My puppy has frequent nasal congestion. What should I do to help?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is not likely to help much if at all due to the long nose of a dog. This is likely an upper respiratory infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics. I recommend that you have your pup evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and start therapy accordingly. Best of luck!

It sounds like Arya may have a mild upper respiratory infection - this is a common problem in puppies, and usually resolves on its own within 7-14 days. If her only real symptom is that she sounds congested in the mornings, you could try bringing her into the bathroom with you each morning while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity often help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms. Using a humidifier in the room where she sleeps at night may also be helpful. If she develops other symptoms such as coughing, acting lethargic, or not wanting to eat, or if it's been more than 14 days with no improvement, I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam, since she may need prescription antibiotics to treat the infection.

I would be concerned that this puppy may have a cleft palate, hence why it is effected when suckling. You can look at the roof of the mouth for a defect, but I would suggest going to your vet regardless as this is not normal.

If she is eating well/nursing well, and going to the bathroom normally in addition to acting fine, she may be OK. I just worry about how young she is though. I wouldn't let this go on too long. If she were to get sick it's much harder on her because her immune system is so immature. I would take her in when you can to see the vet. They can check her lungs and make sure the congestion is just in her upper respiratory tract. Tiny puppies can also have a condition cause cleft palate, for example, and that can cause them to inhale the milk when nursing. This can cause pneumonia, so again, I'd have her examined as soon as you're able. In the meantime, taking her in the bathroom when members of the household shower can help clear out her upper respiratory react, acting like a humidifier with babies that have stuffy noses.

Congratulations on your new puppy! Sneezing and nasal discharge can be a sign of an upper respiratory infection, which requires treatment by a veterinarian. I recommend having Kyma seen by a vet as soon as possible to prevent the infection from spreading if untreated. I hope this helps and that all is well with Kuma!

Poor Nova! I am sorry to hear that she is not feeling well. It sounds as though Nova may have an upper respiratory infection. She should definitely be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, especially since she is so young. Because she is a puppy her immune system is not completely developed making her more susceptible to illness. We want to make sure that a veterinarian evaluates her before her symptoms progress, as it is much easier on all parties involved to get her symptoms under control early rather than waiting until she is severely ill. The veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate medications to get Nova feeling better and being a puppy. Unfortunately there is nothing over the counter to remedy this; however, until you can get her in to be seen you can steam up the bathroom and sit in there with Nova for about 5-10 mins to give her some relief. This will only help give her some relief from the stuffy nose. She ultimately needs to be seen by a vet to clear up things for good. I hope this was helpful and that Nova gets better very soon.

Oh no, poor Buddy! This could be caused by an upper respiratory infection, fungal infection, foreign body, or a nasal tumor if he is an older dog. You can try putting him in a room with a humidifier, or brining him into the bathroom with you when you take a shower. The steam from these may help temporarily relieve any congestion he is experiencing. I would have Buddy seen by a vet in the morning . The vet can diagnose what is causing his difficulty with breathing through his nose, and can discuss treatment options with you.