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NA S A L D I S C H A R G E
Veterinary Surgeon
Joe Ivey
XLVets Equine Practice
Rosevean Veterinary
Practice
13
EQUINE MATTERS
If you have been around horses for any period of time you will have
seen a horse with nasal discharge at some time. Nasal discharge can
result from inflammation or bleeding in any part of the respiratory tract.
Nasal discharge
The snotty nose!
Joe Ivey BVSc MRCVS,
Rosevean Veterinary Practice
The respiratory tract involves:
●
the nose and nasal cavity with the
air-filled bony cavities in the skull called
the sinuses which communicate with the
nasal cavity;
●
the throat (pharynx) and the air filled
guttural pouches which sit on either side
of the throat;
●
the larynx which forms the junction
between the windpipe (trachea) and
the pharynx;
●
the windpipe and the lungs which
comprise of dividing airways (bronchioles)
like the branches of a tree and the air
sacs (alveoli).
The nasal cavity and airways are lined with
cells that produce mucus and have tiny hairs
that together trap particles and transport them
upwards to help protect the delicate air sacs.
If the airways become infected or inflamed
for any reason then an increased amount of
mucus is produced this can appear at the
nose as a thick discharge.
The commonest causes of respiratory tract
inflammation are viral, bacterial and allergic
respiratory disease all of which can present
with nasal discharge among other symptoms.
There are many other less common causes
which may present with either a unilateral
(one-sided) or bilateral (both sides) discharge.
If the nasal discharge is unilateral it generally
means the source of the problem is in front of
the pharynx where both sides of the nasal
passages communicate. However, a bilateral
nasal discharge can come from any part of
the respiratory tract.