Chronic Nasal Congestion. Need advice please

[karen1121]

Unilateral can be a as foreign body, but it should have been seen during the scope. It can also be fungal. Cryptococcus. Ask your vet if they think testing for that would be a good idea. There are many things it can be. Cats can also get polyps in the nasal cavity. Sometimes an infected tooth can cause unilateral nasal discharge.

My vet doesn’t think it is a polyp as she is 10 years old. She said polyps are seen in kittens and younger cats, at her age she suspects a mass.

 

[silent meowlook]

I’ve seen polyps in adult cats

 

[IndyJones]

Indy's discharge is unilateral on her left nostrile and eye. In her case it is scar tissue within the tear duct causing it. A bad herpes infection can leave scar tissue within the nasal cavity and/or tear ducts.

 

[karen1121]

Indy's discharge is unilateral on her left nostrile and eye. In her case it is scar tissue within the tear duct causing it. A bad herpes infection can leave scar tissue within the nasal cavity and/or tear ducts.

Almond had a herpes infection the day I brought her home. She has always had clear discharge from her eyes. Her nasal discharge is solely her left nostril. My vet feels this unilateral nasal discharge strongly suggests a mass. Her third eyelid is covering most of her left eye and very swollen. Her right eye is completely clear. Thank you for sharing all your experiences and advice.

 

[silent meowlook]

Your vet is the one seeing her and has done the physical exam. If they feel it is a mass they may be right. But, do ask about Cryptococcus because I have seen that for a mass of fungus that seems like a cancer mass. I just don’t know if it is prevalent in your area.

 

[karen1121]

Your vet is the one seeing her and has done the physical exam. If they feel it is a mass they may be right. But, do ask about Cryptococcus because I have seen that for a mass of fungus that seems like a cancer mass. I just don’t know if it is prevalent in your area.

I will absolutely ask her. I live in northern Illinois, Almond is strictly an indoor cat. Not sure if that matters.

 

[karen1121]

I just spoke to her vet. She doesn’t feel a fungal infection is a possibility. She agreed the Kenalog has worn off and Almond is getting another Kenalog injection this evening. I wish she would be a bit more open to the possibility of chronic rhinitis. Hopefully the feline vet will be able to get her in quickly for an appointment. Thank you again for all your kind responses.

 

[karen1121]

Your vet is the one seeing her and has done the physical exam. If they feel it is a mass they may be right. But, do ask about Cryptococcus because I have seen that for a mass of fungus that seems like a cancer mass. I just don’t know if it is prevalent in your area.


My vet has only examined Almond once. Her initial exam was at an Urgent Care. She was seen by her vet for a follow up. Her vet was not present at the nasal flush as she was out of town. The vet that did the nasal flush also ordered the X-rays during anesthesia. My vet also reviewed the X-rays and said they appeared normal. My vet has been prescribing Kenalog, but has not seen Almond for more than 20 minutes in the past 2 months. She is mostly giving the diagnosis of a tumor based on the other vet stating there was resistance in the left nostril during the flush. I was so hopeful for a polyp or chronic rhinitis. For now I will continue with the Kenalog and hope she remains less congested.

 

[karen1121]

Good morning everyone, Almond was given a Kenalog injection yesterday evening. This morning, 10 hours later, she followed me to the kitchen meowing wanting to eat. Her swollen third eyelid appears 90% better. I know steroids mask underlying illness, but does anyone have any experience with steroids improving nasal tumor/polyp symptoms in less than 12 hours? Thank you in advance for your advice.

 

[karen1121]

I’m hoping someone will see my update. Almond was seen Saturday by her vet. While she was doing an oral exam a large piece of tartar fell off her tooth. Her vet said “that tooth looks angry”.
She scheduled a dental cleaning for Monday.

Monday morning I dropped her off and asked if anything was seen to please biopsy. I also said as long as she will be under anesthesia to please to do a nasal swab for a fungal infection. 8 hours went by and I heard absolutely nothing from the vet. I called the office and was told she was ready to go home. I arrived at the office. Her vet walked in and said “let me show you her X-rays”. She showed me there is some opacity in the left sinus. She said it was only seen in one view of anll the X-rays and that even this X-ray it is “not very apparent”. She said “I think we can safely say it’s a tumor and I’m sorry”.

I understand Almond is 10 years old, and it might be a tumor. I asked if she biopsied and she said “no, I didn’t want the risk of bleeding”. I asked about the fungal nasal swab, she said “no, I didn’t do it as I have never seen a cat with a fungal infection”. I like my vet very much, but I asked in the morning to please do any testing necessary so we could have a diagnosis. She informed me the X-ray was confirmation of a nasal mass.

I went home and researched online, I am reading an X-ray does not differentiate a mass from a polyp very well. I am wondering if I should take her for a second opinion. She has been through so much testing, nasal flush, dental cleaning, multiple X-rays under general anesthesia. She has an appointment with an internal medicine vet in October. If another vet would listen to my concerns and at very least do a fungal swab or possibly a biopsy I might have a diagnosis. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[maggie101]

If you can get her on a waiting list or call to see if there have been any cancelations. Take her for a second opinion.

 

[silent meowlook]

Has she been tested for Cryptococcus? It is a blood test. Cryptococcus is a fungal disease cats get and often presents in the sinus.
Doing a nasal swab is not beneficial in cats. It with us usually show a variety of pathogens that are often normal in cat noses. Nasal flushed can yield results.

I think you need to find a feline only practice or specialist that can get you in sooner. I think determining your cat has a nasal tumor from an X-ray is presumptive at best and further diagnostics should be done. I would start with the Cryptococcus test since it is just a blood test.

 

[silent meowlook]

Ok, now I remember from before. Time for a second opinion. The fact that this vet seems to be fixated on what she thinks it is doesn’t help Almond. (love the name)
Also, I don’t like that they didn’t tell you what was going on for 10 hours. That’s not good.

 

[fionasmom]

I agree that you need another vet/ second opinion. If there are multiple vets in the practice, do not choose another one at the same location. They will tend to pull the wagons in a circle and support each other which will get you nowhere. If you don't know of a vet, try nextdoor.com for local possibilities or even this site Find a Veterinary Specialist (American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine).

We cannot say if your present vet is correct or not, but I concur that they are presumptive about the xray and diagnosis.

 

[karen1121]

Hello everyone, on Wednesday night I could just see in her face it was time. She was showing signs of pain. The prednisolone was no longer helping. I took Almond to the vet and her sinuses were completely destroyed. Unfortunately, her vet was right. Almond had a nasal tumor. I promised her she would never suffer. I held her paw throughout. I picked her up kissed her and told her how much I loved her. This morning… the absence, the silence. I miss her so much. I have been crying non stop. I am heartbroken. I love you so much Almond. I’m so sorry I couldn’t help you.

 

[silent meowlook]

I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort in knowing that you did the right thing.

 

[karen1121]

I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort in knowing that you did the right thing.

I hope so.. I let her go when it was time.

 

[fionasmom]

I am very sorry for your loss of Almond. You took care of her for years and rescued her from the fighting ring, so please do not feel as if you did not help her. The condition she was facing now was insurmountable, so you did the bravest and hardest thing that you could do to allow her to pass peacefully with you by her side.

 

[karen1121]

Thank you. I held her paw the entire time. I kissed her and told her how much I loved her. I took the pain away from her and gave it to myself. I miss her so much.

 

[silent meowlook]

I know you did. I wish there was a way to avoid the grief that accompanies such a loss, but there isn’t. Please be kind to yourself and allow yourself the time it takes to adjust. I know it is so hard.