Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nasal foreign bodies causing sneezing and discharge in dogs and cats
By Espenica, S A et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2025·Internal Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical, imaging and rhinoscopy findings of dogs and cats with nasal foreign bodies presenting to a UK referral hospital: 71 cases (2010-2022).
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Beagle was brought to the vet for sneezing and a runny nose that had lasted for about a week. The vet found that the dog had a foreign object stuck in its nasal passage, which was confirmed through imaging. The foreign body was successfully removed using a procedure called rhinoscopy, which allows the vet to see inside the nose. After the removal, the Beagle's sneezing and nasal discharge improved significantly, and it was back to normal within a few days.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Description of clinical presentation and diagnostic findings in dogs and cats with confirmed nasal foreign bodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study. Clinical presentation, imaging and rhinoscopy findings of dogs and cats, between January 2010 and December 2022, were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 63 dogs and eight cats met the criteria. Median length of clinical signs was 7 and 45 days in dogs and cats, respectively. Most common clinical signs in both groups were sneezing (46/71, 64.8%) and nasal discharge (44/71, 62%). The discharge was unilateral in the majority of cases (38/44, 86.4%). Computed tomography was the predominant form of imaging modality used in 40 cases (40/71, 56.3%). Visualisation of a foreign body using computed tomography was possible in only 14 cases (14/40, 35%). The vast majority of cases had unilateral changes (33/40, 82.5%), including fluid accumulation (33/40, 82.5%) and mucosal thickening (29/40, 72.5%). More severe changes such as turbinate destruction were evident in 26 cases (26/40, 65%). Foreign body removal was achieved through rhinoscopy or nasal flushing in 66 and four cases, respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Based on the findings of this study, although unilateral discharge was more common, nasal foreign bodies should remain a differential diagnosis in bilateral cases. In comparison to dogs, cats had a more chronic presentation. Computed tomography was the most common imaging modality, but visualisation of a foreign body remains difficult and was not improved with contrast study; inability to identify a foreign body does not exclude it.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39420675/