Diseases of the upper respiratory tract in animals include epistaxis (nosebleed), rhinitis, summer snuffles, and nasal parasites. Epistaxis can be caused by trauma, parasites, or infectious diseases. Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa and can be acute, chronic, cropous, or follicular. Summer snuffles occurs in cattle due to allergies and causes nasal discharge and breathing difficulties. Nasal parasites like Oestrus ovis can infect sheep and cause nasal irritation and discharge. Treatment depends on the specific disease but may include rest, irrigation, decongestants, antihistamines, and antibiotics.

1. Diseases of the upper
respiratory tract
Dr. Karima Al-Salihi

2. Diseases of nasal chamber
They include:
! Epistaxis
! rhinitis
! summer snuffles and
parasites of the nose and facial
sinuses.

4. Epistaxis (Nose Bleed, Nasal
haemorrhage)
Definition:
It is the bleeding from the nostrils and or
sinuses.
Causes:
(1) Primary causes:
1) Traumatic injury of the nose, head, nasal bones and wall of
the sinus.
2) Foreign bodies or neoplasms.
3) Over exhaustion especially in horses.
4) Local trauma: As a result of stomach tube, vigorously
passed via the nostrils.

6. (2) Secondary causes:
1) Parasitic diseases: Heavy
infestation with Oestrus ovis in sheep
or Gastrophilus nasalis in horses
(Nasal myiasis).
2) Infectious diseases: Anthrax,
Glanders, Hemorrhagic septicemia.
3) Erosion and ulceration of the nasal
mucosa (e.g. glanders and neoplastic
diseases).

7. 4) Mild epistaxis in congestive heart
failure and purpura hemorrhagica.
5) Mycotic ulceration of the blood vessels
in the wall of the guttural pouch in the
horses.
6) Traumatic injury of the nasal bones
and sinuses.
7) Hemorrhagic polyps of the mucosa of
the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses.
8) Moldy sweet clover poisoning in cattle.

8. NB: Bleeding from the lungs, (hemoptysis) during pulmonary
diseases or increased pulmonary vascular pressure.
Symptoms:
(1) Bleeding from the nostrils (unilateral or bilateral), in drops
or as a stream when is coming from the nasal cavities or
sinuses.
(2) The blood is bright red in color and may be scanty or
profuse.
(3) Some horses repeat swallowing, without eating or
drinking.
(4) It usually stops spontaneously but in some cases it may
be profuse and continues till death from hemorrhagic anemia
within few hours.
(5) Blood may be mixed with mucous if nasal catarrh is
present or in cases of glanders.

9. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis:
(1) Try to locate the place of injury (by using endoscope)
(2) Unilateral bleeding is of nasal origin.
(3) Blood:
1) Bright red (from nostrils) called epistaxis.
2) Brownish red, acidic mixed with ingesta (from
stomach) called hematemesis.
3) Frothy bright red (from lung) called hemoptysis.
4) Blood originated from lung of horses is not foamy
when seen at the nose because the horizontal position
of the major bronchi allows blood to flow out freely without
being coughing up and made foamy. This blood is
discharged from nostril and not from mouth due to long
soft palate.

11. Treatment:
Hygenic treatment:
(1 ) Complete rest of the animal and keep it quiet.
(2) Cold compression on the forehead and nose of
the animal.
Medical treatment:
(1) In unilateral bleeding, apply astringent solution to
the affected nostrils by irrigating the affected part
with adrenaline or 2% alum solution or 2% tannic
acid.
(2) In case of bilateral bleeding, insert tracheotomy
tube and then plug the two nostrils with gauze
(zigzag like manner) soaked in astringent solution.

12. (3) Coagulation medical drugs: such as
calcium chloride 10% (about 100 ml
SC) or coagulant or vitamin K injection.
(4) Glucose 20% and physiological
saline (NaCl 0.9%) IV, one liter.
(5) Hemorrhage in race horses has
been treated with diuretics and blood
coagulants.
(6) Blood transfusion in severe
cases.

13. Rhinitis (Coryza-
Nasal Catarrha)
Definition: It is an inflammation
o f the mucous membrane o f
the nose manifested by a
serous, mucoid or muco-
purulent nasal discharge.
Types:
(1) Acute rhinitis.
(2) Chronic rhinitis.
(3) Cropous rhinitis.
(4) Folliclular rhinitis.

14. Causes:
(1) Primary causes:
1) Inhalation of irritant vapour such as ammonia or
chlorides.
2) Presence of some foreign bodies in the nose as grains
or dust.
(2) Secondary causes:
1) Microorganisms (Staph, Strept or Diphtheroids), these
microorganisms are normally present in the respiratory
tract, but they become active and pathogenic and attack
the mucous membrane of the nostrils when the resistance
of the animals is lowered due to exposure of the animal to
some atmospheric alterations such as clod weather,
dampness, sudden changes from hot to cold.
2) Parasitic: As Oestrous ovis in sheep.

16. 3) Infectious diseases as strangles, glanders, equine influenza, malignant
catarrhal fever and canine distemper in dogs.
4) Extension of inflammation from other parts of respiratory tract
(laryngitis, pharyngitis).
5) Fungus as Aspergillus fumigatus in dogs.

17. Symptoms:
(1) Nasal discharge, which is usually serous initially
but quickly, becomes mucoid and in bacterial infection
it may be purulent.
(2) Inflammation may be unilateral or bilateral.
(3) Sneezing is characteristic in the early acute
stages, later on, it is followed by snoring and
expulsion of large amounts of mucopurulent
discharge.
(4) Foreign body (such as sticks and twigs) which
may be pushed up into the nostrils causing laceration,
bleeding and or complete obstruction.
(5) Later on difficult respiration accompanied by
mouth breathing when both nostrils are obstructed.

18. Diagnosis:
From symptoms (sudden onset and watery
nasal discharge).
Prognosis:
•Favourable, if neglected, it will be chronic.
Treatment:
(1) Hygienic treatment:
1) Put the animal at rest, in well ventilated
place free from air current.
2) Give easily digested food to keep the bowl
open.

19. (2) Medical treatment:
1)Thick tenacious exudate (which causing
nasal obstruction) must be removed gently
by irrigation of the nasal cavities with
saline solution (0.9%) or 1% sodium
bicarbonate solution or with a mixture of
saline and antibiotic to relief exudate and
prevent secondary infection.
2) A nasal decongestant is sprayed up
into the nostrils (ephedrine nasal drop for
pet animal).

20. 3) In allergic rhinitis; inject antihistaminic, Ca and
vitamin C.
4) Medicated steam inhalation: For nasal discharge
and stenosis of the nasal passages from swollen
mucosa.
It is done by the following way:
1- Boil the water in a pail (fulfilled with the water).
2- Add the volatile medicament (to disinfect
respiratory tract) in dose of 30 gm creoiin or 4 gm
menthol + 4 gm thymol.

21. 3- Scatter some turpentine on the
surface of the water to regulate the
steam vapour.
4- The ideal way is putting the pail in
one corner of the stable and the
animal (horse) in the other corner to
prevent the possibility that the animals
may kick or bites the pail.
5- Avoid uses this medication in meat
and milk producing animals.

22. Chronic Rhinitis
This disease takes longer time than the acute type
Etiology:
(1) Neglected acute cases of rhinitis.
(2) Accompanied chronic diseases of the respiratory
tract (chronic emphysema, Glanders and T.B.)
Symptoms:
(1) Mucoid nasal discharge.
(2) Mucous membrane is swollen and bluish in
colours.
(3) Stenosis o f the nasal cavity lead to snorting.
(4) Ulcers and abrasions on the nasal skin surface
from rubbing against rough objects.

23. Complication:
(1)Sinusitis.
(2) Conjunctivitis.
(3) Enlarged submaxillary lymph glands
(4) Pneumonia.
Course o f the disease:
Complete recovery is achieved in one week.
Treatment:
As acute rhinitis.

24. Cropous Rhinitis
It is fibrinous inflammation of the
nasal mucous membrane
characterized by formation o f
pseudo-membrane.
Etiology:
(1) Inhalation o f irritant vapour such
as hot gases, hot fumes, and smoke.
(2) Microbiological: e.g. Bacillus
necrophorous.

26. Symptoms:
(1) The onset is sudden with marked general
symptoms.
(2) Sever acute nasal catarrh.
(3) High fever.
(4) Fibrino-purulent discharges from the
nose.
(5) Formation of thick gray or reddish yellow
pseudomembranes of the red and swollen
mucous membranes. This may form patches
which are easily detached leaving bleeding
erosions.

27. Course of the disease:
It is usually favourable and recovery is
achieved in about one week.
Treatment:
(1) As in acute rhinitis.
(2) Crusts can be removed with warm water or
saline solution and simple nasal ointment.
(3) Don’t pull the pseudo-membrane, but you
can hasten the shedding by irrigation of the
nose with 1-2% solution of sodium bicarbonate.
(4) Antibiotic (if there was an elevation in
temperature)

28. Follicular Rhinitis
It is an inflammation of
the nasal mucus
membrane, maxillary
glands and sebaceous
glands forming pustules
and ulcers.
Etiology:
Streptococcus equi.

29. Symptoms:
(1) Inflammation of the nasal mucous
membrane.
(2) Appearance of small nodules on the nasal
septum (increase in size and number) and
become yellowish in colour.
(3) Adjacent nodules will coalesce and form
big nodules, which bursts and leaving bright
red erosions (similar nodules on nostrils, upper
tips, cheeks, and form ulcer).
(4) Swelling of the regional lymph gland and lymph
vessels.
(5) Conjunctivitis.

30. Prognosis:
Recovery in 2-3 weeks.
Treatment:
(1) Local application of mercurial
ointment or iodine ointment.
(2) Antibiotic.
(3) Medical steam inhalation.

31. Summer Snuffles
It occurs in spring and autumn in cattle due to allergy.
Symptoms:
(1) Sudden onset of dyspnea.
(2) Profuse nasal discharge (yellow or orange material
varies from mucopurulant to caseous consistency).
(3) Sneezing, irritation and severe obstruction.
(4) The animal shake its head and rub it and nose against
hard objects.
(5) Difficult breathing and mouth breathing.
(6) Swelling and edema of the nasal mucosa.
Treatment:
As rhinitis, in addition of injection of antihistaminic and anti-
inflammatory drugs.

33. Parasites in nose and facial sinuses (Sheep , Oestrus
ovis, sheep bot, Nasal myiasis).
The sheep gradually attacks pastured sheep, and deposit
larvae on the margins of the nostrils. The larvae migrate to the
frontal sinuses where they develop, causing nasal catarrh and
sometimes symptoms of meningitis.
Symptoms:
(1)The sheep is shaking their heads and thrust their heads to
the ground.
(2)They collect together under trees, holding their noses under
one another to prevent an attach.
(3) Sneezing due to migration of the young larvae and irritation
o f the mucosa.
(4) Dirty nasal discharge and lacrimation.
Treatment:
No effective treatment is found.