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Overview:
Just like humans,
cats also sneeze from time to time. Sneezing is a sign of nasal irritation & is
a reflex reaction defined as the expulsion of air
from the nose. It may be with or without nasal discharge.
What are the
causes of sneezing in cats?
There are many
causes of sneezing. Some more serious than others. Some possible causes include;
-
Upper respiratory infection
(either caused by a virus or bacteria). This is the most common
cause of sneezing in cats.
-
Allergies
-
Irritants
(cigarette smoke, dust etc)
-
Foreign object
(grass seed etc)
-
Dental abscess
-
Nasal polyps
-
Nasal cancer
-
Fungal infection
How does your
veterinarian diagnose the cause?
Your veterinarian
will perform a physical examination of your cat & obtain a medical history.
Other signs accompanying the sneezing, the type of discharge (if any) along with the age of the cat may give
your veterinarian an idea of the likely cause.
There are different types of
nasal discharge:
serous (clear), mucoid, purulent, bloody.
If the sneezing is
accompanied with a mucoid nasal or ocular discharge, fever, loss of appetite,
eye discharge, sores in the mouth an upper respiratory infection is the
likely cause.
If the cat is
shaking her head & or pawing at the nose, a foreign object may be lodged in
the nostril.
Nasopharyngeal
polyps are quite rare in cats.
If the cat also
appears to suffer from itching, face/paw rubbing allergies may be the cause.
If the sneezing
occurs at a particular time of year it may be the result of a seasonal allergy, ie; pollen.
If the sneezing on & off for a
few hours, this may be nasal irritation or allergy (smoke, perfume etc).
Sneezing
accompanied by blood may be a sign of nasal cancer or fungal infection.
Tests your
veterinarian may wish to perform include;
-
Cytology (microscopic
examination) of nasal secretions
-
Bacterial culture of nasal
secretions
-
Biopsy of the
nasal tissue
-
Rhinoscopy (examination of
the nasal passages) with a small flexible tube known as an endoscope
-
X-ray or CT
scan can detect dental abscess or cancer. This requires general anaesthesia
-
Platelet count in the case of
blood coming from the nostrils
-
Fungal serology
How is sneezing
in cats treated?
Treatment depends
on the cause of the sneezing.
Dental treatment
& possible removal of a tooth in the case of a dental abscess.
Antifungal drugs
for fungal infections.
Antibiotics for
bacterial infections.
Chemotherapy &
or radiotherapy for cancer.
Vaccination is the
best way to prevent viral infections in cats, but if your cat already has caught
'cat flu' (feline herpesvirus or calicivirus), in most cases supportive care is all that can be provided.
This may involve fluid treatment for dehydration, force feeding if the cat has
become anorexic, removal of discharge from nose to assist breathing & eyes.
L-Lysine may be recommended if the cause is Feline Herpesvirus & or antivirals.
Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, but may be prescribed to treat secondary
bacterial infections.
Removal of the
foreign body if that is the cause.
If possible,
removal of the cause of the allergy.
Surgery to treat
polyps.
Please note:
The
medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian &
should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles
are provided for informative purposes only & should not be used for self
diagnosis.
Always
seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioural) in
your pets.
While
great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee
the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek
professional medical advice.
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