Nasal passages?

[Shawna]

Hi there,

It has been a LONG time since I have had time to visit this site.
I have a question about my 6 year-old girl Paige.  Over the last few months I have noticed her snoring has increased and she has started to make what I describe as "nasal noises" A LOT!  I don't know how else to describe it...but she will sit and look at me and make nose noises. 
She has never had issues with breathing or had issues with her nares.  Is this something that can happen over time?  May she have developed small nares and need a visit to the vet?
Thought I'd check with the experts before I go to our vet..
Thanks in advance!

Shawna

[blanche]

As a rule nares don't get smaller as they age--I'd wonder about weight first--that really can impact on breathing.

Possible that there's a palate issue, but I'll defer to folks on here who know about it than I do. 

I'd also wonder about allergies--either environmental or seasonal or maybe even food.  That can make for a loud breather.

And kennel cough is going around so if this loud breathing is recent (as in the last month or so) I'd wonder about an upper respiratory infection.

[Poconut]

Poco was snoring up a storm in recent months and was having a rough time breathing on longer walks. We didn't think she had gained much, if any, weight. But then again we see her every day. About a month ago we cut back her food by 25% and she's trimmed down nicely and is back to her normal self... Just light snoring now and then.

[blanche]

Poco was snoring up a storm in recent months and was having a rough time breathing on longer walks. We didn't think she had gained much, if any, weight. But then again we see her every day. About a month ago we cut back her food by 25% and she's trimmed down nicely and is back to her normal self... Just light snoring now and then.

Been there.  Done that.  It's so easy for your dog to get tubby without you realizing it.  Tank came into rescue at a whopping 32 lbs and I worked like the devil to get his weight down.  He got down to 24 lbs and I kind of relaxed.  Next time we weighed him, he was back up to almost 28 lbs.  I felt like a royal jackass for not noticing.  He's back down to 22/23 lbs and I've realized I can't trust my own eyes all the time on his weight.....

[Shawna]

Thanks for the replies.
I am certain that she has gained a bit of weight over the last year or so.  She is still in good shape (in my opinion)...probably 23-24lbs or so...but her "normal" is more like 19lbs, up to 21lbs or so in the winter.  That is probably just it then.  We have been going for more walks lately, but in terms of changing her food, she doesn't have huge meals as it is and not many treats (poor puppy eh?).  So with the walks, hopefully her weight will go down a bit.
I am glad to hear that the nares do not get smaller with age though...that was my concern.
I think I forget too that she is now a "middle-aged" pup.  I still see her as my baby, so the fact that she is 6 already is unbelievable to me!

[blanche]

Thanks for the replies.
I am certain that she has gained a bit of weight over the last year or so.  She is still in good shape (in my opinion)...probably 23-24lbs or so...but her "normal" is more like 19lbs, up to 21lbs or so in the winter.  That is probably just it then.  We have been going for more walks lately, but in terms of changing her food, she doesn't have huge meals as it is and not many treats (poor puppy eh?).  So with the walks, hopefully her weight will go down a bit.
I am glad to hear that the nares do not get smaller with age though...that was my concern.
I think I forget too that she is now a "middle-aged" pup.  I still see her as my baby, so the fact that she is 6 already is unbelievable to me!

I always start with the obvious fix first--like weight.  And it's like us--some dogs gain and lose easily and some don't.  Tank puts on weight just walking past his food bowl so he has really stringent portions.  And I try not to feed anything with empty calories--like grains.  

And if you think about it, 3 or 4 lbs is almost a quarter of her weight so while the numbers aren't big, the percentage of weight gain is large.
If you don't mind my asking, what do you feed and how much, Shawna?

[Shawna]

Hi Blanche,

I feed both of my girls 3/4 cup of food per day (plus a handful between them at lunch).  They eat Fromm Gold.  1/4 Cup at breakfast, and 1/2 cup at dinner.  Paige has issues with stomach acid production, so needs a snack at lunch (literally a few pieces of food for her and have to give Maggie a few as well).
They both get a few treats per day too (but really not many as I do try to watch their weight).

[blanche]

Hi Blanche,

I feed both of my girls 3/4 cup of food per day (plus a handful between them at lunch).  They eat Fromm Gold.  1/4 Cup at breakfast, and 1/2 cup at dinner.  Paige has issues with stomach acid production, so needs a snack at lunch (literally a few pieces of food for her and have to give Maggie a few as well).
They both get a few treats per day too (but really not many as I do try to watch their weight).

I'd cut back to a 1/3 or 1/4 cup at night and maybe up the breakfast meal to 1/3 cup.  The biggest meal of the day should be breakfast rather than dinner.  And I know that you need to do the mid day thing with the acid stuff.