at bay and helps with the swelling etc.

Here is an article on one type of this disease:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_pemphigus_foliaceus.html

Now it could be many things, but your vet should run some tests to know for sure what it is. A trial with some steroids could certainly tell if you are on the right track and they might take the swelling down some too.
Worth mentioning to him and trying them.