Does anyone have experience with ear polyps causing coughing but without other symptoms such as nasal congestion or ear/nasal discharge? I'm very confused about what to do for my kitten MJ. Here's the story....
I noticed since MJ was about 3 or 4 months (she is now 6 months) that she will have very occasional coughing spells. Her biological sister (same feral barn cat mom, unknown dad(s)), 4 year old Grace, has asthma, so I am familiar with feline asthma coughing including the way they crouch to cough. But MJ doesn't do the extended neck thing at all, just sits normally. MJ's spells aren't associated with activity or eating or irritants or really anything else, except maybe napping as sometimes she'll wake up from a nap and cough. I have observed her having brief coughing spells (some very brief, and never longer than about 45 seconds) three times in the past week, but prior to that it seems like it was maybe once every couple weeks.
I have two videos of her coughing on YouTube. The shorter one she was 4 months old, the longer one was a few days ago. Links:
My vet has reviewed these videos and doesn't think it's asthma, and suggested polyps in her ears that grow downward toward her palate and cause some obstruction. But the only way to tell that is for me to leave her there for a day for him to anesthetize her and look in her ears and mouth, and remove them if they're there. For asthma x-rays would have to be taken, which I think also involves anesthesia (?). For both cost reasons and my concerns about anesthesia, I want to make the best decision what to schedule her for.
She is active, runs through the house like a maniac with her littermate brother, and is not bothered by pollen, smoke (fireplace or burning leaves outside), dust, etc., which I know means asthma isn't really likely. (But FWIW, Grace who does have asthma only appears to be bothered by ammonia odor and nothing else.) MJ does not shake her head, and does not have ear or nasal discharge, or congestion, which I thought were the main signs of polyps. She did have filthy ears and raging ear mites when very young, which we cleared up by around 8 to 10 weeks, but her ears seem good now.
I'm at a total loss as to what to do. The ear polyp exploration will cost many hundreds of dollars, and without head shaking etc. I'm dubious. But my vet thinks she's too young for it to be asthma, and x-rays to find out would also cost hundreds. (The Feline Asthma Yahoo group disagrees re her being too young, BTW, but they are not veterinarians.) For the moment I've told my vet I will keep an eye on her and think about the polyp explorative surgery.
Has anyone had a similar experience? What would you do in my place?
I noticed since MJ was about 3 or 4 months (she is now 6 months) that she will have very occasional coughing spells. Her biological sister (same feral barn cat mom, unknown dad(s)), 4 year old Grace, has asthma, so I am familiar with feline asthma coughing including the way they crouch to cough. But MJ doesn't do the extended neck thing at all, just sits normally. MJ's spells aren't associated with activity or eating or irritants or really anything else, except maybe napping as sometimes she'll wake up from a nap and cough. I have observed her having brief coughing spells (some very brief, and never longer than about 45 seconds) three times in the past week, but prior to that it seems like it was maybe once every couple weeks.
I have two videos of her coughing on YouTube. The shorter one she was 4 months old, the longer one was a few days ago. Links:
My vet has reviewed these videos and doesn't think it's asthma, and suggested polyps in her ears that grow downward toward her palate and cause some obstruction. But the only way to tell that is for me to leave her there for a day for him to anesthetize her and look in her ears and mouth, and remove them if they're there. For asthma x-rays would have to be taken, which I think also involves anesthesia (?). For both cost reasons and my concerns about anesthesia, I want to make the best decision what to schedule her for.
She is active, runs through the house like a maniac with her littermate brother, and is not bothered by pollen, smoke (fireplace or burning leaves outside), dust, etc., which I know means asthma isn't really likely. (But FWIW, Grace who does have asthma only appears to be bothered by ammonia odor and nothing else.) MJ does not shake her head, and does not have ear or nasal discharge, or congestion, which I thought were the main signs of polyps. She did have filthy ears and raging ear mites when very young, which we cleared up by around 8 to 10 weeks, but her ears seem good now.
I'm at a total loss as to what to do. The ear polyp exploration will cost many hundreds of dollars, and without head shaking etc. I'm dubious. But my vet thinks she's too young for it to be asthma, and x-rays to find out would also cost hundreds. (The Feline Asthma Yahoo group disagrees re her being too young, BTW, but they are not veterinarians.) For the moment I've told my vet I will keep an eye on her and think about the polyp explorative surgery.
Has anyone had a similar experience? What would you do in my place?
Hope your cat recovers soon and the odd coughing stops
