My cat has asthma, but now has sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes. Why?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Starr. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian now. You have made modifications around the house and it does not sound like the symptoms have resolved. If she is stuffy or congested, it will be hard to smell. When a cat does not smell well, she will be less likely to eat. This can lead to additional health problems. The veterinarian will examine her and may make recommendations such as chest x-rays. Asthma can be common in cats. She could also have a respiratory tract infection. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help her feel better. I hope this information helps!

There are no specific diagnostic tests for asthma, so it's a diagnosis of exclusion. The vet can do a physical exam, blood work, x-rays, parasitic tests, and evaluation of bronchial secretions to rule out other causes of his sneezing and coughing. I would take Blaze back into the vet tomorrow because the antihistamines aren't working. The vet may prescribe a stronger drug in case he has allergies, such as steroids, or they may decide to further testing to diagnose what is causing his symptoms.

It sounds like Sher is being treated for for a Herpes Virus infection. Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) attacks the cells of the nose, throat and eyes. The virus will usually run its course in 10-20 days but if Sher is being treated with steroids for feline asthma she is likely more susceptible to herpes outbreaks. FHV cannot be cured and although the current outbreak may resolve, the virus remains latent in the system until the next outbreak. You can try using a room humidifier or putting Sher int he bathroom while you take a shower to keep the mucous membranes soft and moist. L-Lysine is also recommended for patients with FHV. If Sher becomes weak or is having difficulty breathing she may need to be hospitalized for supportive care. Good luck! I hope Sher is feeling better soon.

Sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes are usually due to an upper respiratory infection in cats rather than an allergy and it must be treated with an antibiotic course. the hiccups are non related and probably occur due to him eating too fast.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear that your cats are having issues with sneezing. Sneezing in cats can have a variety of causes, such as allergies or an underlying upper respiratory infection. As Annie is having nasal discharge now with her sneezing, I would recommend she be evaluated by her regular veterinarian, as she may have an infection or some other underlying condition that would need to be treated in order to resolve it. Good luck!

If she is young or is undergoing a lot of stress (moving, new animal or person in the house, change of schedule) the most likely cause is a viral upper respiratory infection. Many cats will get by with the following support - lysine supplement- try Vetoquinol Viralys (L-Lysine) Oral Gel for Cats - treat all cats as directed on the bottle until all cats are well - try wet food or soaking kibbles and then very slightly warming the food. Cats are very smell-driven and warm wet food is smellier and more likely to be eaten by a stuffy nosed cat. - recommend a probiotic such as purina Fortiflora for every cat in the home. Odd as it sounds, we’ve found that probiotics actually speed recovery from URI’s - if any cat is squinting an eye or thick eye discharge, refuses to eat, or becomes lethargic, it’s time to see your vet. These are signs of eye ulcers and/or secondary bacterial infection. These cats will need eye ointments or systemic antibiotics. Occasionally, nebulizations or more aggressive treatment is needed. If Mama is lethargic, has decreased appetite, or the nasal discharge is thick, yellow/green, or bloody, or she is breathing with her mouth open, she needs to see the vet as these could be something more serious such as fungal infection, cancer, or secondary infection. Best of luck to you and Mama.

Yes, wheezing could indeed be a sign of asthma. But it is also possible that she has an upper respiratory infection. Either disease is relatively easy to treat once diagnosed. Your vet will want to do xrays if he suspects asthma. URIs are usually treated with antibiotics. Here is some information of feline asthma: https://www.petcoach.co/article/feline-asthma-a-cause-of-coughing-in-cats/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-feline-asthma/ I suggest you make an appointment for Leo with your vet.