My cat has chronic sinus problems. Are there any long-term solutions?

I am sorry to hear about your kitty. I would consider some diagnostics since Anna has not improved on the medication trials performed thus far. Dental x-rays would be my next step, to ensure there isn't an infected tooth root that could be causing these issues. It is not always obvious looking in the oral cavity that a tooth is diseased. The x-ray may also help detect any bony changes in the skull that could occur with certain types of tumors. Other options you may discuss with your vet would include antihistamine trials, a drug called Cerenia which can be used to formulate nose drops that can decrease inflammation in the nasal passages, a nasal flush and culture to check for resistant bacteria or fungus, and prophylactic treatment for possible nasal mites. CT scan is also recommended in nonresponsive cases when other options have been exaughsted. You may also consider referral to an internist if your vet is having trouble finding a cause/treatment that works. You can read more about rhinitis at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=6274586

Hello. It sounds like poor Mitzi may have allergic bronchitis, also known as feline asthma. Unfortunately, there really is no simple long term solution because there is basically no cure. All we can do is manage her symptoms. Drugs, such as bronchodilators, glucocorticoids, anti-inflammatory medications such as Cerenia, & modifying the environment ( no candles, air fresheners, smoking ) all are necessary. She may not need all drugs everyday, but she probably does need to be treated on a regular basis. Talk this over with your veterinarian to find the best treatment needed to keep her comfortable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Chronic sinusitis can be permanent but there are many potential options to try to minimise and improve symptoms. Steam therapy, extended courses of antibiotics such as doxycycline, mucolytics to loosen the discharge and interferon can all help to improve progress but treatment is likely to be required for relapses. Euthanasia is a very valid option is such cases as the condition is very distressing when they are struggling to breathe in particular

Poor Spike! There are a few things that could be going on here. First, he may have a condition called chronic rhinitis - basically, this is a chronic upper respiratory infection that causing changes in the tissue and bone structure inside the nose, which makes symptoms very hard to get rid of even with proper antibiotic treatment. He could also have a nasal foreign body of some kind (like a piece of grass), a fungal infection like cryptococcus which wouldn't respond to antibiotics, or even a nasal tumor. Since he's been on antibiotics twice now with no improvement, you have a couple of options. Ideally, it would be best for Spike to have some further diagnostic testing to try and figure out what's causing the chronic symptoms - this would likely involve culture and cytology of the nasal discharge, skull x-rays, and possibly rhinoscopy (looking inside the nose with a tiny camera) and biopsies of anything in the nasal cavity that looks suspicious. Referral to a specialist may be required for some of these tests. Or, if you prefer not to pursue any additional testing right now, your vet should be able to talk to you about other treatment options that may help to relieve his symptoms. Many cats with this issue respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs, long courses of antibiotics (4-6 weeks), intranasal antibiotic/steroid drops, or even adjunct therapies like laser treatment or acupuncture. I would recommend asking your vet for his/her suggestions on the next step. If they don't have any other suggestions or don't want to talk with you about options, you can get a second opinion from another vet if needed.

I am sorry to hear that! It sounds like he has had a good work up so far. I suspect your vet may want to recheck imaging (if not done already) to ensure the foreign object is no longer present. If there is a concern the infection has never fully resolved, you could ask for a referral to an internal medicine specialist (https://www.ecvim-ca.org/specialist-listings/internal-medicine-specialists-list). If the infection has been cleared but keeps recurring, you could ask to review the pros and cons of therapies such as anti-viral medications, probiotics, Cerenia or long-term antibiotic courses. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry to hear about Missy's chronic problems. The 2 most common problems leading to this would be either a very deep, resistant bacterial infection of the sinuses or even possibly a tumor. Tumors can be either malignant or benign. To get a definitive answer advanced imaging such as CT may be needed. It must be frustrating to have tried so many therapies and still be facing a problem. These types of chronic sinus issues can be very difficult to solve. You can request a referral to a specialist from your veterinarian and they will help guide you with a plan. Take care and I hope Missy improves soon.

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.