What helps my senior cat's asthma, allergies, and nasal congestion?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics or antiallergic (steroids medications) may be needed. It is not necessary to perform expensive tests as treatment can be attempted to resolve the problem. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hello. You can try taking Vicious into a steam-filled bathroom as this will sometimes relieve the congestion. You can also try saline drops, 1 drop into each nostril 2-3 times a day. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You can use a humidifier or have Ariel in the bathroom when you take a hot shower. That will help clear her up a little. Also using a warm wet cloth to wipe the discharge from her nose may improve the nasal air flow. I like to add some tuna juice to the food for increased odor if she isn't eating normally as cats often don't eat well when conjested. Be patient she will improve daily. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

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

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!

It could be that Midnight is still suffering from this respiratory infection and may be congested leading to the snorting. I can give you some things to try at home to see if that helps her, but if it continues over the next 24-48 hours, I would have Midnight seen by a vet for a health check. First, you can try starting her on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections.

I would recommend having Miss Gray seen by a vet to be prescribed medication if she is miserable. It's not really fair to leave her untreated in that condition, and if she is miserable, I would say she is seriously ill enough to need medication. The problem with congestion is that cats can stop eating if they can't smell their food, and if a cat stops eating, they become prone to developing a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so it's best to avoid that. I would take Miss Gray into a vet immediately for an exam and medication. I can give you some things you can do at home that will work well in conjunction with medications from the vet. Please keep in mind they cannot be used as a substitution for seeing the vet. First, you can try starting her on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. Since she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections.