What is Nose and Sinus Inflammation?
Inflammation of the nose and sinus is a common and sometimes serious problem in cats. It can be a primary condition acute in nature, but more often it is a result of a systemic disorder such as infection. Occasionally, it can be idiopathic, meaning its source is unknown and makes treatment more difficult. Chronic rhinosinusitis may persist over the life of your cat. It can be a challenge to manage and there is no cure. However, nose and sinus inflammation is rarely life-threatening to cats and is often easily treated with antibiotics unless there is a serious and chronic underlying condition associated with it. In such cases, treatment will include addressing the symptoms and causes of the identified disorder.
When the lining of the mucous membranes of the nose is inflamed, the condition is called rhinitis. Inflammation of the lining of the sinuses is termed sinusitis. The two conditions often occur together, creating rhinosinusitis, but not always. Left untreated, the condition can inhibit the function of the mucous membranes of the nasal passage,s leaving the lungs to handle the filtering of dust and microorganisms, which often leads to an upper respiratory infection.
Symptoms of Nose and Sinus Inflammation in Cats
A runny nose and sneezing may be your first signs of rhinosinusitis in your cat. You should not dismiss the condition as a mere common cold if you also see these other symptoms:
- Nasal discharge
- Sneezing, frequently episodic
- Stuffy nose
- Bleeding from the nose
- Dehydration
- Respiratory noise while inhaling
- Discharge and tears from the eyes
- Conjunctivitis
- Labored breathing, possibly with open mouth breathing
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
Causes of Nose and Sinus Inflammation in Cats
Feline herpes viral rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus infection are the most common causes of acute rhinitis and sinusitis in cats, although other viruses could also be at fault. Bacterial infections often occur after the initial onset of a viral infection. Other possible causes are:
- Fungal infection, especially Cryptococcosis
- Parasites
- Presence of a foreign object
- Blocked nasolacrimal duct in the nose
- Indoor and outdoor allergies
- Dental disease
- Trauma
- Systemic hypertension
- Vasculitis
- Nasopharyngeal or sinus masses including polyps
- Genetic defects such as palate abnormalities
- Impaired immune system
- Cancer
Diagnosis of Nose and Sinus Inflammation in Cats
A basic physical examination will first be conducted, which will include your cat’s nose and nasal cavity, eyes, mouth, and ears. Your veterinarian will be looking for evidence not only of swelling, but also of polyps, dental disease, and infection. If clinical signs indicate any of these, additional testing will be needed to identify the underlying cause.
A complete blood count, urinalysis, and serum biochemistry will be performed to test for viral, fungal, and bacterial infections. Feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus are common causes of chronic rhinitis and sinusitis and can be detected through blood tests. Your cat’s blood pressure will be monitored to find signs of hypertension, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may be performed to check for herpesvirus 1 and calicivirus, both common causes of upper and lower respiratory diseases in cats.
If there are signs of concern, your veterinarian may decide to perform x-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI scan of the skull to further check your cat’s nasal passages, sinuses, dental health, and overall bone health. These tests will be conducted under anesthesia. A rhinoscopy or a nasal biopsy may also be done at this time to further exam your cat. A rhinoscopy will help to identify any congenital disorders, and a biopsy taken from the back of the nasal cavity will aid in determining the presence of a bacterial or fungal infection.
Slide samples of mucus from the nose may be taken for testing, but the results are not always conclusive since it is often difficult to distinguish between the negatively affecting agents and the good flora in the nasal passages.
Treatment of Nose and Sinus Inflammation in Cats
Although there is no cure for rhinitis and sinusitis, topical and systemic antibiotics along with antihistamine and anti-inflammatory medications such as glucocorticoids and NSAIDS will help to reduce the symptoms in mild to acute cases. The length of treatment is dependent on your cat’s response. Chronic conditions may be treated symptomatically.
If the condition has severely progressed, intravenous fluids may be necessary to prevent dehydration and nutritional support given through a feeding tube to stop or prevent weight loss. Treatment will then be more directly addressed toward the underlying cause.
Usually, rhinitis and sinusitis are treated only with medication since removal of the inflamed areas, polyps, or any other masses are rarely necessary or permanently successful. Your veterinarian may discuss surgical options with you if your cat is not responding to antibiotic therapy, however. Radiation therapy may also be an option, depending on the underlying cause of the inflammation.
Since antibiotics have no effect on viruses, your veterinarian may choose to administer a feline herpesvirus vaccine that may help shorten and minimize recurrence of symptoms of infection in the future. It is not a preventative treatment and is only meant to lessen your cat’s symptoms.
Rhinosinusitis caused by a fungus can be treated with antifungal therapy once the particular source has been identified. Note that chronic rhinosinusitis along with fungal infection may require a longer course of treatment, possibly 4-6 weeks or more.
Acupuncture therapy has been shown to relieve rhinitis and sinusitis for some cats.
Recovery of Nose and Sinus Inflammation in Cats
The prognosis for primary bacterial sinusitis and rhinitis is excellent, with symptoms resolving within two weeks of treatment. The prognosis for secondary conditions is dependent on how successful the treatment is for the underlying cause. If the cause is unknown, symptoms may reoccur with varying response to treatment.
Discuss with your veterinarian all available options as well as predictions for outcome and how you may best provide care to your cat if your cat is experiencing chronic rhinitis or sinusitis along with a systemic disease.
Because rhinitis and sinusitis are usually secondary conditions, it can usually be prevented by supporting your cat’s immune system through routine vaccinations, practicing good hygiene, keeping a clean home, and ensuring your cat eats a healthy diet every day.
Nose and Sinus Inflammation Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
Can my cat wait until Monday to see her vet if she is showing signs of a uri? She is sneezing a lot and has clear drainage from her nose and eye but is drinking and eating and still active .
2478 Recommendations
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My cat Mouth is 13, he has lived outdoors his whole life until a year ago. He had chronic eye drainage which turned into a sinus infection. He received antibiotics last year which helped for awhile but the infection is back. He has sinus drainage, bleeding, will not eat hard cat food-only soft, and crust in his ears. Took him to the vet and she placed him on Zithromax, liquid form once daily. It doesn't seem to be helping. Any suggestions, would a different antibiotic be a better choice?
2478 Recommendations
Add a comment to Mouth's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My cat has extremely swollen sinuses, nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes in his throat. He won’t eat and has lost weight. Been seeing a vet for a month with very little improvement. Have done blood work and all was ok. Vet wants to do a biopsy of the forehead area. Do you have any other suggestions?
We just had to amputate his tail die to an old injury and remove 2 small spots on his back that were injection reaction spots that had become infected.
1057 Recommendations
Add a comment to Hendrix's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
I have a kitten Jack he is 4months old and has been treated for a URI with Ly sine,a steroid shot, and a injection antibiotic but none of these has helped clean up the excessive sneezing with discharge. Do you have any ideas how to help treat these symptoms at home.
2478 Recommendations
Add a comment to Jack's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
my cat, Bean, has been absent from home for almost a week. i started to get worried since its rather cold out. she came home recently and she's starting to sniffle, sneeze, her mouth is slightly ajar, and she's lost a lot of weight. how much would it cost to get her treated.
1057 Recommendations
Add a comment to Bean's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My cat 9 year old cat was recently put on a diuretic to remove fluid around the lungs as a result of this HCM worsening. Five days after being on the medicine he is making a sniffling noise like he is trying to clear his nose. He is doing it rather frequently and I am wondering if it has to do with the medication
2478 Recommendations
Add a comment to Ranger's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Is Saline up the nose twice a days safe and does it really offer any help for the cat? What if my cat is immune to the antibiotics? He is constantly sneezing, runny nose
1057 Recommendations
Add a comment to Kitty's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
my 11 1/2 year old orange Tabby Rusty seems to have a swelling on the left side of his face in the nasal passage and nose area that looks to be partially compromising that nostril. He has had clear nasal discharge and eye discharge for about 2 months. I first thought 2 months ago it was just seasonal allergies since myself and another cat had runny eyes and noses. I gave him antihistamines for about a month or so but I don't think they do anything. The vet examined him but didn't look in his nose. checked his teeth and mouth and everything look fine. I had a 19yr old cat die of a suspected nasal cancer or tumor in August. She didn't have swelling but had a bloody nose and mucous discharge for months before she couldn't breathe anymore. His seems different. I'm concerned, The vet didn't give a good prognosis an I can't believe there isn't anything I can do He also rubs at his f e and nose where she never did.
2478 Recommendations
Add a comment to Rusty's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Hey, my cat is losing weight and I saw a discharge from her nose. Her one eye is tearing a lot.
Then she also lost hair on the base of her tail but I heard that that is due to flea bite allergy.
2478 Recommendations
Add a comment to Cola's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
James is just a one year old kitten right now so I'm very worried about him. This morning, he was very lethargic and he sneezed quite a bit. I haven't ever owned a cat and I'm going to be babysitting James for quite a while. I can't tell if he's sick, but he's usually more energetic then this in the morning. He's not being very social as well. Please help.
2478 Recommendations
Add a comment to James's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Our 15-year old Maine coon cat has chronic rhinitis that has gotten worse over the past 6 weeks. He is mouth breathing and losing weight. We took him to the emergency room where the doctor put him on three weeks of clavamox. It seemed to help but now is back. We give him half a xyrtec every day. That was helping for a while, but now does not seem to work very well. Our regular vet suggested he might have herpes but did not recommend any treatment or tests for that. I am very frustrated by this as nobody seems to care much, but I can't bear to see this cat suffering like this. I have thought about euthanasia but really want to do something for him if something can be done before taking that step. His breathing is labored, but his lungs are clear and he is able to "sing" quite stongly and has always done so.
2478 Recommendations
Add a comment to Bert's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Add a comment to Misty's experience