Is my Shih Tzu's noisy breathing and nasal mucus a sign of a cold?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very common for Shih tzus to have small nasal openings. Sometimes they grow as the puppy grows and sometimes they need cosmetic surgery to open the nostrils. This typically causes a lot of sneezing. I would worry the coughing could be something else, like Kennel Cough. I recommend discussing this with Coco's vet so they can see the size of her nose and listen to her lungs. Good luck and kisses to your new baby!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could possibly be a sign of an upper respiratory infection. If Milly has any other signs such as nasal discharge or just generally not feeling well, it may be best to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and possible treatment. If she is otherwise doing well then it would be ok to continue to monitor her for now as this could also be incidental. Good luck and and have a good night!

If this abnormal for Maggie, then I would recommend taking her to the vet ASAP for evaluation. Since Shih Tzus have short noses, they aren't able to move air like a more normal shaped nose. Any decrease in the air flow (such as something stuck in the nose/mouth/throat, inflammation from allergies or infection, mass, etc) can be very severe. The vet will do an exam and may recommend emergency treatment. Or if it doesn't seem life-threatening, they can prescribe something to help with the abnormal breathing.

Bentley is very cute! I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for a good physical exam. I would be concerned with an older patient that maybe his teeth are causing inflammation in the nasal passage or even an upper respiratory infection. In older pets a vet visit is always best. I hope that helps

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions (or rule them out) and treat appropriately. Antibiotics might be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I am sorry Snoopy is having this issue. It definitely can be a cold but there are other things it can be. It can be allergies or if it is one nostril that there is discharge it can be a growth. I recommend taking Snoopy to the veterinarian and having them listen to her to make sure there is nothing settled in her lungs and it is just an upper respiratory issue. I hope Snoopy feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor guy. It is possible he has a bit of an upper respiratory infection. I would recommend getting him seen by your vet for something like this, because he will need the vet to listen to his lung and heart sounds for any abnormalities and clues as to what is going on internally. He may also need x-rays of his chest if there is severe congestion heard in his chest. I do hope that your fur baby Bobby is able to get this sorted out soon! Best wishes and take care.