Unfortunately, nasal tumors in dogs can cause significant destruction to the nasal cavity and carry a poor prognosis. To empower and comfort dog parents who are walking through this diagnosis with their beloved senior dog, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains the types, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for nasal tumors in dogs. Plus, she discusses how to know when it is time to euthanize your dog with a nasal tumor.
When a lump or bump pops up on your dog’s skin, it’s usually pretty obvious. However, if the tumor is hiding in your dog’s nose, it’s a whole different story.
Often, a nasal tumor can grow in secret for several months before being found. And the initial symptoms are similar to those of allergies or an upper respiratory infection, so you may have no idea there is something far more sinister lurking in your dog’s nose.
Thankfully, nasal tumors aren’t super common—they only account for roughly one percent of cancers in dogs. But if your dog happens to have nasal cancer, that number probably doesn’t bring you much comfort.
What may help, though, is having a better understanding of what is going on with your dog. It can’t necessarily change the outcome, but it can help you navigate a nasal tumor diagnosis and know how to help your dog.
What are nasal tumors in dogs?
The term “nasal tumor” refers to any sort of abnormal growth that occurs in the nasal cavity. While nasal tumors can occur in any dog breed, they tend to be more common in dolichocephalic (i.e. long-nosed) breeds like Dachshunds, Collies, and Greyhounds.
And dogs living in urban environments also seem to be at a higher risk of developing a nasal tumor. This may be due to the increased exposure to air pollution which tends to accompany living in a major city.
Like many types of cancer, nasal tumors are more common in middle-aged to senior dogs, with the average age of onset being 10 years.
What are the types of nasal tumors in dogs?
About 20% of nasal tumors are benign growths such as fibromas or polyps. These tumors tend to stay on the surface of the nasal cavity rather than invading the bony structures. And they don’t cause nearly the damage that malignant tumors do.
The remaining 80% of nasal tumors are malignant. From most to least common, these tumors include:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Undifferentiated carcinoma
- Fibrosarcoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Osteosarcoma in dogs
These tumors tend to progress rapidly and are highly locally invasive. In other words, they can quickly enter and destroy the surrounding tissues. In some cases, malignant nasal tumors can even eat through the bone that separates the nasal cavity from the brain. Or they can damage the dog’s eye, cause facial deformities, or obstruct the dog’s airway.
Sometimes, in the later stages, the tumor can also metastasize (i.e. spread) to the lungs or lymph nodes. This is fairly rare, though. Most of the damage and the resulting symptoms are due to the initial tumor and its effects on the nasal cavity, eye, or brain.
What are the symptoms of dog nasal tumors?
The tricky thing about nasal cancer in dogs is that the initial symptoms may be mild. For example, you might notice increased sneezing or reverse sneezing in dogs. At first, you (and your vet) might suspect that your furry friend has allergies or an upper respiratory infection.
However, these symptoms won’t go away on their own or fully resolve with allergy medicine for dogs or other treatments. And the dog might start to show other signs such as:
- Dog nose bleeds (i.e. epistaxis)—typically, the bleeding only comes from one nostril initially, but the nose bleeds may eventually involve both nostrils and increase in frequency and duration
- Nasal discharge, which may be clear, yellowish, reddish, or mucoid—usually only affects one nostril at first but may change to both nostrils as the tumor grows
- Decreased appetite
- Facial deformities (i.e. swelling, asymmetrical appearance, etc.)
- Loud or harsh breathing (almost like snoring or snorting)
- Difficulty breathing
- Being a lethargic dog
- Pawing at the face
Depending on how far the tumor invades, your dog may also have eye discharge, a bulging eye, or enlarged dog lymph nodes near the jawline. Or, if it spreads into the brain, the dog may experience blindness, abnormal gait, and dog seizure activity.
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms of nasal tumors, it is best to seek veterinary care. For dogs who are experiencing mild or non-urgent symptoms, you can make an appointment with your family veterinarian. But if your dog is having an uncontrolled nosebleed, difficulty breathing, or seizures, it may be best to make an emergency vet visit.
How is a nasal tumor diagnosed?
When you get to the vet, he or she will start by assessing your dog and gathering information from you about your dog’s history and symptoms. Then your vet will discuss the next steps with you.
Much more often than not, dogs with occasional sneezing or mild nasal discharge really do just have allergies or an upper respiratory infection. This means that initially, your vet may recommend trying symptomatic treatment.
But if the dog doesn’t improve as expected, or symptoms worsen, it may be time for additional diagnostics. Or, if the dog has more severe signs, the vet may recommend further diagnostics right away.
Unfortunately, the nasal cavity is harder to evaluate than many other areas of the dog’s body. The majority of it is enclosed in the bones of the skull. And the nasal cavity is filled with many scrolls of bone (i.e. turbinates). This can make it difficult to know what is going on inside.
Imaging
Sometimes, X-rays of the skull and nasal cavity can help diagnose a nasal tumor. But in general, advanced imaging such as a CT scan or MRI is more likely to be diagnostic. CT and MRI are more detailed than X-rays. And they provide cross-section slices of the area of interest, which is especially helpful when looking at a complex bony structure like the nasal cavity. (The skull structures are superimposed on one another on an X-ray, which makes interpretation challenging in some cases.)
Rhinoscopy
While it may not be able to detect quite as many nasal tumors as CT or MRI, scoping the nose (i.e. rhinoscopy) is another good diagnostic option. It often allows the vet to visualize the tumor and collect biopsy samples. Plus, it may be able to rule out other nasal issues like fungal infections, foreign bodies (like foxtails in dogs), or sinusitis.
Biopsy
The best way to determine if a mass is cancer, and the type of cancer, is to perform a biopsy (i.e. collecting a sample of tissue) and histopathology (i.e. examining the tissue under the microscope).
A study of 117 dogs with nasal cancer indicated that blind biopsy (i.e. performed without being able to directly visualize the tumor), advanced imaging-guided biopsy, and rhinoscopy-guided biopsy were all equally effective at diagnosing nasal tumors. This means there are a variety of ways that the vet can collect the tissue for the biopsy, depending on your dog’s particular situation.
Additional testing
The vet may also recommend a clotting panel. This can help decrease the chances that the biopsy site would bleed uncontrollably. And it also rules out a clotting disorder as the explanation for the dog’s nose bleeds.
Additionally, your vet may suggest chest X-rays to look for metastasis (which is rare but worsens the prognosis). Or he or she may want to perform a chemistry panel, urinalysis, and complete blood count (CBC) to get an overall picture of your dog’s health.
What is the treatment for nasal tumors in dogs?
After receiving the nasal tumor diagnosis, some dog parents decide to consult with a veterinary oncologist to pursue treatment. And others prefer palliative care options (i.e. ways to keep their dog happy and comfortable for as long as possible). This is a personal decision, and there isn’t one right or wrong answer.
Radiation
Should you choose to treat your dog’s nasal cancer, the veterinary oncologist will most likely recommend radiation therapy. This involves using focused high-energy particles or waves to destroy targeted cells (in this case, cancer cells). Although there is no definitive cure for nasal tumors in dogs, radiation therapy is the best way to achieve clinical remission (i.e. the cancer goes away for a certain period of time).
However, because of the high dose of radiation necessary for this kind of treatment, your dog may experience side effects such as:
- Redness or inflammation on the skin and in the mouth
- Peeling skin where the beam was directed (sort of like a sunburn)
- Conjunctivitis, dry eye in dogs, or even blindness due to retinal damage or the formation of cataracts in dogs
Palliative radiation
Interestingly, lower doses of radiation are also an option for palliative care. Several studies have indicated that palliative radiation can help decrease tumor symptoms.
Chemotherapy or surgery
While there are a few studies looking at chemotherapy for nasal tumors, at this point it isn’t typically the treatment of choice. Additionally, surgical debulking of the tumor may help improve some of the clinical signs, but it doesn’t improve survival time for dogs with nasal tumors. And these dogs typically still need radiation too.
Pain control
Many dogs with nasal tumors can benefit from anti-inflammatory or pain medications as well. The vet may recommend a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like carprofen. Or he or she may prescribe a steroid like prednisone for dogs if the tumor may be affecting the brain. While not anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentin for dogs or tramadol for dogs can also be helpful for reducing any pain associated with the nasal tumor.
Holistic treatment for nasal tumors
The herbal supplement Yunnan Baiyao for dogs seems to have an almost magical ability to stop bleeding. This means it can provide a holistic way to help prevent or manage nose bleeds in dogs with nasal tumors. Your veterinarian, or a veterinarian who is familiar with Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), can help you figure out a Yunnan Baiyao dose and frequency that is right for your dog.
Phenylephrine
Nasal phenylephrine drops may help minimize the inflamed tissues within your dog’s nose. Plus, since the medication constricts small blood vessels, it may also help with nosebleeds.
Keeping the house cool
Dogs rely on their airways to keep themselves cool, and nasal tumors reduce the efficacy of those cooling mechanisms. Therefore, leaving the temperature low in your home can reduce the risk of your dog overheating. Otherwise, without the ability to efficiently exhale warm breath, a dog can suffer heatstroke in dogs. This is a life-threatening emergency.
Also, anecdotally, many parents of dogs with nasal tumors feel that letting a fan blow cool air onto their dog’s face can make a big difference in overall comfort.
What is the life expectancy for dogs with nasal tumors?
Unfortunately, the long-term prognosis for dogs with nasal tumors is poor. Radiation therapy gives dogs the best life expectancy, with the potential of going into remission for one to two years. Additionally, palliative radiation typically decreases clinical signs in 65-86% of patients for 120 to 300 days.
Otherwise, dogs who receive no treatment may have a life expectancy of two to three months before the clinical signs become an insurmountable problem. However, untreated dogs with nose bleeds typically have a shorter life expectancy than this.
How will I know when it is time to euthanize my dog?
Because of the locally invasive nature of this cancer, and its ability to progress rapidly, I always advise dog parents to keep a close eye on their dog’s quality of life. It can be helpful to regularly fill out a quality-of-life scale for dogs. And you will want to watch closely for difficulty breathing, severe or frequent nose bleeds, blindness, seizures, or signs your dog is in pain. All of these can be indicators that it is time to prepare for your dog’s euthanasia.
I know it is never easy to face the loss of your sweet dog. And having to make that decision can weigh heavily on your mind. While I can’t tell you when it is time to let your pup go, I do want to offer several resources to help you with the journey:
- Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
- In-Home Dog Euthanasia: Heartfelt Answers to 12 FAQs
- Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
- How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog?
- Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia (& Finding Peace)
- Dog Memorial Ideas
Plus, your veterinarian or veterinary oncologist can help you through this trying time. Don’t be afraid to reach out and discuss your concerns or ask questions. That’s what they are there for.
Treasure the time you have
If I could leave you with a final parting bit of advice, it would be this—treasure the time you have. Unfortunately, nasal tumors don’t have a happy ending most of the time, and that can be hard to face. But you can choose to do your best to push through the sadness and find joy in the days you do have with your dog.
Spend some extra time hanging out on the couch together. Go to all of your dog’s favorite places. Make a bucket list for your dog and see how many things you can check off. Hire a photographer to capture beautiful pictures of the bond you have with your dog.
These are just some ideas to get you started. I don’t know what treasuring time looks like for you. But I do know it is worth figuring out.
Did your dog have a nasal tumor?
Please share his or her story below.
HANNAH Mathews says
Our Tequia girl (Queen T as we call her) started inward sneezing which wasn’t uncommon but it lasted for days. The vet thought allergies so told us to use Benadryl. A few days later she started to have droplets of blood; but it lasted for a day and stopped. But a couple weeks later the blood came back and has not stopped. I don’t know when the right time is to think of euthanizing , I don’t want her to get to the point of not eating (girl loves food) but her inward sneezing and constant bloody nose doesn’t seem comfortable but is that enough…
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Hannah,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with Tequia. Without examining her myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. Is your vet aware of the bleeding and ongoing issues? If not, I encourage you to reach out for help and support. There could be a medication or supplement that would greatly improve your girl’s quality of life. Here is a link to an article that may come in handy when trying to make difficult choices in the near future: Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
Hoping you can find the answers you need and keeping you in my thoughts.
Trisha says
I have a 12.5 year old rat terrier that was diagnosed with SCC 1/4/24 when a mass was found during a dental cleaning. We noticed a small amount of swelling and nasal drainage in the 2-3mo before the diagnosis but assumed it was related to dental disease. She was reverse sneezing and had watery eyes but she’s had allergies since she was a pup so I thought nothing of it. Since the diagnosis the tumor has grown shockingly fast. It seems everyday to get bigger. We took her to oncology and they said she has a few months or weeks without treatment. We don’t have radiation in our area and the cost of chemotherapy is financially out of reach.
I’m so devastated by this diagnosis and the progression. Rat terriers have an expected life span of 15-18yrs and I never imagined we’d lose her before 13 (as naive as that sounds). My sweet girl still loves food, playing (though she has been slowing down – but it’s hard to know if that’s cancer or age), and going for walks. I don’t know when it’s time to euthanize her. She’s started snorting at night and it’s really distressing to me that she seems to struggle to breathe. I don’t want her to die by suffocating because the tumor suddenly blocked her ability to breathe through her nose. When does difficulty breathing mean you should euthanize? This is so hard because there doesn’t seem to be clear answers. I’m trying hard to enjoy our time left but also grappling with the speed with which this is happening. My poor girl, I didn’t think it would end like this…
Thanks for giving space for people experiencing this to share. Good luck to everyone else going through this.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Trisha,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with your senior girl. I am sorry she is having trouble breathing during the night and can see how this would be alarming and cause you to stress and worry. Unfortunately, you are correct when you say there are just no clear answers for something like this. Each case is so different, and it is hard to tell you what to expect as thing progress. Don’t forget your vet is on your side and you can lean on them to help guide you as you navigate this unknown path. I will attach links to other articles with more information on how to evaluate quality of life and how to know when it is time to say goodbye. Thank you for being willing to reach out to others and offer sympathy and encouragement. You are a blessing and I wish you nothing but the best. Give your sweet girl a hug for me. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Rebecca says
My ESA had started a reverse sneezing attack ( which we had gotten used to because our vet told us it was caused by allergies) my husband and I sat with her and tried to work her through it when I noticed a spot of blood on the rug. I started frantically searching for where it was coming from when we realized it was coming from her nose. We did everything we could think of to get it to stop. It slowed down but didn’t completely stop so we took her to the vet. The vet came back in the room with her and informed us that with all of her symptoms it was almost certainly a nasal tumor and just recommended supportive care. Ever since we got home all I can think is how unfair this feels. There’s not a person who has met my girl that has disliked her. I dread the idea of having to lose her but every time I hear her struggle to breathe I know that it’s coming. I’ve had her since the day she was born so she’s become like my child. I don’t want her to suffer but I dread the day that I’ll have to make the decision to let her go and I’m struggling with when it should be time.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Rebecca,
I am so sorry your girl is dealing with these severe symptoms, and she is facing an uncertain future. I will attach links to other articles with more advice on how to know when it is time to say goodbye. Make the most of the time you are gifted and try to find a bit of joy in each day. Wishing you comfort and peace as you navigate this difficult path. Give your sweet girl a hug for me. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Trisha says
Rebecca – I noticed you posted just a few days before I got here so we’re both experiencing this terrible thing with our girls. I’ve also had my dog since she was 12wks old and have gone through so many things with her by my side over the last 12 years. It’s so hard to lose our babies but it’s somewhat comforting to know I’m not the only dog mama dealing with this right now. Sending you and your girl love and strength.
Gerrilou says
I too am going through the same thing my fur baby diagnosed with a nasal tumour November 23 and I’m really unsure what to do..I notice her health is declining she’s struggling to breath every now and again and her nose is bleeding more often. I can see the shape of her snout has changed ever so slightly and her eye seems watery and glazed! I feel her time is fast approaching but I’m not sure what to do right now.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Gerrilou,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with your pup. Make sure your vet is aware of these changes and don’t be afraid to ask for a referral to a specialist if you need more information. Praying for clarity and strength. Bless you and your sweet girl.
Cryst says
Rebecca,
I’m so sorry. I lost my adopted miniature schnauzer today due an unknown, undiagnosed, assumed late-stage nasal or brain tumor. The agency I adopted him from had him diagnosed for weepy crusty eyes (assumed Srogens), spondylitis, external benign tumor growths (one which they had removed), and general allergies. Ever since I had adopted him late January at the age of 12, he snored lightly and loudly at night. The last three nights he seemed unusually tired and begging to go to sleep. The last two days he lost interest in eating. He also had a minor nose bleed which I assumed was allergy sensitivity. The. last morning, he woke up much later than usual. He was slow to go eat. He wouldn’t drink much. He had been pacing the floor often the last four or five days, too. On the last morning, he suddenly had violent, turbulent sneezing, snorting, and reverse sneezing and a bit of coughing. He coughed up so much blood it covered 20 square feet. I cleaned up the blood, tried to soothe him and clean him up. Started calling vets. Nobody could get him in, no appointments. My dog had two more turbulent events in the same morning spanning 2 hours. The same 20 sq ft. The 3rd time, I already suspected I had to put him down. He had lost too much blood to survive. He was going into shock. (I knew this because I have gone into shock myself from autoimmune events and know the symptoms.) I called municipal animal services. They could put him down for me. I took my dog wrapped in towels including over his face because he was still sneezing blood everywhere. I arrived. Staff stared at him. I asked if I should have him put down. They recommended I see an emergency vet. I told them I had been calling everywhere. They told me where I could take him. We went. The emergency vet examined my dog.. They didn’t have MRI nor Xray onsite. They advised they could run biopsy and test for cancer and would take a few days. I asked about quality of life, age, and situation of dogs seen with the same symptoms and history. They said they could give him steroids and pack the bleed and see if that worked. I asked the technician her thoughts on what I had seen at home, and how he was in the moment. She said the common things she has seen is what seemed to fit my dog’s case. The weeping eyes, the recent dental extractions, and the external tumor excision with the horribly bloody sneezing event traumatizing this poor dog… It all pointed to an inoperable, untreatable tumor. It had grown fast and unseen. …..I loved that little guy. I am raw. I lost him this morning. He is the best dog I have had to date. I did the right thing by him. I prevented an injurious suffering and painful death for a peaceful one.. At this date so far invested in, I wouldn’t trade those 19 days with this dog for anything. But, if I had known his trouble sooner, I would not have adopted him. This has been tragic and traumatizing. I miss him terribly. But I did the right thing for him.
Rebecca, you know your dog. I know you love your dog. You will k ow what the right thing to do is and when best to do your duty by your sweet pet.
My warm regards,
Sincerely,
Crystal
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Crystal,
I am so incredibly sorry for the loss of your senior guy. You did everything you could to ensure he was happy and comfortable and gave him the opportunity to know joy in his last days. Thank you for sharing your story with us and for offering support and empathy to others. Wishing you healing and peace. Bless you. ♥
Pam S says
Our Great Dane, Edge, developed a very crusty nose about 18 months ago. We took him in in February 2023 so we would know how to treat it. At that time the veterinarian gave us a few possible causes (one was a nasal tumor) and we treated the hyperkeratosis with an over the counter remedy. In June, we noted a small lump appearing near his eye on his nose and he developed a mucous discharge from teh other nostril. We took him back in in November when the lump became larger. It was not due to a fungal infection. His XRays did not show a tooth abscess and did show a mass in his left paranasal sinus. We opted not to try oncology or surgical treatment because it wouldn’t be a longer BETTER quality of life. We treated multiple sinus infections with antibiotics and he also had a couple serious nosebleeds. Every time we would stop antibiotics (amoxicillin or doxy), within a week the infection would start up again and his whole face and head would swell up. He was miserable.
Even though antibiotics were giving him a good quality of life in general, he is having a hard time relaxing, breathing and sleeping at night. It’s such a hard decision to let him go…..but we feel we would rather do it now before seizures and a great deal of pain occur and he is miserable. Keep us in your prayers and thoughts. He Was a lovely, well-bred dog with an impeccable and famous pedigree and is my husband’s best friend and has been a wonderful companion. Tomorrow will be his last car ride. Our hearts are breaking.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Pam,
I am so sorry for your recent loss of Edge. I can only imagine how much he is missed but I am certain you made the right choice in offering your beloved boy freedom from his suffering. Thank you for being willing to share his story with our readers. It helps others to know they are not alone when facing difficult situations and decisions. May the memories of all the good times you shared bring you joy. Praying for your healing and comfort. ♥
Dwayne says
Last week I noted some small, watery blood spots on my bed sheets where my chihuahua mutt sleeps in the bed. I brought him to the vet not knowing what the problem was. I hoped it was a UTI or bleeding gums, but the vet discovered the blood was coming from his left nostil. The vet has prescribed carprofen and amoxicillin for two weeks to see if it is possibly a gum infection that has leaked to the nasal cavity. The vet also mentioned the nostril tumor.
I came home and started researching the nasal tumor possibility. It made me realize I’ve notice other symptoms: “reverse sneezing” occasionally (which I chalked up to dry air in my house over the winter), occasional scratching the left side of his muzzle (the blood side), and a weird “crooked smile” where he would pull back his lips, also on the left side.
I’m starting to suspect that the nasal tumor may be the reason.
My heart is completely broken, as this little guy has been in my life for 7 years. I adopted him from the humane society. He was an older dog when I got him (judging from the gray beard), and he came with heart worms, which I helped to get him cured of, and he has been the best companion I’ve had in my life. He has a heart murmur, which the vet describes as heart disease. She also said this heart issue will complicate any treatments that he may get.
I live alone, work full-time, and I don’t believe there is any dog hospice in my area (although I’ve only started to look into this.) I’m very worried about a massive bleed while I’m at work.
I’m so torn as to whether to pursue chemo, or radiation, as often this can be so hard on the dog, and again, I’m alone and would have to give all this care myself.
I don’t have any specific questions, but it helps to be able to write some of this down. Please comment on anything that my story may have brought up. Thank you.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Dwayne,
My heart goes out to you as you navigate this difficult path. I agree this sounds very suspicious of a nasal tumor. It might be a good idea to talk to your vet about a referral to a specialist. There they can give you more information and go through all your options in detail. I also highly recommend having the herbal supplement Yunnan Baiyao on hand especially for emergency bleeding situations. I wish I had better advice and could tell you what was best. Wishing you both a clear path forward and praying for a positive outcome.
Rachel says
We noticed increased sneezing and reverse sneezing in my sweet black lab in January 2023 when she was 12. In early March, she had her first severe facial swelling and nose bleed and we had to take her to an emergency vet. A CT revealed an advanced nasal tumor and we were told we probably had less than 3 months with her untreated.
The veterinary oncologist told us there were promising smaller studies with a low-dose chemo called Palladia and that it could be a helpful palliative measure to slow the growth and reduce her symptoms. The dogs in the studies had a mean survival time of 4.5-5 months, but she warned us it would probably be less since her cancer was so advanced, but we were willing to do anything we could. Due to the advanced stage and distance to a facility that offered radiation, she did not recommend this for my girl.
She showed some signs of nausea after her first dose of Palladia but otherwise just seemed a little lethargic on the days we gave it to her. It seemed to really relieve her symptoms.
Yunnan Baiyoa was also like magic for the bleeding! I was so skeptical of this homeopathic remedy, but happily surprised.
Unfortunately as the cancer grew, she had a few severe infections and swelling around her face, and we ultimately decided to keep her on antibiotics full time (changing them out if one stopped working).
Her happiness and quality of life guided our decisions, So, we also made sure she had all the pain management we could give her (gabapentin and carprofen).
After her diagnosis we spoiled her with all the treats, pup cups, and walks in new places every day. The roller coaster of her illness and its progression was unbelievably devastating but she was my heart dog and I’d do it all again to have her with me. She survived a miraculous 7 months after diagnosis.
On October 22, 2023 (age 13) we had to make the heartbreaking decision to euthanize her after she rapidly developed a new infection and neurologic symptoms (circling and head pressing into walls).
I really struggled to know the right time to say goodbye because even as some symptoms worsened (more difficulty breathing and sleeping at night), she still seemed happy and eager to go on walks, eat (a lab of course!), and show us all the love. Although it was hard to see her suffer when she had an infection, she had so many happy days between that outnumbered the sick days. I think I’ll always have some guilt and doubts about if I chose the right time, but it felt like she showed me when she was ready.
I’m so sorry to anyone going through this now. Soak in all the love and time your have with your pup and spoil them silly 🙂
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Rachel,
I am sorry for the loss of your beloved pup. What a blessing you were gifted with 7 extra months to love on her and make some lasting memories. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It is a comfort to others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. May your girl’s memory be with you always and bring joy to your life. Bless you. ♥
Michelle says
Rachel tears in my eyes reading your story and literally just gone through this horrible illness with my beloved pet who was only 6.
I found this site searching to ease my pain as I constantly ask myself did I do the right thing, was I too early … should I have waited.?
It’s so hard and the guilt of taking a heart is truly breaking at all levels.
Just wanted to say thinking about you and going through the same feelings having said goodbye to my fur baby and 11th January this year and I miss here more than I could ever have imagined.
❤️
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Michelle,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved pup. My heart goes out to you as you work your way through these difficult emotions. Bless you. ♥
Jamie Burns says
Hi Dr. Buzby,
We have a 12 year old Frenchie who has been sneezing brownish yellow mucus for about 2 months. We have taken her to the Vet and tested her mucus. No infection either bacterial or viral detected. She recently (4 months ago) at TECA-BO surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in her ear canal. She did have an CT Scan and the cancer did not spread. Now our vet wants us to do another CT Scan. Our French has bad allergies and I was wondering if we should try Benadryl for a week to see if the symptoms subside. If it is a nasal tumor I am not sure how to move forward. She is 12 and I want her to enjoy her life and not go through treatments that will most likely not produce a great prognosis. I was wondering your thoughts on the Benadryl. No other symptoms besides the mucus. Is discharge mostly a symptom of airborne allergies or can this also be a good allergy?
Thanks for your time and informative post,
Jamie and Lauren.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Jamie,
I am sorry your Frenchie is having this persistent nasal drainage. I am not sure the Benadryl will offer much help, but it shouldn’t be a problem to give it a try. Each animal species has an “organ” that is associated with allergies. In humans our lungs are the allergy organ so we usually show symptoms of sneezing and nasal drainage. For dogs, the allergy organ is their skin. So, while respiratory symptoms from allergies are possible, they are not common. Most dogs with allergies present with itching and other skin problems. This is also true for food allergies. Without playing a personal role in your dog’s medical care, it is hard to know if the CT is a good way to proceed or if you should be looking elsewhere. Here is a link to an article all about nasal tumors just so you will have the most up to date information: Nasal Tumors in Dogs: A Dog Parent’s Guide
And in case this does end up being allergy related, here is one with good advice for that too: Allergy Medicine for Dogs: 9 Solutions to Calm Your Dog’s Itch
Hoping you can get the answers you need to find a clear path forward. Praying your sweet girl can get some relief and continue living her best life for many years to come.
Makena says
I have a 7 year old male German Shepard. He has a polyp nasal tumor localized in the center of his forehead and is migrating towards his left eye causing deformity. The vet took X-rays and labs, where everything looked normal. Which is how they can tend to present if the tumor is not malignant. For the last 4 months he has had severe nose bleeds, snoring respirations, his left eye waters, and an increase of appetite versus a decrease. I struggled to find the answer to his symptoms for months. Finally I have. He still eats, plays, drinks, normal bathroom habits and is happy. Our vet prescribed him daily prednisone which has helped drag out his life expectancy and we feed him high protein. He has beat the life expectancy of the 2-3 months due to this. Although soon I know I will have to euthanize him. I hope this helps anybody else looking for an answer. Radiation treatment for your pup is a poor choice and painful. I hope you choose to make them comfortable and happy like I have.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Makena,
I am sorry your Shepherd is dealing with the effects of this growing nasal tumor. What a blessing the prednisone was able to offer some extended time with your beloved pup. While radiation can be a good option, I understand it isn’t for everyone and glad you found what works best for your situation. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts and praying for your strength as you navigate the tough road ahead.
Debra Reiter says
My 15 year-old handsome Shitzu-Bichon mix Jojo started having occasional nose bleeds and reverse-sneezing about a year and a half ago. We treated it as allergies at first. Then he went completely deaf about nine months ago. Then he started having goopy eyes and was very saliva-sounding so put him on antibiotics and eye drops and had some teeth pulled in May which helped with the mouth sounds. He’s been slowly declining, with some dementia and pacing at night. Two weeks ago he woke up violently sneezing and had a heavy bloody nose from both nostrils for hours, it finally slowed down after a day and stopped on the third day. He’s now on Yunnan Baiyo and Enroquin antibiotic and is back to senior-normal. Just had a CT-scan done to confirm that it is a nasal tumor and they found that it is significant in the nasal cavity. There is destruction of the frontal sinus and surrounding structures as well. We didn’t bother with a biopsy, because at age 15, it doesn’t matter. I won’t do radiation or steroids. So for now he is happy and living a good life… real chicken with his kibble and lots of attention and love. My question is, how long do you think he has and how will I know when he’s in discomfort….. he’s not communicative anymore since he turned deaf. Or he will just have one major nose-bleed and then I’ll know. I don’t want him to suffer and I’m also selfishly hoping I don’t have to go through the trauma of a massive bleed-out. Any advice?
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Debra,
I am sorry Jojo has developed this aggressive nasal tumor. I wish I could tell you what to expect but unfortunately these things are a bit unpredictable. Signs to watch for are similar to other end stage chronic conditions. These include sleeping more, lack of appetite, pale gums, inability to get comfortable, painful around the head and face, increased effort when breathing, lethargy, etc. I will attach links to other articles with more information on how to monitor quality of life and guidance on knowing when is best to let go. Hoping you will be able to keep your sweet boy comfortable and happy for as long as possible. Bless you and give Jojo a hug for me. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Signs Your Dog is Dying: A Caring Message to Bring You Peace
3. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
4. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Erin OBrien says
My 9 year old labradoodle was diagnosed with nasal carcinoma in May. We have taken her off of kibble, cooking all organic food, supplements (turkey tail mushrooms, chaga, turmeric, melatonin and meloxicam. She has responded amazingly…we have been icing her nose for comfort as she has started the snorting, rumbling in her throat and most recently bleeding. She has lost so much blood in the last few days, that we aren’t quite sure what to do. To look at her, she is the picture of health and plays along side our poodle. We do not want her to suffer and just need to know the right thing to do. I have read that phenylephrine could help with the nose bleeds which are becoming more frequent. Please advise as this is heartwrenching….we cannot leave her alone as she may bleed out. Thank you for your help.
Heartbroken in SC.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Erin,
I am sorry your sweet girl is struggling with so much bleeding. Phenylephrine drops can be helpful for nose bleeds, and I do often prescribe them in cases like this. This treatment is mentioned in the article and is located just below the paragraph about holistic treatment. The main holistic therapy I recommend is the herbal supplement Yunnan Baiyao. It is often used for dogs with internal bleeding from splenic tumors but should be effective for any bleeding issue. You can talk to your vet and see if they have it on hand. I wish there was some other great advice I could offer. Praying you can find the best way to restore your pup’s quality of life and give her more time. Wishing you all the best. ♥
Jennifer says
helloo. I’m so sorry to hear about your baby. I have an 8yo Pyrenees mix who was diagnosed this time last year, underwent radiation, gave us a solid 9 months of perfect health until explosive crazy bleeds started. I can’t recommend Yunnan Baiyao enough to help control/cut down on the bleeds. The packs also include a TINY “emergency red pill” for when your dog has had a crazy bleed to help rebuild the blood. My dog and I have been in the ER.. more times than I can count over the course of November as we’re likely reaching the end. I just started phenylephrine today to help with swelling and it’s been wonderful for short term assistance for her breathing. But I really can’t recommend Yunnan Baiyao enough from my own experience with my girl. Best of luck to you and your baby. This stuff is scary and.. sucks, for lack of a better word. If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone in what you’re dealing with.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Jennifer,
Thank you for being willing to share your experience with our readers. I am sorry your sweet girl’s health is declining and you are facing some difficult decisions in the near future. What a blessing you gained an extra 9 months of quality time together after the radiation. Hoping you can make the most of the time you have left. Wishing you both comfort and peace. ♥
Mitch says
Is the life expectancy improved for a younger dog receiving radiation for Nasal Cancer? Most studies say the average age is 10 years old? I have a newly diagnosed 6 year old Silver lab. Waiting for final tumor histology and referral to Vet Oncologist.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Mitch,
I am so sorry your young dog is facing such an uncertain future. I am not certain, but do not think a younger age at time of diagnosis changes the prognosis with this type of cancer. Also, I have seen some strange things with silver Labs in particular. The silver color comes from a recessive gene and usually when this coat color is selectively bred, it also produces many other genetic “issues” that can surface as time goes on. Praying you receive good news and the visit with the oncologist will offer a clear path forward. Wishing you all the best.
Kristina says
Dr Buzby
What other strange things have you seen with a silver lab. I have an 8 yr silver male but he is not the one suffering from nasal carcinoma. my 9.5 yr old beagle/pit mix was seen by an internist last week for a mass seen in the laryngeal area. I had taken her to the ER for respiratory distress and xray showed a mass several weeks before that. A year
prior, I noticed my dog staring into space during the night( almost like sun downers) and she could not yawn, basically chasing pain. so I had her put under to check her mouth, ears, etc and xrays. only thing noted was slight TMJ. Fast forward to Nov 2023, the week we moved into Mt mother-in-law house while we were transitioning to another house, my dogs sneezing, reverse sneezing, epistaxis began to get worse. I literally thought it was the house ( because I got a random eye infection). When my dog was seen last week by the internist, she did a needle aspiration of her lymph nodes and malignancy was noted. Liver bx neg and per xray nothing noted in the lungs. Since she currently has reverse sneezing, nadal bleeding, left eye drainage ( at times the left eye will bleed), left eyelid drooping, and left head tilting, snooring, they determined the source was from the nasal cavity. She currently takes the magical pill Prednisone 20mg/daily. The oncologist said we could also try an NSAID called peroxicam(sp?) because a few studies had been done on this med. Currently she eats, drinks, wants attention, etc because of the Prednisone. Do you think she had a slow growing cancer a year ago when I became concerned? when the vet said tmj my gut told me different. Also, could this be a result of being around a person who vapes( my husband)? I’m devastated, this is my third dog who has not lived past the age of 10 and the other two dogs were missed dx with other problems. The oncologist kept saying I don’t even consider this a senior dog because she’s a beagle and a mutt. I feel like we are doing something wrong
..i.e dog food, environment.
Best,Kristina
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Kristina,
I am sorry you have been through so much with your senior girl. It is possible that this cancer was to blame for the strange symptoms you noticed last year, but it was just not advanced enough to be detected at the time. I would not think this could be a complication from your husband’s vaping. Usually if something similar was to cause a problem it would be lung issues (COPD, bronchitis, asthma, etc.) due to secondhand smoke from cigarettes. I honestly don’t think you are doing anything wrong. This is just how our broken world works. Please don’t continue to carry around the unnecessary burden of guilt. You have taken action every time you noticed a problem and are doing everything you can to ensure your sweet girl remains happy and comfortable. As far as silver Labs go, they frequently have lots of skin problems, allergies, color dilution alopecia, chronic ear infections, and can be a bit fearful/aggressive as compared to most very loving and friendly Labs. This is not to say all sliver Labs are this way! There are definitely some wonderful pups out there….it just isn’t the “norm” for this genetic makeup. Wishing you and your girl all the best and praying for healing and peace.