Why is my dachshund tilting her head, rubbing face, and snorting?

Head shaking can often be a sign of an ear infection, something stuck in the ear or a tooth problem. Lift up his ears and look in the canals for redness, discharge or odor. Ear and tooth problems need to be evaluated by a veterinarian and I recommend to have him seen today if possible. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty. I would consider some diagnostics since Anna has not improved on the medication trials performed thus far. Dental x-rays would be my next step, to ensure there isn't an infected tooth root that could be causing these issues. It is not always obvious looking in the oral cavity that a tooth is diseased. The x-ray may also help detect any bony changes in the skull that could occur with certain types of tumors. Other options you may discuss with your vet would include antihistamine trials, a drug called Cerenia which can be used to formulate nose drops that can decrease inflammation in the nasal passages, a nasal flush and culture to check for resistant bacteria or fungus, and prophylactic treatment for possible nasal mites. CT scan is also recommended in nonresponsive cases when other options have been exaughsted. You may also consider referral to an internist if your vet is having trouble finding a cause/treatment that works. You can read more about rhinitis at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=6274586

Hello. I’m sorry for your frustration, but some further investigation by a veterinarian is needed in order to determine what is going on. A thorough oral exam to look not only at the teeth but under the tongue, and all over the inside of the mouth for evidence of any growths, foreign bodies, etc would be the first step. This often requires sedation and dental X-ray may be helpful. Leo could also have something in his sinus or nasal cavity.....something stuck in there, a growth or polyp or just a deep seated chronic infection. Sedation to examine above his soft palate and then to flush his nasal passages would be recommended. If these things are not done to try to find the underlying problem, all you can do is continue to try antibiotics. If penicillin has been tried twice, it’s time to move on to a more broad spectrum one. However, I would be concerned that there is something more going on and the additional investigation would be best.

Sniffles seems to be suffering from a severe ear infection, you must take him to the vet urgently in order to get it treated, he will need ear drops (antibiotic) and oral antibiotics in order to get better.

Hi Dorian, You really need to get Susie back to the vet. Did they check her teeth carefully when you had her in last time? Usually bad breath is associated with dental disease and Dachshund's are notorious for having bad teeth. You are probably feeling an enlarged lymph node. This can be serious. It may be enlarged from the bacteria in her mouth but it could also be something worse like lymphoma (cancer). There are many vet clinics these days that offer low cost services. I suggest you try to contact one of them to see what assistance they can give you. I found this one near you. http://www.coastalcommunityvetclinic.com/ I know Jacksonville, FL is not that close to you but they have a very good low cost clinic that can definitely help you: http://www.fcnmhp.org/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I am sorry to hear this! I know how worrisome it is to have vague signs with no other hints! If not done already, I would recommend having bloodwork and an x-ray done. Some things I would want to rule out- heart/lung disease, signs of infection, and parasites. If this all appears normal I would also consider a sedated exam to see if there are any abnormalities in his ears or mouth- like a polyp. If the behavior worsens and you do not find any answers on the other tests I would also consider advanced imaging like a CT. I hope it is nothing serious but it is good to know your options!

Hello. What an adorable picture of Beretta! Based on the description of her symptoms & that she is a dachshund, I would definitely want to eliminate any possibility that she may have some intervertebral disc disease. This is just so common in this breed. There are also some diseases/conditions that may not be apparent with routine bloodwork & additional testing may be necessary. Was your vet able to obtain a urine sample? A urinary tract infection can make a pet pretty miserable. I would want to see how she does on some pain medication, but x-rays may be helpful as possibly a change in antibiotics. If Beretta is not feeling better by tomorrow, please contact your vet for further investigation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.