Older DOg Issues, I need some help Hutash around?

I have a 13-year-old golden retriever who started having nasal discharge in late June. The discharge was clear and yellowish. There was no loss of appetite or loss of energy. We thought it was a foreign object in his nose but had a CT scan done which came up negative. The discharge turned bloody and we then had a rhinoscopy done. That showed nothing, and we took samples from his nasal cavity which came back negative (the thought was he had a fungus which is very rare in western Colorado)
.
The bloody discharge continued so I went to CSU for an emergency room visit. I brought the CT scan and they said it was of such low quality it was of no use. We left CSU with an appointment to go back for an internal medicine appointment. 10 days later I returned to CSU in Mid July (just FYI I am 4 hours away from CSU so it is not an easy trip).

They examined him and wanted a new CT scan and rhinoscope. I did not want to spend another $3k on that after just spending a little more on the scan and rhino from my home vet. Plus he was getting better. There was no more blood in the discharge and the discharge has decreased. They definitively ruled out the fungus as the cause because they said had he had that, it would have spread, and he would have had a systematic failure. We got the sample from his nose back as well and that came back negative for the fungus.

Fast forward this last week and he has begun to have this reverse sneezing (which usually presents with nose mites). The discharge has continued and he seems to be aging very quickly. He has lost weight but is still eating (although slower) and energy level is still pretty good although there is a little decrease in that. We put him on a round of anti-biotics, which seemed to have loosened up the discharge; we are seeing larger amounts coming out. We also put him on a round of the oral meds that are used to treat nose mites (grasping at straws here).

I have an appointment at CSU next week and scheduled the CT scan and rhino.

I just fear his health is declining and wanted to know if anyone here has experienced anything like this before. I know he is old and would rather not put him though anesththia but it seems like he is starting to suffer and I do not want that. So I want to find out what this is.

Thanks for any help. I have the radiology report as well if anyone wants to see it.

Here is the video of the reverse sneeze.

https://youtu.be/cUcTDbGvxaQ?si=o4Wg23Q9egShDM9y

Attachment 506206

What a good boy. Vibes OP, I have no advice, but I love dogs.

I can't offer any insight, but wishing the best for you and the good boy.
What are you feeding him? I doubt his diet is the problem, but switching him to quality foods if you haven't already certainly wouldn't hurt.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bearcub[emoji6[emoji640

[emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]];[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji637][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]I can't offer any insight, but wishing the best for you and the good boy.
What are you feeding him? I doubt his diet is the problem, but switching him to quality foods if you haven't already certainly wouldn't hurt.

---

Farmers dog, I tried a raw diet but he wouldn’t eat it.

Vibes!

I don't think Huntash has posted here in some time.
I wish I could help, but I got nothing.
What vet do you use?

Has your local vet tried an antibiotic with good sinus penetration? Augmentin often works for humans.

The reverse sneeze sounds like anything a human would do when their sinus is running and shits dripping down the back of your throat.

Great dog. Good luck man.

Allergies?? Virus?? I’m no vet.

pm To skideeppow

skiJ

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shredhead

Vibes!

I don't think Huntash has posted here in some time.
I wish I could help, but I got nothing.
What vet do you use?

---

Thanks WIllits Vet, but he has been to CSU twice which is arguably one of the best in the country. Going back Dec 10th if he makes it that long.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skiJ

pm To skideeppow

skiJ

---

got it thanks do much.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skiJ

pm To skideeppow

skiJ

---

got it thanks do much.

I want to give your dog a hug, love Goldens!

Vibes to you and your buddy.

You might try PMing hutash, he hasn't posted in a number of months but that doesn't mean he wouldn't get a PM?

My lab (RIP) had bad allergies and would do the reverse sneeze quite often, just like your vid. I'd give her a benadryl every other day or so and that helped; she later died of unrelated causes. 13 is a good long life, getting up there in years for sure. I wish Duke and your family the best.

No advice or experience with this with my hounds, but as a long-time sufferer from sinus infections, the symptoms sound familiar and at the least the antibiotics this past week should help if that’s the case? The increased mucus is consistent with the sinuses clearing the infection if that is what it is.

Hugs to your pup. We just got a new addition here, a 13yo reservation rescue that was the folk’s last farm dog. Now we have two geriatric old hounds, with all the issues that come with age. But both are loving treats and anticipate the daily walks, so all good, but at 13 every season is a bonus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jax

My lab (RIP) had bad allergies and would do the reverse sneeze quite often, just like your vid. I'd give her a benadryl every other day or so and that helped; she later died of unrelated causes. 13 is a good long life, getting up there in years for sure. I wish Duke and your family the best.

---

Thank you. Any idea of the dosage? He weighs around 65 lb.he has lost a bit of weight over the last few weeks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skideeppow

Thank you. Any idea of the dosage? He weighs around 65 lb.he has lost a bit of weight over the last few weeks.

---

Benedryl is safe at 1mg per pound of dog.
That said maybe start lower and work up. 25mg would be a good safe start.

We give our Danes 50mg to start and another 50mg if that did nothing after one hour as a comparison. Wishing you luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skideeppow

Thank you. Any idea of the dosage? He weighs around 65 lb.he has lost a bit of weight over the last few weeks.

---

You can look it up online but my lab was 65lbs and I gave her just one pill of the standard 25mg benadryl. I am not a vet and ymmv. The pill would knock her out just like it does me. It's not a cure by any means, just something to suppress symptoms and offer a bit of relief. Her stool would be darker and a little runny the day after giving a dose, so something to keep in mind if he's got a sensitive tummy- watch for dehydration.

Hopefully you can maybe get a second opinion and a better idea of what may be going on. Best of luck to you and Duke!

^^^^ Benadryl is funny in humans. Some kids get sleepy. Others get hyperactive. Wouldn’t surprise me if dogs are similar. Start with small doses and see what happens.

Just saw this warning about Librela which my dog has been taking since the onset of his issue. Just wondering if this is a side affect ? Doesn’t state it on article but who knows …

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinar...reated-librela

I wanted to post an update on my golden. I ended up going back to CSU in Ft Collins. He has a new rhinoscopy, and CT scan. He had confirmed Aspergillus fumigatus in his sinus. They drilled two holes in his head, cleaned out the sinus and applied an topographical anti fungal.
It was a rough surgery and he looked terrible for the first few days. I regretted my decision to put him through this.

10 days later, the nasal discharge stopped, energy levels returned,

4 weeks post op and he is celebrating his 13th birthday today. He looks great and has returned to his old self.

He is back to normal and I am super psyched I did the

YES!!! Really happy for you

Happy news!

Nice!