Ear, Nose, and Throat (Aural and Nasopharyngeal) Polyps in Dogs - Causes, Treatment and Associated Conditions

Key takeaways

The nasopharyngeal tract is a conduit that connects the throat with the nasal cavities and the middle ear. Sometimes pinkish-white masses, known as polyps, grow in the nasopharyngeal tract in dogs.

Polyps are non-cancerous growths with an unknown cause that rarely occur in dogs
In dogs, polyps usually extend into the ear canal rather than into the back of the throat
Symptoms vary according to the location of the mass
If the polyp is located at the back of the throat it presents with sneezing, labored breathing, and nasal and ocular discharge
Aural (ear) polyps present with head shaking, ear discharge, incoordination, involuntary eye movement, and pawing at the ear
Diagnosis involves a complete physical evaluation, diagnostic imaging, and bloodwork
Typical treatment consists of surgical removal of the polyps, and typically has a favorable prognosis

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A closer look: Ear, Nose, and Throat (Aural and Nasopharyngeal) Polyps in Dogs

Ear, nose, and throat polyps are quite rare in dogs compared to cats. The chances of nasopharyngeal cancer is higher than a polyp in dogs. If symptoms of a polyp are present, prompt veterinary attention is required.

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Risk factors

Aural polyps may also lead to Horner’s Syndrome which is an associated set of symptoms that affects the eye, such as drooping of the upper eyelid, protrusion of the third eyelid, and constricted pupil. Also secondary infection of the ear (otitis) might occur, associated with redness and pain of the ear.

Possible causes

In dogs the cause of nasopharyngeal polyps is unknown. In cats, polyps might be caused by many factors, such as:

Congenital anomalies
As a response to chronic inflammation
Allergies
Endocrine disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism)

It is uncertain if these factors are similar in dogs, but the same correlation is presumed.

Main symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the location of the polyp.

Testing and diagnosis

Other conditions with similar symptoms are much more likely to occur in dogs than polyps, so a thorough diagnostic approach is necessary.

Polyps might be seen or felt in the nasopharyngeal and auditory tracts. A complete physical examination is part of the diagnostic process, and sometimes sedation may be necessary. Other tests include bloodwork and diagnostic imaging (X-rays or CT scans of the skull help detect the presence of polyps).

A biopsy of the polyp is recommended to determine whether or not it is a cancerous mass.

Steps to Recovery

Sometimes polyps can be removed by gentle traction/avulsion (pulling) on the mass. This treatment often leads to recurrence as the base of the mass cannot be removed by traction.

Especially for aural polyps, the preferred treatment is surgical removal.

Treatment might also include medications, such as antibiotics or steroids, for secondary infections.

Successful therapy also includes treatment for any possible underlying condition causing inflammation and polyp growth.

Prognosis in dogs is not well documented but it appears to be similar to what the data report for cats. The prognosis for cats is typically good, with about 15% to 50% chances of recurrence when treated with traction removal. It appears that recurrence is more likely in aural polyps than nasopharyngeal ones when treated with traction alone.

Surgical removal presents a much lower recurrence rate, but it might lead to secondary conditions such as Horner’s Syndrome. Cases of secondary Horner’s syndrome are expected to resolve within one month of surgery.

Prevention

Prevention proves to be a difficult task as the cause of nasopharyngeal and aural polyps in dogs is still unknown. Causes of polyp growth in cats might also be allergic in nature or secondary to an endocrine disease. The same might be true for dogs as well. Keeping dogs from possible allergens and addressing specific endocrine disease might be a successful way of preventing polyp growth.