Nasal Disease

Question 1

Why is the anatomy of nasal passages significant

Answer 1

Large mucus membrane coverage - moist area to harbour bacteria
Tooth root is very close to nasal cavity
Cribriform plate separates nasal passage from cranial cavity

Question 2

Clinical signs of nasal passage diseases

Answer 2

• Nasal discharge
  ○ Serous
  ○ Mucoid
  ○ Mucopurulent
  ○ Sanguinous/ epistaxis (blood)
  ○ Mixed
• Sneezing
• Pawing or rubbing at muzzle
• Facial deformity, asymmetry (more likely with neoplasia)
• Loss of pigment on the nasal planum
• Ulceration
• Epiphora (crying)
• Open-mouth breathing
• Halitosis
• Stertor
• Coughing
• Seizure (rare)
  ○ If past cribriform plate

Question 3

Causes of nasal disease

Answer 3

○ Primary
Viral rhinitis
FB
Neoplasia
○ Secondary
Dental disease causing inflammation and nasal damage
Nasal-related signs
Bacterial rhinitis secondary to viral disease

Question 4

Causes of clinical signs in non-nasal disease

Answer 4

Systemic disease
Respiratory disease
Coagulopath
Severe hypertension
Disease close by
Dental disease
Nasopharyngeal abnormalities

Question 5

What is reverse sneezing?

Answer 5

• Triggered by nasal passage irritation
• Loud inspiratory noise
• Laboured respiratory effort
• Extend neck and breathe in with a lot of effort
• Not usually a major issue

Question 6

Common causes of nasal disease

Answer 6

• Nasal neoplasia
• Inflammatory or infectious rhinitis
  ○ Some level of inflammation
  ○ Unknown cause
• Fungal rhinitis
  *Structural/periodontal disease
• Foreign body
• Stenotic nares - brachycephalics
• No definitive diagnosis

Question 7

Advantages and Disadvantages of Nasal Flushing

Answer 7

• Advantages
  ○ Non-invasive
  ○ Quick procedure
  ○ Occasionally helps to clear discharge and debris from nasal passages and reduce stertor
  ○ Occasionally produces tissue sample for histopathological examination if nasal mass very friable
• Disadvantages
  ○ Requires general anaesthesia
  ○ May not provide material suitable for examination
  ○ Messy

Question 8

What do white plaques in nasal passage mean?

Answer 8

Fungal - Aspergillosis

Question 9

Diseases of nasal planum

Answer 9

• Depigmentation
• Hyperkeratosis
• Ulceration
• Autoimmune e.g. pemphigus, lupus
• Neoplasia
  ○ Squamous cell carcinoma
  ○ Cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma
  Others +

Question 10

Which animals are most likely to get SCCs?

Answer 10

White cats with sun exposure

Question 11

Which animals have stenotic nares?

Answer 11

Brachycephalic dogs/cats

Question 12

Clinical signs of stenotic nares

Answer 12

Stridor on inspiration
Coughing
Reduced exercise tolerance

Question 13

Which animals are most susceptible to fungal infections?

Answer 13

Doliocephalic/mesocephalic

Question 14

Clinical signs of fungal nasal infections

Answer 14

Depigmentation/ulceration of nasal planum
Green/cream tinged discharge
Sneezing
Nasal pain
Epistaxis
Destruction of turbinates
Often fast progression but can be slow onset