Green filled nose

Question
Hi. I have a shetland sheepdog. She is 11 years old and has allergies.
Originally, when we got her at 7 months she was fine. Her allergies did not
spring up until maybe about a year later. We took her to the vet, who made
many attempts in finding something to soothe her until we were referred to
Penn State vet hospital. We made the trip several times. They were very
helpful, now she is on special food and takes several pills a day. Now, just the
past 3/4 days I have noticed her breathing sounds blocked. I looked at her
nose only to discover it "filled" with a sort of greenish nasal discharge. I
cleaned as much off as I could. For the most part, it is not that bad. I'm
curious though as to what this is. Some have suggested it is because she
does have allergies and the pollen in my area is extremely  high right now. If
you are able to think of any reason why this may be happening or if there is a
name for this, your input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your
time.

Answer
Hi Jade,

Clear nasal discharge, which may be accompanied by sneezing, can be seen in animals that have allergies. Because the discharge you're seeing isn't clear, but green (aka purulent), you shouldn't take this laying down.

Green nasal discharge can be a symptom of:

* The presence of foreign matter (such as grasses or weeds) in the nose

* Infection of the roots of the upper teeth (abscesses)

* Fungal infection

* Nasal cancer (discharge may also contain blood)

Because of the possibility of a serious health concern, you should have your dog examined by your vet. Ask your vet about having a culture taken of the discharge to see what bacteria is growing and what specific antibiotic will kill it completely.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti