8yo Labrador with Total Nasal Obstruction. Biopsy negative for cancer, refractory to steroids.
Species: Dog
Age: 8 years old
Sex/Neuter status: Male
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Body weight: 33 kg
History: 7 months of progressive nasal symptoms. Started with unilateral epistaxis (left nostril) and frequent reverse sneezing. Over time, discharge turned mucopurulent (thick green).
Clinical signs: Total bilateral nasal obstruction. The left nostril blocked first, followed by the right. He currently cannot breathe through his nose at all. He is exhausted and unable to sleep properly.
Duration: 7 months.
Your general location: Chía, Colombia.
Links to test results, vet reports, X-rays:
Rhinoscopy (March 25, 2026): No foreign bodies found. Nasopharynx normal (retrograde view). Anterograde view showed severe hyperemia, increased vascularization, and loss of epithelial continuity in turbinates.
Histopathology (April 2026): Negative for malignancy/cancer. Diagnosis: Polypoid rhinitis with associated granulation tissue and marked lymphoplasmacytic inflammation.
Bloodwork (March 22, 2026): CBC and Chemistry mostly normal. Slight decrease in Hemoglobin (12.0 g/dl) and Hematocrit (39.9\%). Organ functions (liver/kidney) are fine.
Detailed Situation:
My dog, Ron, is suffering from a severe case of Polypoid Rhinitis. His nose is literally filled with inflammatory granulation tissue that prevents any air from passing through.
The Steroid Issue:
Initially, we saw a massive improvement with high doses of Prednisolone (30 mg/day). For 7 days, he was doing well. However, when we attempted to taper the dose to 20 mg/day, the inflammation returned with a vengeance. Now, even back on high doses, the steroids are no longer having an effect. He is completely blocked again and the treatment seems to have hit a wall.
Current State:
He is visibly exhausted. Because he can't breathe through his nose, he can only sleep for very short periods. He is restless and his quality of life is deteriorating fast.
Questions:
Since the biopsy is negative for cancer but steroids are failing, are there other immunosuppressive protocols (e.g., Cyclosporine, Azathioprine) that have been successful in cases of aggressive polypoid rhinitis?
Is there a surgical or endoscopic procedure to physically "clear" the granulation tissue when medical management fails?
Has anyone seen a case where steroids work initially and then become completely ineffective for this specific diagnosis?