dog hayfever PLEASE HELP

[handbagsandhay]

I have posted before about my 6 year old whippet and his hayfever which results in a lot of sneezing and reverse sneezing.

We have had 3 trips to the vet - initially I was told to keep him inside in the middle of the day which I do. on the second visit I was told to give him piriton which I do and seems to help however first thing in the morning as soon as he wakes he is sneezing repeatedly. I can only presume its because the piriton has worn off overnight?

The other day he sneezed and green/white mucus was flying out. this of course concerned me so I took him to the vet for a third time to be sure it wasn't something more sinister. The vet is confident it was only caused by hayfever. he is otherwise fine - no temperature, eating, running playing no other concerns and therefore it is doubtful it is an infection of any kind or something stuck in his nose (apparently that would cause a lump and she tested to be sure he was breathing fine out both nostrils)

This morning he woke up, had his usual sneezing fit and out flew more of the mucus only there was blood in it. of course this worried me. As it was a one of though I am wondering if it is just caused by irritation from all his sneezing so I am the mindset of not calling the vet just now and if it happens again then I will make an appointment. Does anyone else have a dog with allergies and has this happened to them? I gave him some loxycom (which the vet gave me initially the first time I visited) ad have continued with his anti histimines but is there anything else I can do for him?



I'd really appreciate any advice or even similar experiences

 

[blackcob]

Does anyone else have a dog with allergies and has this happened to them?

Yes on both counts, before we got a handle on which meds worked for him mine would have blood in his snot after prolonged sneezing episodes as well as opportunistic bacterial infections, leaving him with thick yellow/green mucus and sleepless nights as he was so bunged up.

Having done a full work-up (allergy testing, scope for foreign body/tumour/aspergillosis etc.) and trialled multiple allergy medications the only thing that actually controls his symptoms are antihistamines and steroids. The latter are far from ideal for long term use but he's on a tiny dose, often as little as 5mg every third day, so I'm reasonably happy with the risks. He can also often get away with a nasal steroid spray rather than systemic meds which helps a bit.

As useful as they have been for mine, I wouldn't have been happy reaching for long term immunosuppressives without ruling out everything else first.

 

[Leo Walker]

I've got one with allergic rhinitis which was originally diagnosed as hayfever. But he seems to be very mild, he sneezes, snorts and snuffles, and he does like sneeze up the walls and decorate them with snot :lol: But he only ever has clear or very slightly white tinged snot and I'd say 75% of the time hes fine. He gets piriton in the summer but we dont bother in the winter and I'm not sure how much if any difference it makes. We have taken up all the carpets and made the house as dust free as it can be, but again not sure its helped. Being outside makes no difference, although a good sprint around can have him sneezing and clearing his nose of snot!

It came on 3yrs ago when I moved 250 miles across the country from the coast to landlocked. He hasnt gotten any better or worse in that time.

Interestingly hes a whippet as well, which was why I posted as other than that I dont seem to have anything useful to say

 

[handbagsandhay]

Yes on both counts, before we got a handle on which meds worked for him mine would have blood in his snot after prolonged sneezing episodes as well as opportunistic bacterial infections, leaving him with thick yellow/green mucus and sleepless nights as he was so bunged up.

Having done a full work-up (allergy testing, scope for foreign body/tumour/aspergillosis etc.) and trialled multiple allergy medications the only thing that actually controls his symptoms are antihistamines and steroids. The latter are far from ideal for long term use but he's on a tiny dose, often as little as 5mg every third day, so I'm reasonably happy with the risks. He can also often get away with a nasal steroid spray rather than systemic meds which helps a bit.

As useful as they have been for mine, I wouldn't have been happy reaching for long term immunosuppressives without ruling out everything else first.

Thank you for your reply. It puts my mind at rest slightly! he was sneezing again this Morning but only clear no more blood so that's good! I also gave him his last piriton later than usual and I do think he seemed less bunged up and sneezy this Morning.

Another friend mentioned steroids as well but the vet wasn't keen at this stage.

 

[handbagsandhay]

I've got one with allergic rhinitis which was originally diagnosed as hayfever. But he seems to be very mild, he sneezes, snorts and snuffles, and he does like sneeze up the walls and decorate them with snot :lol: But he only ever has clear or very slightly white tinged snot and I'd say 75% of the time hes fine. He gets piriton in the summer but we dont bother in the winter and I'm not sure how much if any difference it makes. We have taken up all the carpets and made the house as dust free as it can be, but again not sure its helped. Being outside makes no difference, although a good sprint around can have him sneezing and clearing his nose of snot!

It came on 3yrs ago when I moved 250 miles across the country from the coast to landlocked. He hasnt gotten any better or worse in that time.

Interestingly hes a whippet as well, which was why I posted as other than that I dont seem to have anything useful to say

Yes my walls are well decorated. I can't get the stuff off! If I scrub I end up taking the paint off!....my iPad got it this Morning lol

We moved onto the farm last winter so this is his first summer here and definitely the worst hayfever wise.....though he has always had it...poor wee mite