Seeking advice/stories on potential polyp or obstruction in a cat

Hello all. My dear cat has been dealing with a frustrating issue for the past several months so I thought I'd see if some of you might have experienced something similar.

The background:

Several months ago, my cat started to sound congested. He didn't have any discharge or much sneezing. I took him to the vet and she determined that we just had to wait it out since he had no discharge or any other signs of an infection or virus. She did mention the possibility of a polyp or tumor. She also suggested trying some Clavmox if the congestion did not clear. The clavomox didn't seem to help much. We also tried a round of steroids, which sort of seemed to help. Well, long story/short, he still has the congestion issue. I have tried zyrtec and other antihistamines (having consulted the vet on proper dosage), which again, sorta seem to help but not greatly. His congestion continues. Sometimes it sounds very severe and I've seen him breathe through his mouth (though never pant). Sometimes it seems very light, and sometimes it's even seemed to have gone away.

I took him to the vet about three weeks ago because he seemed like he was drooling a bit on one side of his mouth. The vet thought that while there was the possibility of a polyp or tumor, he did not think that was the case with my cat (who is 11). He thought that perhaps my cat was just a snorgely cat, as some are with no identifiable cause. We went home.

About two weeks ago I noticed greenish snot coming from his nose so I took him back to the vet who recommended a shot of convenia. That cleared up the discharge very quickly but the congestion issue remained. He also recommended lysine.

Phew. Ok. Get to this weekend and I notice a few things: much more sneezing, shaking of the head, and head scratching. His pupils were also uneven. Back to a different vet we went (the regular vet is closed on Saturdays). This vet was leaning more towards a mouth polyp because he thought the congestion sounded like a blockage in the mouth. He said I would need to think about a cat scan/MRI/endoscopy to be sure. He recommended trying another antibiotic (zeniquin) and a shot of steroids to help with the itching.

During this time my cat has shown a good appetite and has not exhibited much trouble eating (he has sometimes gagged when eating a treat covering a zyrtec pill). He is active and alert. He is also overweight, which we are working on. He has lost a pound in the last two months. He did also have bladder surgery almost two months ago to remove stones. He is now peeing normally.

I guess my real issue right now is the thought of having to pay for a catscan/MRI, etc. The cost would be around $2,000, which is what I just paid for the bladder surgery! I really can't afford that right now. And then what? If he does have a polyp, I am sure I am looking at another $2,000 for the removal, though I suppose that would finally take care of the situation. If they find a tumor, I do not know what I would do. If they find no obstruction then I would have spent $2,000 for what?

So, after reading that novel, has anyone dealt with anything similar? My tentative next steps are either a vet specializing in cats or a holistic vet for another opinion.

I don't have any direct experience, but did find a link on Nasal Polyps In Cats  

The way I look at it, a tumor is a tumor is a tumor.  They only get bigger.  And even if they are "benign" in/of themselves, the growth can cause problems for the surrounding tissues/structures. 

I would take a look at the treatments in that article and discuss the options with your vet.

Furmonster Mom said:

 
I don't have any direct experience, but did find a link on Nasal Polyps In Cats  

The way I look at it, a tumor is a tumor is a tumor.  They only get bigger.  And even if they are "benign" in/of themselves, the growth can cause problems for the surrounding tissues/structures. 

I would take a look at the treatments in that article and discuss the options with your vet.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the link. He does have most of those symptoms. *Sigh* I am going to take him to a cat-only vet and go from there. Perhaps a cat-only vet might be able to diagnose this without the MRI, etc. I think it's at least worth a visit.

I took him to a cat-only vet a few days ago. She thinks she can feel and see something in his left ear canal. He also has evidence of something affecting the nerves associated with his left eye (the eyelid is droopy and his pupil is not dilating normally). She was concerned that whatever she saw/felt was not a polyp because it wasn't the usual color of a polyp and she has also never seen a polyp causing the nerve issues she can see. She did recommend a CT scan or MRI to see what's going on. So now I've gone from hoping he didn't have a polyp at all to hoping he does have a polyp or some other benign growth. She said she would consult with a polyp specialist first before fully committing to the CT scan or MRI. She'll call on Monday.

Ooooh dear.  Sometimes the waiting is the hardest part.  But it's good to know you've found a vet who wants to make sure of the issue before moving forward.  Hopefully there will be a decent treatment option, whatever the outcome.

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I heard back from the feline vet after she spoke with the dermatologist. Fortunately, the dermatologist has seen polyps causing the sort of nerve issues my cat has so that was good to hear. She also said that they would be willing to try and remove whatever he was without doing the cat scan or MRI first. It's still a bit of a risk because they could get in there and find out it is a malignant, unremovable growth, but at least they would have tried. I feel like it's a better financial decision than doing the $2,000 imaging and then, if I am lucky, the removal procedure at another $2,500-3,000. He has a consultation on Friday with the dermatologist and we'll go from there.

A CAT/MRI would give the vet a better idea of what to expect for surgery; where the polyps are and what kind of surgery is needed.  Polyps in the ear canal or sinuses might require a different procedure than polyps in the throat. 

However, I completely understand your situation.  Either way, you still end up going in for surgery, so you might as well see it for what it is at that point.

When you talk to your vets about the procedure, I would also ask questions about anesthesia, pain management (no Rimadyl!!), and antibiotics.  Personally, I usually prefer pills to injections, but with your situation being nasal/ear/throat, injections may be the better option.

Also, BREATHE.  Try not to let your furbaby see ya sweat.  They pick up on these things.  Give him lots of lovin'.  That's the best thing you can do at this point.

Yes, ideally I would do the imaging but I think this is a good compromise (I did also spend $2,000 on bladder stone removal less than two months ago!). I feel a lot better knowing that something is going to get done. While the outcome could be a malignant growth, at least I'll know, you know? Thanks for the reminder to relax. I think he senses I feel better because he's currently snoozing.

Its been a few months - I'd like to know what you found.  I was told my 8th month old kitten probably has a nasal polyp.  The vet recommended I see a specialist if it gets worse to have a "scope" and have it removed.  I am just trying to find all the information I can.  Thanks.

Unfortunately my cat had a nasal tumor caused by lymphoma. I said goodbye to him in March. I did learn a little about polyps from consulting with a dermatologist. Basically, it depends on where the polyp is. One method of removal and then laser ablation goes through the ear canal, the other method requires more invasive surgery. In either case, the cat needs to be anesthetized to determine the location of the polyp. I would recommend consulting a surgical specialist, hopefully one who can both find the polyp and remove it to save you some time and money. Good luck with your kitten.

Your story hit home for me. So sorry.

4 hours ago i came home tonight to my 15 yr old cat in a small pool of blood coming from his nose. He had passed. Yesterday he was at the Vet for his 4th dose of antibiotic over 5 month period. Yesterday we set a plan for him to return in 1wk to have an Xray & scope for nasal polyp or tumor. Too late. Heartbroken...

His symptoms:
Started with minor sneezing but no nasal discharge. Progressed to a one-time spray of blood from a single sneeze. Next came respiratory heaviness; sounded congested. Regularly giving nice warm bath (yes, he tolerated water bath) & he would accompany any hot shower (for steam but not in shower). Antibiotics seemed to alleviate sneezing & never saw bloody sneeze again until this past week. This past week was the first time his nose was accumulating lots of mucous outside his nose. A lot. Yesterday for the first time I "thought" his head was a bit assymetrical but no one else really saw it. (Sunken checkbone on one side whilst the other appeared full). Oddly, he ALWAYS slept on the right side of his face so,,,coincidence after 15yrs?

He never lost his appetite or stopped drinking water. Behavior never changed: always seeking attention & following family around house like a dog.

Vet didn't proceed sooner with xray & scope due to congestion vs. Anesthia risk. Nothing but heartbreak & feelings of regret. Hope this helps someone with similar symptoms. I don't know how much longer his life span would've been but he had a busy life:formerly indoor/outdoor cat until 6 years ago (stayed on patio/grass in yard), neutered, spinal injury from falling down stairs, was lame & received therapy for months to learn to walk again...)

But I wouldn't have hesitated to do the xray/scope/surgery sooner if I had read about your ordeal (and many other people's stories) sooner.