Ask Dr. Fling

Q: Calle is a 14 year old Maltese mix. Her nasal passages are always full of HEAVY congestion. Over the past three to four years she is on an antibiotic at least once a month. (Clavamox 125mg.) Three times a day chlorpheniramine, 2mg. prednisone every other day, She has had a full head x-ray along with numerous other tests. In conversations with others I have never heard of anyone else that had a pet that experienced this same problem. Please respond if you have any new idea.

A: Nasal Congestion can be caused by a variety of different medical problems ranging from infections to tumors. If the antibiotics that Calle has been on intermittently have been helpful, it is possible that an infection of dental origin may be responsible for her trouble. On the other hand, problems associated with nasal tumors may not be apparent on routine x-rays, and an endoscopic evaluation or tissue sampling may be needed to confirm a diagnosis of your dog's problem.