Chronic Congestion/Cold-Like Symptoms in Cat - Please Help

tjs0331

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Messages
5
Purraise
0
Hello all,

My cat, Henrietta (8 y/o), has been experiencing congestive and cold-like symptoms since the day I adopted her, about one year ago. Before her adoption, she was rescued by a local organization after being struck by a car; she was severely injured, but thankfully made a full recovery and now resides with me in her forever home.

I've been seeking veterinary treatment for her symptoms for quite some time. To be exact, she is experiencing: sneezing, wheezing, reverse sneezing, difficulty breathing/loud breathing, snoring, and occasionally, bloody discharge from the nose upon sneezing. Other than this, she is not lethargic and is eating, drinking, urinating, and defecating as usual. Truly, she simply seems to have the world's worst cold that just won't go away.

A bit more information about her health: she has been previously diagnosed with a bacterial infection in her ears, and she also has a history of dental disease. These issues may or may not be related to her prevailing symptoms. Regarding the ears, I have used multiple different ear treatments (some prescription, others OTC), though I am not sure if any of them have helped much. Her ears are extremely dirty, and even after a thorough cleaning, they seem to return to a filthy state within a day or two. I am not sure if her bacterial infection has cleared up since the diagnosis; all I know is that she received her prescribed treatments, in addition to several OTC treatments, and many rounds of ear cleanings.

Regarding the dental, she had several teeth extracted after her accident and while under the care of the rescue organization. Later, on the day of adoption, I was told (to my surprise) by the rescue org that Henrietta has one more "bad" tooth that "will need to be fixed some time in the near future". I have not sought treatment for this as I simply cannot afford the extraction. However, I have read that dental disease can cause symptoms that are similar to hers.

Lastly, Henrietta has been treated with anti-biotics in case of respiratory infection (to no avail) and we have attempted to alter her environment in case of allergies, eliminating household cleaning items, scented candles, etc. She continues to experience these symptoms, and shy of spending thousands of dollars on x-rays and specialist surgeries, I'm not sure what to do. I'm hoping that maybe someone else has experienced something similar and can provide further insight, or even an alternative solution.

Thanks for reading.
 

Attachments

  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2

tjs0331

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Messages
5
Purraise
0
One more thing to note: I reached out to the rescue org and her foster home to ask if they noticed any of these respiratory issues while she was under their care, and they had no knowledge of them -- as if Henrietta began displaying symptoms on the day she arrived at my home. Could be coincidental, I suppose, but it leads me to believe that her issue may be allergy related.
 

stephanietx

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
14,772
Purraise
3,491
Location
Texas
For her ears, has the vet cultured the gunk in her ears to see if she has a yeast infection? That's finally what we found out with my girl after treating for mites, a possible ear infection, and lots of ear drops.

For the respiratory issues, some could be related to something in your home, especially if you burn candles, sprinkle scented stuff on your carpets, or use air fresheners. It could also be aggravated by what you're feeding her. I would suggest going to a grain free wet diet with very little dry food. Many times, fillers in foods can cause this kind of reaction. Also, you might put her on a daily antihistamine. We use Claritin for my girl. The sneezing is usually an allergic response, just like when you sneeze because of pollen in the air. I would request an x-ray to rule out anything seriously wrong with her lungs since she's wheezing.

Many times, stress aggravates conditions. I would use a calming agent such as a ComfortZone diffuser or Feliway diffuser to help her de-stress.

Lastly, I would suggest finding a cat only vet if you have one near you, or just another good vet to give you a second opinion. Sometimes new eyes on an issue helps with new ideas and treatment.
 

carebearbaby1

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
784
Purraise
1,313
She could have a nasal polyp. Sometimes they show up on xrays, sometimes you have to use an endoscope.
 
Top