My senior cat has chronic sneezing and noisy breathing. What's next?

Question

My 16 yr. old Maine Coon cat has had problems with sneezing & at times noisy nasal breathing at times for about a year. Gone to 2 vets and both; one twice. Both gave an antibiotic shot and one gave a shot of steroids. Maybe slight improvement but not for long. I have cleaned my house of dust thoroughly and constantly. I am giving holistic drops for nose problems in water. Any other ideas? She is so often miserable. Vet did not think CAT scan which could mean surgery not indicated. Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon | Female | spayed | 16 lbs

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

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

My senior cat has chronic sneezing and noisy breathing. What's next?

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