Dogs with stuffy noses feel miserable.
Dogs can suffer from nasal congestion just as people do. This congestion usually results from either a bacterial infection in your dog's sinuses, fungal exposure or an allergic reaction, according to Vetinfo. Once you take your dog to the veterinarian to diagnose the cause of his congestion, you will need to administer antibiotics or anti-fungal medications your vet may give you to treat him. During treatment, your dog will still suffer with symptoms of congestion, which you can treat yourself to make your dog more comfortable.
Instructions
1. Soak a wash cloth in warm water and put 1 to 2 drops of peppermint essential oil on it. Wipe your dog's nose with the wash cloth to remove any dried discharge and help clear your dog's nose. The warm water will help open your dog's nasal passages, and the peppermint oil will help clear its sinuses. Do this two to three times per day. You can also leave the wet cloth with peppermint oil near your dog while it sleeps to relieve its congestion with the peppermint.
2. Put children's saline nasal drops into your dog's nostrils, using 1 to 2 drops per nostril. Wipe away any excess saline solution after a minute to allow the drops to enter the nasal passages and clear away discharge and reduce nasal irritation. Repeat this twice per day.
3. Place your dog in a bathroom with the door shut while you run hot water in your shower to create steam in the room. The steam in will alleviate some of your dog's congestion and help open her nasal passages. Confine your dog in the steamy bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, once per day.
4. Run a vaporizer or humidifier near where your dog sleeps to keep the air around it as humid as possible. You can place one drop of peppermint oil in the vaporizer or humidifier to help open your dog's nasal passages.
5. Give your dog some warm chicken or beef broth separately or along with its food. The warm liquid will keep your dog hydrated and the heat will help clear its nose. For all wet food meals, warm your dog's food for about 10 seconds in the microwave to intensify the smell. Dogs with stuffy noses cannot smell their food as well and may not eat because of this.
6. Run a HEPA air purifier near where your dog sleeps if your vet diagnoses the cause of its congestion as allergies. The filter will eliminate allergens in the air to reduce your dog's allergic symptoms. Switch to hypoallergenic bedding to also help reduce your dog's exposure to possible allergens.
7. Administer a decongestant to your dog if your vet prescribes you one, following your vet's instructions. Your vet may prescribe either pseudoephedrine, theophylline or terbutaline to treat your dog's congestion, according to Pet Place.
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