So, your little pup started his teething phase. And like you expected, pal went crazy, biting anything in front of him. But here’s the problem: there’s nose discharge everywhere, and you have no idea why. To answer your question: it’s unlikely for this to occur when teething.
One exception, though. It's common for a Shih Tzu puppy or a similar flat-faced breed to get nasal discharge during teething.
This happens because the nostrils become swollen and “pinched,” leading to a runny nose.
But, if you own a different dog breed, this discharge could be due to something else.
Common Signs of Dog Teething
Before I go into the details, here’s a quick summary of signs your pup is teething.
- Drooling
- Chewing and biting
- Teary eyes
- Low fever
- Tiny blood droplets
- Swollen gums
If you haven’t noticed, there’s no mention of “runny nose” in this list of symptoms. If anything, your puppy’s runny nose is most likely due to one of the health issues I’ll list below.
Causes and Symptoms of a Runny Nose in Puppies
Your furry friend can get the occasional runny nose when he’s excited. As long as it’s white and clear, it’s nothing to worry about!
But, if it persists or has a strange color, there could be an underlying issue. Here are the most prevalent ones:
1. Allergies
Yep, you heard it right! Dogs can get allergies to food, grass, and chemicals—just like us. If your puppy suddenly started getting a watery runny nose after a nice walk in the park, it could be hay fever.
Some dog types are more likely to get allergies. Some examples are Labrador retrievers, dalmatians, and Shih Tzus.
Other symptoms to look for:
- Itchy skin
- Swollen ears
- Sneezing and diarrhea
- Post-nasal drip
- Fur loss
Treatment
Your vet will prescribe antihistamines such as Claritin to treat allergies. To avoid it in the first place, try to keep allergens away from the puppy, if possible.
2. Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a common respiratory disease among canines, especially immunocompromised dogs and puppies.
Due to its high contagiousness, dogs can catch it by sniffing other dogs or sharing food.
As you might have guessed, puppies get it from kennels and any popular dog-walking areas. Assuming your puppy enjoys playing with dogs, he can contract it from another dog.
Common signs include:
- Persistent cough with a “hooking” sound
- Runny nose
- Lethargy and laziness
- Sneezing
- Fever and high temperature
No need to panic, though. Kennel cough is not dangerous for healthy dogs; it usually resolves within 7 days to 21 days on its own.
But, if the puppy’s age is less than 6 weeks, it can progress to pneumonia—a life-threatening condition. In that case, you should bring him to a vet.
Prevention
Consult with your veterinarian to give your dog the kennel cough vaccine as a safety measure. This will protect him against the Bordetella strain, the most common pathogen.
But keep in mind that it won’t prevent contracting kennel cough altogether if it’s another strain.
3. Nasal Mites
Imagine if the parasites from Stranger Things came to real life. Well, unfortunately, dogs can get living and breathing mites in their noses (the horror).
Now, I know what you’re probably thinking, and the answer is no; nasal mites don’t spread to humans.
Symptoms include:
- Nasal discharge (runny nose)
- Reverse sneezing
- Hyposmia (reduced sense of smell)
- Itchy face
Treatment
There's no universal “cure” for nasal mites. But, a strong dose of antiparasitic drug often kills them.
4. Infection
Infections in puppies can cause a thick, mucous discharge from the nose.
So, if you think your dog has an infection, check his nose to see if it’s stuffy from one side.
Is it? He might have a fungal infection or a foreign object blocking his nose. Otherwise, it could be a bacterial or a viral infection.
Some factors can increase the likelihood of an infection too.
For instance, if you live in a tropical area, your dog will be more prone to getting a fungal infection. Also, long-nosed dog breeds like greyhounds and Borzois are susceptible to fungal diseases.
Treatment
Consult your vet to get the right drug type and dose for the puppy.
5. Canine Influenza Virus (Dog Flu)
People typically confuse dog flu with kennel cough due to similarities in symptoms. Since it’s just as infectious, your puppy will contract this flu if the area has an outbreak.
But, unlike kennel cough, dog flu is a serious condition, especially for puppies. When a dog contracts it, his respiratory system often gets secondary infections.
And even though it's not fatal, this secondary infection leads to serious complications that need rigorous treatment.
Treatment and prevention
I recommend getting the puppy checked if you suspect he was close to an infected dog. If he caught a secondary bacterial infection, he might need antibiotics.
6. Canine Distemper
Similar to dog flu and kennel cough, distemper easily spreads to other dogs.
Not to beat around the bush, though. Distemper is fatal—especially for puppies. According to CWHC, around 50 in 100 infected dogs die from distemper.
Symptoms
- Thick nasal discharge and mucous around the eyes
- Coughing
- Fever
As symptoms progress, dogs develop neurological symptoms such as:
- Convulsions
- Seizures
- Paralysis
Prevention and Treatment
Thankfully, there’s a vaccine for canine distemper. Your furry friend should get his first DHPP shot at the age of 6 weeks.
As for treatment, no drug got discovered for distemper until this day. However, fluid therapy and supportive care can help dogs with their recovery.
Dog Breeds More Likely to Get a Runny Nose
Just because your puppy gets a runny nose a lot doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with him. Some types of dogs are genetically more prone to get it than others.
So, if you own one of the following dog breeds, rest assured; it’s normal.
Flat-faced dogs such as:
When to Worry About a Puppy’s Runny Nose
If you notice your dog with any of the following symptoms, get him checked at a veterinary clinic ASAP:
Warning signs
- Pus or hemorrhagic discharge
- Green or yellowish mucous
- Difficulty breathing
- Thick mucous
- Watery, red eyes
- Chronic nasal discharge
Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.