Is It Really Just Allergies?

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin has been sick. Last Saturday, he was gagging all morning, and I realized he must have swallowed a toy, or a sock, or something. So I have him some hydrogen peroxide, and he threw up two large pieces of a rope toy. (We have now confiscated all rope toys.) I thought that was that...

But the next morning he was snorting. NOT hacking, or coughing or anything. Just snorting, like he had a lot of boogers in his throat and nasal cavity. I scheduled an appointment for the vet. They asked me about when he had been to daycare, and told me it couldn't be kennel cough, because it wasn't in the right time frame. In any case, he hasn't been hacking at all, just boogery like he can't breath through all the snot. They said to just take him home, watch him, and if he gets really bad, give him some Benadryl. 

Well, he's continued his boogery  snorting... but something new has happened. For the past two days, he has thrown up his morning meal. He hate them slowly, and there was nothing in the vomit except for his kibble, on either day. But do they throw up when it's just allergies? Does anyone have similar experiences or insight? 

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yes, the MILD allergies are what I am referring to. The vet informed me that they have had a huge number of people come in this past month, because their dogs have been sneezing. He said it was probably because this allergy season is particularly bad, and it will probably pass as soon as the allergy season is over. I wasn't trying to say that dogs with severe allergies don't have a serious condition. Just trying to say that there are a lot of dogs right now being irritated by the high amount of pollen in the air.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Webber is snorting, and sneezing. He also threw up at three in the morning. Just a clear runny nose. We are having terrible pollen here, and I live on an acre of hardwood/pine trees. So...I have thought the problem was allergies to the pollen. He has not had the peroxide experience.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Did you give him the benadryl to see if it would help?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I wasn't sure how "severe" it needed to be before I resorted to that. But I'm going to pick some up today to see if it helps.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Camilla, I know this is a dumb question, but did you tell the vet about the incident with the rope toy and the peroxide? I really think that could definitely cause enough irritation to cause the excess mucus and even the mouth licking and vomiting. Did the vet say if there was any possibility it was connected?

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yes, I did tell him about the peroxide. He said it could be, but that he doubted that that the irritation would be severe enough to cause that much mucus. That was my first guess at what it was though, because the mucus definitely started the day after the rope. Which seems like too much of a coincidence.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Are Darwin's eyes red or runny?
I've been looking for info about excess nasal discharge & sneezing in dogs, and most what I've found talks about cold & flu viruses.

[Camilla and Darwin]

No, they look clear. The other thing is, his actual nose doesn't seem boogery at all. I haven't seen any discharge.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So basically, the only symptoms are snorting, and then the vomiting this a.m.?

[Camilla and Darwin]

and him licking his butt and groin a lot. But I did shave his sanitary area three days ago, so it's probably related to that. Maybe.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Honestly, I don't think any of this has to do with allergies. I think maybe he has a very sore irritated throat, from bringing up the rope toy, and I think that, coupled with the peroxide, is what's causing most of the symptoms. Even the mouth licking, dogs do that when their throats are dry or they're thirsty. I bet he'd love some ice chips.
And shaving any area will cause a dog to lick that area.
I agree with you on holding off on the benadryl; I would wait and see, I think most of this will resolve itself in a day or two. I hope so.

[Camilla and Darwin]

So aside from the ice chips, is there anything I can do to help him out? I feel so bad, because I can tell he's very uncomfortable.