Why is my cat sneezing, teary-eyed, and losing fur after steroids?

Hello. It is good that Echo is still eating & acting well. Most of these upper respiratory infections usually just need a week or so to run their course. I am not sure why your vet gave him a steroid injection for bad breath ( this was your cortisone ) unless he actually had lesions in his mouth. This might have exasperated his previous infection to continue into this. I would not recommend giving anymore cortisone while Echo is trying to recover from this infection. The sneezing in bothersome, but not really worrisome as long as he feels fine. See how he is come Monday, & at this point it might be appropriate to treat with either another round of antibiotics or an antiviral medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Peanut! He may have an upper respiratory infection going on, or some other nasal/respiratory irritation, and due to his age and since steroids can affect the immune system, it would be best to bring him to your vet for an exam. They may need to put him on a course of antibiotics or other treatments to help him feel a bit better. Continuing to remove any debris that builds up and trying to entice him to eat as much as possible by warming up his food or adding in a little low-sodium chicken broth if he can handle it may help until you can get to your vet, but care ASAP is best.

It is possible this is secondary to the steroid injection, and if so, dependent on the type of steroid given, it could take several weeks for the drug to be eliminated from the body. This behavior may also be her way of saying she doesn't feel good. But if everything else is normal (eating normally, breathing normally, etc.) that is good. You can try to figure out if there any specific behaviors towards her that elicit the response. And unfortunately it is sometimes just the cat but this seems less likely given what you report. I would definitely contact your vet and let them know what you are seeing at home so you can find out what drug was given to know better the duration of effect. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am sorry to hear about Sushi! I would recommend following up with her veterinarian. I would be concerned she could have allergies to airborne allergens (called atopic dermatitis) which responded to the steroids, but the steroids do not get rid of the allergies, just help relieve the symptoms, so often a pet may need to be put on other medications long term to keep the allergies under control. You can read more about this at https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergies-atopy-in-cats/ . If they do not feel it is atopy, they may recommend additional testing for other skin conditions.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sneezing in cats may be due to an upper respiratory infection (URI), rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages), a foreign body stuck in the nostril(s), or even something like a tumor or mass in the nasal cavity. Common URI's in cats include herpesvirus and calicivirus, which are often treated supportively with either anti-viral medications and/or antibiotics in case a secondary bacterial infection is present. Sometimes, steroids such as prednisolone are recommended when cats are sneezing to see if they can help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. Iggie may benefit from steam therapy, which is as simple as keeping him in the bathroom with the door closed when you shower, to allow the steamy air to help moisten his nasal passages. If he continues to sneeze for more than a day or so, I recommend having him seen by your veterinarian, who can perform an exam and treat accordingly. If you can, try to get a video of his sneezing episodes to show your veterinarian when you go. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Iggie!

Hello. Dexter probably is infected with a common feline herpes virus. Cats are infected as kittens & remain infected all their lives. It usually only causes mild, but reoccurring problems, usually at high stress times. However, it does not usually cause weight loss, unless things are severe, & your pictures only shows a very mildly affected cat. So, the next step is to see your vet & make sure he is Feline Leukemia & Feline Immundeficiency virus negative. This is done with just 3 drops of blood in your vet's office & takes 10 minutes. If his tests are negative, your vet may elect to put Dexter on a course of anti-viral medications. Hope he is feeling better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The sneezing is most likely from being exposed to viruses is the air at the veterinary clinic. This is like kids going to school and getting sick from being around lots of different children. The vaccinations protect against upper respiratory infections but they can still get a mild case. Mr. Kitty should rest and he'll be fine in a few days to a week. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Mr. Kitty.