My cat has heavy breathing, cough, and a side bump. What's wrong?

Poor Sneakers! If she is having persistent sneezing and nasal discharge even after treatment with antibiotics, and you are also seeing a bump of some kind inside her nostril, I would be concerned that she may have a nasal tumor or foreign body of some kind in her nose. If your veterinarian does not have any suggestions for further work-up at this point, I would recommend asking for referral to a specialist for rhinoscopy (looking at the inside of the nasal cavity with a small camera), as well as other testing if needed such as a bacterial or fungal culture, biopsy of the lump, etc. to try and get a diagnosis.

Given his symptoms, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. This may determine if the bump is something that needs to be addressed or simply monitored. Your vet may recommend lab work (CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis) to diagnose the underlying cause for the vomiting and weight loss. These symptoms have multiple causes. Abdominal x-rays may also be recommended. Supportive care (IV or subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, anti-emetics, etc.) can be administered as indicated.

He could have multiple things going on here. Itching is a sign of allergies, so I would first check for fleas (they leave behind tint black pepper looking specks on the skin). The purple bumps may be an inflammatory reaction or actual masses, so have these tested through your vet. The wheezing is the most concerning symptom that he has, as this can be early signs of asthma, bronchitis, a mass (an enlarged thyroid) pressing on his airway, or an upper respiratory infection. I would encourage you to schedule an earlier appt for Tobby to address the wheezing as soon as possible. Cats with airway issues are consider unstable and should seek medical attention right away because the lungs are their stress organ, so that means that if they are not feeling well then the lungs can get worse very quickly. I hope that your pet Tobby feels better soon. Best of luck at the vet.

I understand your concerns for Scuff! Fortunately, from the signs that you describe, a foreign body obstruction from plastic is unlikely, as significant vomiting and anorexia would be expected. Wheezy breathing and changes in purring can be caused by asthma, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, among others. While I understand Scuff's fear of the vet, in this case, that is the only way that he's going to be diagnosed and treated appropriately. Consider looking into mobile vets in your area to see if they can make house calls and also have a portable x-ray machine. It sounds as though Scuff will likely need to have chest x-rays to get to the bottom of his problem. I hope that all goes well!

Poor Bean! If this has been ongoing for a few days, or the bump is bothersome or rapidly changing in size, it's time to see your vet. Runny eyes and sneezing can be a number of things, ranging from allergies, to upper respiratory infections, to irritation of the eye. If there is also a bump present, a blockage of the tear ducts or nose, or even an allergic swelling or minor infection could be the cause. It is best to have Bean seen by your vet to both determine what may be going on, and to help treat any symptoms. In the meantime, keeping his eyes clean and clear with a warm washcloth, keeping the bump clean and dry, and making sure he is still eating and drinking can help keep him comfortable.

This does appear to be a repeat question. My top suspicion here is a viral infection such as FIP. Other possibilities are heart disease, a fungal infection, lower airway disease or upper airway disease. I would take Whisker in to the vet right away for testing. Best case scenario is that this a bacterial infection that will respond to antibiotics. Best of luck at the vet.

Your cat needs to be seen by a veterinarian today. Please take him to a vet or petER now. The growth may be a large abscess or a serious hernia incarcerating abdominal content. Please take him to the vet now.