Dry nose.

I have no experience with chronic rhinitis, perhaps you might consider a second opinion with a specialist.  Good luck!.

Hi binx and welcome to i-dog, Has your vet told you what caused this? There are different causes for this condition :
  
             [linkhttp://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121616.htm]http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121616.htm[/link]
 
             [linkhttp://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:z4CRVn0sfz0J:www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/vol70/pdf/70_073.pdf+dogs+causes++%22chronic+rhinitis%22+-people+-persons&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9]http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:z4CRVn0sfz0J:www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/vol70/pdf/70_073.pdf+dogs+causes++%22chronic+rhinitis%22+-people+-persons&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9[/link]
 
     The bad breath may be a symptom of dental disease, which is one of the causes. Another cause is allergies, and excessive licking of the paws is a common symptom of dogs with allergies. If your vet hasn't given you a reason for this condition and her treatments aren't helping, I would suggest you get a second opinion.

Thank you for suggestion, I agree I need to get more help dont I.
Shirl

Thank you for the web references, i had tried this previously but coudn't hit on anything specific as you have done. They make very helpful but sad reading. My poor doggie must be in agony.
Shirl

   Yeah,  it doesn't sound like it's pleasant, that's for sure. And it isn't easy to treat either :
           [linkhttp://www.provet.co.uk/geriatrics/5a680fb.htm]http://www.provet.co.uk/geriatrics/5a680fb.htm[/link]
 
   But you already know that.You haven't said whether or not the vet was able to determine what caused it. Have they ruled out dental disease and nasal tumors?  As the last link indicates, the cause must be determined in order for treatment to be successful. Do you by any chance have a veterinary teaching hospital within reasonable driving distance?  I have taken one of our cats to one for cancer treatment, and he is doing fine 5 years later. I took our dog to the same one for diagnosis and treatment of her allergies and her quality of life is much better. Veterinary teaching hospitals have cutting edge technology and you probably have a better chance of finding help for a difficult condition at one. People come from other states to have their animals treated at the one I have taken our dog to. Perhaps your vet could refer you to a specialist who could help if you asked them to. Good luck in finding an answer for your dog and please keep us updated.

The 15-1/2 yr. old dog I lost a couple of years ago also had a very dry nose.  He didn't have rhinitis or any of the other symptoms your dog has, but the vet said a dry nose is pretty common in old dogs and to just rub something on it.  I got a can of bag balm at the drugstore and it made all the difference in the world in the way his nose felt.  It won't do much for anything else, but it will make a dry nose feel moister and better.

Thanks for help, Binx has had a biopsy and xrays. I must explain that I am in the UK, all replies seem to be from USA, the biopsy cost me nearly £2,000. which wiped out my pet insurance cover for the year and doubled the premiums!!!! which hasnt helped. The biopsy ruled out  cancer /dental infection etc. But following everyones advice I intend to keep going and try and find a specialist.  

What is a can of bag balm, do you think we have a UK product like this. Describe it to me please and what it is usually used for.???

Here's the link to Bag Balm. You could try feed stores, it can be used on dry udders on goats and cows.  UK might have a similar product. This is not only good on animals it's good for your hands too. 

[linkhttp://www.bagbalm.com/]http://www.bagbalm.com/[/link]

   I won't post my link since patt posted one. Bag balm is an ointment that was originally put on cow's udders to prevent chapping that could result from milking. People use it for their chapped skin and it's supposed to work very well.
   I didn't know you're from the U.K. Sorry to hear the biopsy wiped out your pet insurance. They have vet teaching hospitals there too, don't they? If you can't find or afford a specialist for your dog's condition, I think a vet teaching hospital would be a good option. In the U.S., they charge less than the regular vet clinics but offer the latest advances in veterinary medicine. You do have to work with a vet student who does the initial exam, but  you also see a specialist who does a more thorough exam and determines how to proceed with the case. Having said that, I know I advised you get a second opinion and others suggested a specialist, but after reading your post from this morning it seems that your vet has already done several tests to try and diagnose the cause for the rhinitis, so you may want to talk to your vet about whether or not a specialist could do more to treat your dog before spending more money. I wish you the best of luck in deciding how to proceed. Please keep us posted.

Somebody here at home has suggested I do nothing, but wait and see if with the spring weather it improves spontaneously. Has any body had any experience of the 'try nothing approach'?
Shirley        
[&:]

The do nothing approach hasnt worked, so i am now seeking out a specialist with help of the vet.[&o]
Shirley

Hi Shirley,
 
I'm too much of a worrier to wait things out, I want answers now.....  I'm sorry waiting didn't change anything, hopefully the specialist will be able to help you. Please keep us updated.

Thank you for your support