A LABRADOR with smelly breath and a sneezing problem has been cured – after vets found a 10-centimetre stick lodged up his nose.
Simba, a much-loved red Labrador, was taken to Oakhill Vets in Windermere, which provides surgical referral services for pets across Cumbria, to see if vets could get to the bottom of the problem that had been causing him discomfort for several months.
As well as halitosis, Simba had started reverse sneezing – rapidly inhaling air through his nose – and there was also a disgusting green discharge coming from his nose. He has also suffered a nosebleed.
His owners, Hannah and Richard Lofthouse, from Kirkby Stephen, were at their wits’ end worrying about the six-year-old who was otherwise still happy and playful and took him to Oakhill Vets, which has branches in Windermere and Ambleside.
Vet Ellen Greenop anaesthetised Simba before using a small camera called a rhinoscope – the gold standard for diagnosing nasal conditions in pets – and was astonished to discover what was causing his problem.
Ellen discovered a 10cm stick lodged in his nose that had probably been there for some time and was able to gently remove it using a specialised tool on the rhinoscope.
Ellen said: “It was such a relief to find out what was causing Simba’s problem and that it could be solved. The stick was firmly lodged up his nose and would have been very uncomfortable and sore for him.
“You wouldn’t necessarily connect smelly breath with a stick up the nose as it is more commonly linked to dental problems or anal glands.
“It is a mystery how the stick got up there in the first place, but this can happen with dogs. We have seen other patients with blades of grass stuck up their nose.”
Simba made a swift and full recovery, much to the relief of his devoted owners, who praised the care, skills and expertise of the Oakhill Vets team.
Hannah said: “From a young age, Simba has loved to put his head under water and dig for stones, and we wonder if this is how the stick got stuck up his nose. We took him for a walk around Christmas time and afterwards he had a nosebleed which in hindsight we wonder if that was the day it happened.
“It is such a relief to know what was causing his problem and that he is well and it is solved. It was quite a shock when we heard it was a stick. Every time he got excited, he would do a reverse sneeze and there was a terrible smell from his mouth.
“We’re just glad Oakhill Vets were able to give us the answer and to cure the problem.”
Oakhill Vets has been looking after pets for 60 years and is part of VetPartners, a group led by vets which has veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses across the UK and Europe.