Cat with Sinus infection / Rhinitis

[cat princesses]

Hi Everyone!
I have a cat that is severely allergic to a lot of environmental allergens. I have been giving her allergy shots for the past 2 years 2x per week at home and she is also on atopica 25 mg 5x per week for her severe itching. I had to take her last week to the vet for a check up and new blood work. The vet found a yeast infection in both ears and gave me a gooey liquid ( Animax I think ) to treat at home 2x per day for 7 days. She really wasn't happy at all the entire time and seemed to be sad about it. The past 5 days she has been sneezing a lot, blowing a lot of air out of her nose and just seems unhappy. Up until today, she has been eating. We purchased new filters for 2 free standing air purifiers and have had those running for the past 24 hours in the rooms she goes to most. This morning she didn't want to eat her breakfast - I even warmed it up to make it more fragrant and nothing. I have a call into the vet and am waiting for a call back. Does anyone else have a cat that gets this type of sneezing/blowing air out of the nose?

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I have not, thankfully. I do know that several members have had good luck with their own snuffly cats by using a steam bath. Turn the shower on hot, allow the steam to build up, and let the cat sit in there (the bathroom, NOT the shower, of course) for several minutes. I used to do this with my kids when they were little and snuffly. Since cats don't eat if they can't smell their food, that' s probably why she isn't eating today. Sometimes those old tried-and-true home remedies can keep things from going off the rails while you're waiting for medical assistance!

 

[abyeb]

Check out this article: Why Has My Cat Stopped Eating And Is It Dangerous?

One of the causes listed for a loss of appetite can be a loss of a sense of smell (due to a stuffy nose, for example). So, it could be that this is also related to her allergies (sneezing is also common of environmental allergies- in humans too!), but there is a possibility that there is something else going on (like she has a cold, for example). It's good that you checked in with your vet; let us know what they say.

 

[cat princesses]

Hi everyone! We went to the vet today and did a x ray. The vet said there is shading in her right lung very similar to something she had about two years ago when they suspected she has asthma. We had to see an internal medicine specialist who suggested we first try a z pack from a compounding pharmacy and it totally cleared up the issue. She called in the same rx and it should be ready Friday afternoon. Discharge is clear and she suggested a cold vapor humidifier. I can also try the hot steam shower as well. Im more upset about her blood work. I had taken her on may 15th and when the lab results came back things were weird and she thought it was a lab error and said we would repeat the blood work this week. They ran it in house and she’s concerned. Mulan is taking atopica for dogs for her severe itching. It’s worked really well for her to give her a normal life. Mulan will be 5 this fall so she is a young cat. Two weeks ago the weird blood work results showed low albumin 1.6 total protein 12.9 higher globulin 11.3 lower HCt 27% ALT and AST low. Mulan was excellent overall nice pink gums eating great. Today the vet re checked her blood work in house The albumin level is better now at 2.6 however her alt is still low. She is very concerned but doesn’t really know what is going on. We have been referred to an internal medicine specialist u we can’t get in until end of July! She also suggested an ultra sound to check liver and kidneys. Mulan does eat a raw food diet made by a butcher sold at a local pet food store. She also eats canned food. No dry. Does anyone have any ideas? She said there could be some scary things going on but she said we won’t know until more testing is complete. I wonder could the atopica cause this? Besides this upper respiratory issue she is always wanting to play, good eater, drinks water just a happy kitty otherwise. I’m trying not to panic. Welcome ideas and thoughts.

 

[hexiesfriend]

I have a cat with similar issues. Flonase was added and it helped.

 

[BlackCatOp]

First off, sorry you have a sneezing kitty. I know first hand that they are not fun! My cat has been diagnosed with idiopathic chronic rhinosinusitis and has been managed for the past 6 months on an inhaled steroid.

Regarding bloodwork - please keep in mind I am not a vet (yet, anyways)

Do you have the CBC data?
Secondly, sounds like you are concerned with liver function and while decreased albumin can be an indicator of liver dysfunction, the liver enzymes (ALT, ALP) would be expected to be increased as these enzymes increase with cellular damage. From my knowledge and the bloodwork provided, I would fathom to guess the high total protein, low albumin, high globulins and mild anemia all point to a chronic inflammatory/infectious process.

Hope your kitty can get some relief soon and that the internal Med specialist can provide some insight into her bloodwork.

 

[cat princesses]

BlackCatOp yes I have both sets of blood work. The vet mentioned some scary things it could be but my mind was racing and I had nothing to write what she was saying on. No idea of the atopica could cause this but she seemed pretty concerned.