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My cat is sneezing with discharge after surgery. Is it serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 9 years and 3 months old | 9 lbs

Dr. Melanie: Hi! I'm taking in kitty next week for the recheck bld test but I'm a lil worried about her because she's sneezing quite a bit and her nasal discharge increased. I'm worried about pneumonia and possible liquid in her lungs when I gave her her meds even though I didn't tilt her head back . I know anesthesia can cause sneezing but this is day 3 post surgery..

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 21st, 2018

Hi Laila! It could simply be she has a respiratory infection, and I wouldn't get too worried about pneumonia just yet. Signs of pneumonia include labored breathing, loud respiratory sounds, lethargy, reduced appetite, and fever. If she doesn't have those signs as well, I would be more suspicious she has a respiratory infection. I can give you some things to try at home for Kitty. 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. Now if she does develop any of the signs I listed above, then I would be concerned about pneumonia, and in that case, I would take her into a vet right away. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Mara Howard, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 19th, 2017

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Duchess is sneezing and having nasal discharge it is possible that she has an upper respiratory infection. If that is the case, she may need antibiotics to resolve it. Other possible causes could be allergies, asthma, a heart issue or another underlying issue. If it does not resolve or worsens, I would recommend she be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for her issue, have any necessary testing done (X-rays, bloodwork) and start any treatment that may be needed. Good luck!

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