[LisaT]

So I am working on Max's chronic nasal fungal and bacterial issues.

Can you give dogs an expectorant like guaifenesin ? I know you are not supposed to give them decongestants, but I have found references to giving expectorants.

Max's nasal passages were red and raw. I started giving him the Oregano Oil, and quickly they seem to be healing up, but green gunk is collecting. He's already on several abx, so I'm not going to rush to the vet yet (we do have acupuncture on Monday though), but am looking for a way for him to eliminate this stuff. I already figured that he's not going to use a netti pot!!


Any other suggestions?

 

[djpohn]

You can give them decongestants and you can give an expectorant. (You can use the ones for kids) Also maybe a nasal spray _ they have the ones only with saline to clean the nose. Have you tried an antihistamine? I put emu or coconut oil in Rainer's nose when it got gunky to keep it from getting so raw.

 

[LisaT]

Oh geez, he's just gonna love me if I try more nose stuff, but here goes...

Does that saline stuff you squirt up the nose really work? I'm afraid to squirt stuff up there, ugh, and he's gonna hate me for it...

How did you get oil *in* the nose?

 

[LisaT]

Forgot to ask, the non-sudafed type decongestants are probably the safe ones?

 

[Tarheel]

I work in a children's hospital pharmacy and preservative saline nasal spray is what is used to flush newborn noses, so it's very mild and very safe. It flushes gunk and can help keep tissue moist. Digusting, eh? Guess you could also try a nasal aspirator with the saline spray to help remove gunk. Is your dog on oral anti-fungal meds too? Poor baby!

 

[LisaT]

Thanks Tarheel! (GS Mom, I think I forgot to say thank you, sorry about that!!)

Yes, Max is also on 200 mg of ketoconazole each night. It made a huge difference initially and with his antibiotics and the anti-fungal, his nose was healing very nicely. But we messed with stuff, he backslid, and his nose took a hit (his nose unfortunately is not his primary condition, but is a good indicator of what's going on).

I didn't think we were that dry, maybe he needs a humidifier? I dunno.

 

[middleofnowhere]

You don't need to rush to the vet, but I would certainly call the vet and ask if I could use something OTC for this.

 

[LisaT]

I will see her on Monday. Max is one grand experiment, poor boy.

 

[3K9Mom]

Lisa, when he had a flu-type thing, I used a neti pot on Celo several months ago, so he was even younger and squirrelier (is that a word?) than he is now. I made sure the water was tepid, and I used the saline powder solution that came with it. I held his muzzle and poured slowly, then put a towel up to his nostril right away. He snorted out and a lot of goop came out.

He didn't like the procedure much, but it took him about twice to realize that he felt a lot better (he could breathe!

) after I did it. So then he relaxed.

The first time, water kind of went everywhere. (So do it in your kitechen or bathroom... and wear old clothes or gore-tex!) I just sort of poured and he snorted a lot. But then we were able to settle into a routine. I'd do one nostril at a time.

Honestly, compared to *spraying* (squirting) puffs of nasal spray up his nose, a warm pour seemed more reasonable. I don't think the fluid got all the way into his sinus cavity, like it would for a human, but I just wanted to clear out bacteria, pollens, goop, etc out of his nasal cavity, mostly. I thought the idea of a true rinse was a good one because it keeps everything moist and could help rinse out anything may be problematic.


I guess it's a matter of what Max is more likely to tolerate.

And I'll just confirm what GS Mom said. When Meri got bordetella last year, my vet recommended pediatric cough syrup, and she said I could get the stuff with expectorant if I wanted to.

 

[LisaT]

LOL Lori, I don't know whether to thank you or curse you, cuz I really didn't want to try the stuff up his nose!!! BUT, I think it may come to that. With the Oregano Oil, I can already tell he is breathing better. I don't completely understand what his nose is doing, but I'm just going with the flow...(or lack of???, sorry

)

Thanks for the confirmation too on the expectorant. I know that helps me a lot for the sinus stuff.

 

[M&J]

I use a sinus rinse (Neilmed or Saltaire) every day. However, I triple the amount of packets I put in the distilled water. The extra saline helps to shrink back the inflammation and everything drains. My ENT said to put baking powder (or soda, I forgot which one) in, as well.
Also, nettle and licorice tea helps with sinus problems (gotta love the oregeno oil, too!). Perhaps you could brew it, cool in the fridge overnight, then put in your dog's water bowl.
Don't use the oregano oil for more than two weeks. It has something to do with iron absorption. Maybe the new green stuff is a result of the oil? Perhaps that **** has been festering back there for a while and the oregano is flushing it out.

ETA: Sinucheck Eucalyptus pills have a cooling/menthol effect that may promote drainage.
As you can see, I go hog wild in my health food store.

 

[LisaT]

The Neilmed is what I have here -- just bought some to try for me. I think they use salt and baking soda in their powder, or that's what the guy at Costco said, if I'm remember right....

I do think that this is a reaction to the oregano oil, poor boy has had nasal issues for a LONG time, I just didn't know what to do for them. Vet didn't know. The flush helped back then, and actually is what has helped the most until recently, until I started messing with anti-fungals and such.

I know eucalyptus oil is good - I tried some around my nose before I went to bed one night recently and it did help.

When I was younger, I had that flonase nose spray for this stuff, but it gave me a fungal infection in my esophagus - don't want to go there again!!

 

[M&J]

I think I got my facts wrong and it's too late to edit. Oil of Oregano is six weeks on, two weeks off. It was Bromelain (for Rudy's limp) that was for two weeks. I'll double check.
My window sill looks like an apothecary now. I get them confused. Sorry!

Did you look into apple cider vinegar in his drinking water?

Yes, Neilmed. If you read the insert it says it's OK to triple the strength. It really "cleaned house". lol.

How about a good old fashioned towel-over-head-inhaling steam? Throw some menthol into the boiling water. If you do, please take pictures. It will be adorable.

Poor boy. I hope these offer some relief-even a cure-for your boy!

 

[BowWowMeow]

Lisa,

When I had a foster dog with kennel cough (and a runny nose) I used Homeopet's Nose Relief and it worked well.

If you want to steam him then I recommend tea tree oil. It's amazing.

 

[LisaT]

Originally Posted By: M&JI think I got my facts wrong and it's too late to edit. Oil of Oregano is six weeks on, two weeks off. It was Bromelain (for Rudy's limp) that was for two weeks. I'll double check.
My window sill looks like an apothecary now. I get them confused. Sorry!

Did you look into apple cider vinegar in his drinking water?

Yes, Neilmed. If you read the insert it says it's OK to triple the strength. It really "cleaned house". lol.

How about a good old fashioned towel-over-head-inhaling steam? Throw some menthol into the boiling water. If you do, please take pictures. It will be adorable.

Poor boy. I hope these offer some relief-even a cure-for your boy!

Hmmmmm, adorable might not be the word that he uses?????

What do you think the apple cider vinegar would do?

He gets Bromelain on a daily basis, I have never heard of a problem with it????

I will have to think on how best to work on his nasal congestion, and get the store after the weekend. Sigh, always something!

 

[LisaT]

Originally Posted By: BowWowMeowLisa,

When I had a foster dog with kennel cough (and a runny nose) I used Homeopet's Nose Relief and it worked well.

If you want to steam him then I recommend tea tree oil. It's amazing.

I use a homeopathic formula for hayfever. Not once did I think about one for the sinus stuff. Duh! Thanks Ruth

Wouldn't have thought about tea tree oil either.

Wow, tons of great recommendations

 

[M&J]

Here's a nice link about apple cidar vinegar and other ways to beat sinus problems.
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/sinus_infection.html

Bromelain is OK to use for longer periods, I just give for two weeks when Rudy limps.
The woman at the store told me to do six weeks of O of O, then two weeks off b/c it interferes with iron. If I was going to do it longer I would need an iron supplement. If you google O of O (shall we call it OoO from now on? lol) you will see the same small warning.

 

[LisaT]

I use the bromelain for his digestion: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553039_18 I don't think his multivitamin contains iron, maybe I will need to change that.

Thanks for the link to the acv - it's worth a try. I need to find something that works, because all three of us here can then benefit from it.

So far, the OoO is producing good results on Max's nose externally, and in the nasal passages that I can see. Hope it's not just a partial thing.

 

[Sean Rescue Mom]

Originally Posted By: LisaTMax is also on 200 mg of ketoconazole each night.

Lisa, glad the ketoconazole is helping with the fungal infection. Interesting that Sean is on half the dose, i.e. 100 mg but for a different purpose. It helps keep the cyclosporine in his system longer.

Hope Max's nose and his condition improves.

 

[LisaT]

The Derm seems to think that we can get the anti-fungal down to 3 doses per week, rather than nightly. She thinks he will be on doxy forever. I'm hoping he doesn't go on cyclosporin, still not clear....

I bought a humidifier last night, but haven't set it up yet. I also got some new "stuff" from the vet to put on it.

He had acupuncture yesterday, and the fistula drains a lot after the acupuncture. Max still hasn't recovered from when I tried to get him off the doxy. I think he has a pocket of something in there that isn't resolving. Sigh.

Thanks for checking in with us SRM, I hope I can get him as well managed as Sean, eventually.