What are Nasal Polyps?
Pink polypoid growths in the nose are typically nasal polyps. However, there are different types of tumors, some of which are benign and some of which are cancerous. Polyps are far less common in dogs than in cats. Signs can include sneezing, congestion and noisy breathing.
When you find a pink growth in the nose of your dog, a nasal polyp should be considered. However, nasal tumours including carcinomas and sarcomas must be ruled out.
Though polyps are benign (non cancerous), it’s important to have these treated as they can still make breathing difficult for your pet.
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Symptoms of Nasal Polyps in Dogs
Depending on the location of the tumor, symptoms may vary.
- Nasal cavity
- Discharge with mucus
- A crusting in the nose
- Nosebleeds
- Obstruction of the nasal passage
- Sneezing
- Noisy breathing
- Maxillary sinus
- Swelling in the cheek or under the eye
- Frontal sinus
- Swelling on the forehead
- Ethmoid sinus
- Obstruction of the nasal passage
- Double vision
Types
There are many different types of nasal tumors. Benign tumors include the following:
- Nasal polyps – a tumor located in the lining of the nasal passage
- Inverted papilloma – a wart-like growth on the nose
- Hemangioma – a collection of blood vessels
- Osteoma – a tumor of the bony tissue in the nose
- Fibrous dysplasia – an abnormal growth of the bony tissue in the nose
- Angiofibroma – a growth comprised of fibrous tissues and blood vessels
Causes of Nasal Polyps in Dogs
Frequently, with benign nasal tumors it is difficult to identify a cause. With nasal polyps, specifically, it’s possible the cause is an increase in inflammation and swelling of the nasal passage. It is possible that some benign nasal tumors are caused by viruses. Currently, there are no definitive causes of benign tumors in the nasal passage.
Diagnosis of Nasal Polyps in Dogs
In order to diagnose a benign nasal tumor, the dog will typically need to be anesthetized so that the vet is able to inspect the nasal passage. Polyps are glistening red, pink, or gray growths in the nasopharynx. In addition to a physical examination, advanced imaging may be required to determine further information about the nature of the growth.
The veterinarian may use a rhinoscope to inspect the nasal passage. Like tumor manifestations in humans, the veterinarian may try to obtain a sample of the growth in order to complete a biopsy of the tumor. Once the results are determined, further decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment can be made.
Treatment of Nasal Polyps in Dogs
The prominent and most effective treatment of benign nasal tumors is surgical removal. This surgery is typically a simple, routine procedure. If the nasal tumor is located deep inside of the nose, though, it may be difficult to remove with a surgical procedure. In the event of cancerous nasal tumors inside the nasal passage, radiation therapy is a limited treatment option to slow the growth of tumors within the nasal passage. There are anti-cancer drugs that can be tried, but benign nasal tumors are typically unresponsive to these medications.
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Recovery of Nasal Polyps in Dogs
After treatment has been administered, there will likely be a period of hospitalization to make sure that there are no complications resulting from the surgery. Your dog will need to wear a cone and will experience nasal discharge—sometimes bloody—for 1 to 2 weeks post-surgery. Once you take your dog home, it’s important to monitor your dog’s progress and be conscious of any unusual behavior that may be the result of infection. Additionally, attention should be paid towards possible relapse in which the benign tumor was not entirely removed and presents itself again.
Nasal Polyps Average Cost
From 367 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,500
Average Cost
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Top
Nasal Polyps Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Puggle
Puggles
5 Years
32 found this helpful
32 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sneezing Bloody Noses D/C Fleshy Pieces
Sneezing Bloody Noses
My puggle had nasal polyp removal surgery this past January. He has gotten polps again. Hes on synoptic ear and nasal drops now. In the last 3 days he horrible sneezing fits with extreme nose bleeding and discharge of many polyps pieces in the blood. My question is, it's probaly not the best way to happen, but is it good these fleshy pieces are getting out of him? After these episodes and he's relaxed he seems to be in a better mood too. Any help on this ?
July 23, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
32 Recommendations
I'm sure that temporarily, getting those pieces of the polyp put is more comfortable for him, but long term they will likely just keep coming back, unfortunately. The polyps can be very difficult to remove, as the entire stalk has to be removed or they grow back. He may need to have the surgery repeated to help get rid of those growths.
July 23, 2018
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Crossbreed
Blacky
12 Years
52 found this helpful
52 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Panting
Mouth Breathing
Blocked Nose
Hi Dr. My 12 year old Blacky has a big polyp in her nasopharynx that is obstructing almost completely the nasal pasage. So she struggles with breathing through her nose, has difficulty to sleep, pants a lot and when is not panting her breathing looks very forced and her abdomen contracts a lot. No mucus discharge. She is on 20mg of Prednisolone and we are also giving her a homemade organic tumeric paste (natural anti-inflamatory). We are waiting for the results of the biopsy to know the type of tumor but we won´t make her go through a surgery. I would love to know if any treatment or medicine could help reduce the size of the tumor so she can breath a bit better for some time? or if the only option for her not to suffer is eutanasia? Thank you so much!
May 28, 2018
52 Recommendations
You are able to control the inflammation but not the size of the polyp(s); surgery is the treatment of choice, however I understand your concerns especially at his age. Apart from surgery, there is nothing else I can recommend to help apart from ensure that he is calm and well rested. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 29, 2018
Thank you so much for your loving and honest answer. It helps a lot even though it is hard because otherwise she is still her normal dog self and very healthy in all other areas, however she deserves calmness and rest... No doubt life without sleep and tranquil breathing is not life. Thank you Dr. Turner. Blessings.
May 29, 2018
Blacky's Owner
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Collie
pip
7 Years
7 found this helpful
7 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Leisions On Body Swelling And Blockage Of Nose
my 7 year old collie bitch developed small bite like lumps over her her body and nose. despite numerous inconclusive tests and the swelling worsening in her nose she has been put on steroids and we have been told it is of their opinion it is likely to be a tumour. she has no discharge or bleeding but sores on her body and swelling in her nasal cavity can there be any other diagnosis for this or am I clutching at straws
Aug. 30, 2017
7 Recommendations
If there is some doubt regarding the diagnosis, a biopsy of one of the lumps could be sent for histopathology which would give a report of the types of cells present and the overall suspected cause of the lumps. Without examining Pip, I couldn’t hazard a guess based on the information provided but a biopsy sample would probably be the next best step; otherwise visiting another Veterinarian for their opinion may also be valuable. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 30, 2017
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German Shepherd
BLUE
12 Years
11 found this helpful
11 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blocked Nose, Mouth Breathing, Thick Green Mucus
I HAVE A TWELVE YEAR OLD GERMAN SHEPHERD WITH A POLYP 6 INCHES UP INSIDE THE LEFT NOSTRIL. IT IS INTERFERING WITH MY DOGS BREATHING THROUGH HIS NOSE, IT MAKES HIM SNEEZE HE ALSO DOES INVERTED SNEEZING AND HAS THICK GREEN MUCUS. I WOULD DEARLY LIKE TO HAVE IT SURGICALLY REMOVED TO AID HIS BREATHING. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS: CAN IT BE DONE LIKE MICRO SURGERY UP THE NOSTRIL OR WOULD IT HAVE TO BE REMOVED THROUGH THE SOFT PALLET. LIKE I SAID IT IS SIX INCHES UP INSIDE HIS NOSE. I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR REPLY.
MANY THANKS, JANET.
July 26, 2017
11 Recommendations
There are a few different factors which will determine the approach to surgical removal of the polyps; these include Blue’s age (older dogs pose a risk for anaesthesia and he would require a pre-anaesthetic blood test to check liver and kidney’s etc…), exact location of the polyps (bottom, top back of nasal cavity), equipment at your Veterinarian’s Clinic (not all Clinic’s have the equipment for keyhole surgery or alternative techniques), your Veterinarian’s method of preference (some Veterinarian’s prefer certain methods over others) and cost (one procedure may be significantly more expensive than the other). The exact surgery (if possible to perform at all) would have to be determined by the Veterinarian who would perform the surgery itself, discuss with your Veterinarian about the possible options that Blue may have. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
We have an 11 year old Beagle who has been diagnosed with polyps - She struggles with breathing through her nose and wakes every night struggling to breath - She is on 10mg of cortisone which was working but seems to be not as affective. We have devided not to have her operated on due to her age. Basically what we would like to know is will she at some point get to the stage where she will be unable to breath...... Thank you. Kind Regards Hedy
July 26, 2017
Hedy Q.
Unfortunately the nature of a polyp is that it can grow back as my 10yo dogs did even after $2500 worth of surgery
Jan. 25, 2018
Marion B.
What was the answer?
Nov. 7, 2017
Diane Mckown
Hi. We have a 7 year old Boxer girl with nasal Polyps in her Left Nostril. It was growing rapidly , about a Centimeter a day. The Polyps was hanging like a Big Blop out of her nostril. Today while waiting for her Vet appointment , she sneezed the whole of the Blop out. Will it grow again ? Thanks
Dec. 20, 2017
Jannie L.
My dog has liechmanisis and it was only detected because she had difficulty breathing..after two operations, to remove the polyps..1 every year
This month she had one coming out of her nose and today after sneezing it fell out. A bit of bleeding but she is breathing well again
July 7, 2018
Jinson L.
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Yorkshire Terrier
remy
6 Years
5 found this helpful
5 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Difficulty Breathing
My vet cannot find anything in xrays and exam to account for trouble breathing thinks a rhynoscope is needed ...very costly what will happen if I cannot get treatment done
July 26, 2017
5 Recommendations
The prognosis is dependent on the condition causing the breathing trouble; this may be due to inflammation, tumours, polyps, foreign bodies or anatomical abnormalities (generally in puppies). A rhinoscope is the next step in the diagnostic step and would be useful to visualise the nasal cavity and any lesions present, also a biopsy may be taken through a working channel for analysis if needed. If rhinoscopy isn’t carried out and no effective treatment is given, it is possible that Remy will continue to have breathing difficulties and the underlying condition may progress to a point where treatment becomes life-long or a surgical approach becomes inoperable. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Nasal Polyps Average Cost
From 367 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,500
Average Cost
$2,500
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
