Causes and treatment of runny nose in cats

All animals are susceptible to viral diseases. Furry pets who live with humans can also contract infections. A runny nose in a cat can be a sign of serious illnesses.

Symptoms of a runny nose in cats

The external signs of the disease in a pet are similar to those in humans. The cat loses activity and is uninterested in playing, sleeps a lot.

Symptoms of a runny nose in cats:

• There is nasal discharge, the animal has difficulty breathing, only through the mouth, and drooling.
• Sneezes frequently, coughs, and has an unkempt appearance. A sick cat neglects grooming.
• Tearing often accompanies a runny nose and can be severe.
• Decreased appetite or even complete refusal to eat. If your pet hasn't eaten for more than two days and refuses even water, consult a veterinarian immediately.
• Red mucous membranes in the mouth indicate an inflammatory process.
• Body temperature remains high throughout the day. In healthy cats, it fluctuates depending on activity.

If the discharge is festering, as in the photo, the disease is serious.

If a runny nose is detected, you should observe your pet before giving medication.

A healthy cat may exhibit runny nose symptoms unrelated to illness in a normal environment. It's important to confirm persistent signs of illness before treating a cat's runny nose.

Colds – causes, symptoms, treatment

When a person gets sick, they go to the doctor. A cat doesn't understand what's happening and can't communicate anything to its owner. It simply becomes lethargic and drowsy. The owner, by noticing the dangerous symptoms early, can help the animal.

Causes of colds in cats:

• The pet lives in cold, damp, drafty conditions. A comfortable temperature for a cat is +20°C. At lower temperatures, the cat may become ill.
• A monotonous diet without vitamins and microelements does not allow maintaining immunity at the proper level.
• Hypothermia can occur if a cat's fur gets wet or in windy weather. In these cases, the animal's thermoregulation is impaired.
• If there is another disease, immunity is reduced and the cat easily catches a cold.

Cold symptoms include nasal and eye discharge, coughing or sneezing, and refusal to eat or drink. Also cold accompanied by a high temperature, the animal has a dry and hot tip of the nose.

You can support your pet by doing the following:

• leave the cat alone in the place in the house that it has chosen;
• provide clean drinking water;
• give a massage by stroking the cat, which will get the blood flowing and improve your well-being;
• apply a warm compress with a heating pad if the animal has chills;
• Clean your nose and eyes with a cotton swab using cooled boiled water.

The listed actions improve the pet's condition.

To cure a cat's runny nose, you need to rinse the nose with the medication prescribed by the veterinarian.

These steps will improve your pet's condition. To treat a cat's runny nose, you should rinse the nose with the medication prescribed by your veterinarian. A simple solution—slightly warmed saline solution (available at any pharmacy without a prescription)—will do.

Allergic rhinitis in cats

Allergic diseases are caused by dangerous substances in food and air.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis in cats:

• clear or colored discharge from the eyes and nose;
• dryness and redness of the mucous membrane;
• frequent sneezing, nasal congestion;
• lack of appetite, weakness;
• rubbing nose with paws.

The reaction can occur to food, pollen, and insect bites. Symptoms and treatment of allergic rhinitis in cats A veterinarian determines the diagnosis through a blood test. If contact with the hazardous substance is eliminated, the cat will recover within two to three days.

Infectious causes of runny nose

Inflammation of the respiratory system is accompanied by mucus. Clear mucus may become darker and have an unpleasant odor. In severe cases, blood may be mixed in.

Infectious types of rhinitis and symptoms:

• Calicivirus. Runny nose with mucosal damage and high fever. In a cat. are teary-eyed eyesThe disease is not dangerous for people.
• Rhinotracheitis. In addition to a runny nose, the animal will drool, not eat, and move little. Another name for this contagious disease is feline herpes; it is not transmissible to humans.
• Mycoplasmosis. Purulent nasal discharge, airway swelling, and swollen eyes. Serious complications are possible, including pneumonia, liver inflammation, and joint damage.
• Panleukopenia (also known as distemper). Symptoms include runny nose, vomiting, and upset stomach. The disease causes chronic heart complications.
• Chlamydia. Cough, snot and wheezing. The condition is contagious to other animals, requiring quarantine.

Infectious rhinitis in cats can be treated with antibiotics under the supervision of a veterinarian.

When prescribing a course of treatment, the cat's possible allergic reaction to medications is taken into account, so you cannot select medications yourself.

Foreign body inhalation

While playing, a cat may accidentally get a foreign object lodged in its nose. Most often, the foreign object is expelled by sneezing, but it can become caught in the sharp edges and cause severe inflammation.

What foreign bodies enter the respiratory system:

• small items not intended for cat play;
• plant seeds, sand and trash on the street;
• small insects;
• food particles or fish bones;
• eggs and larvae of worms.

A sign that a cat has a foreign object in its nose is a change in behavior. The animal will sneeze frequently, shake its head, and back away. Nasal discharge may be bloody if there is a sharp object in the nose.

You can determine what's in your cat's nose by visual inspection or using an endoscope. The most reliable method is an ultrasound, which will determine the location and size of the foreign body. The owner can remove the object with tweezers if it's near the nostrils; otherwise, surgery at a veterinary clinic will be required.

Nasal polyps, growths, and tumors in cats

The second most common respiratory disease in cats is nasopharyngeal polyps. These growths, overgrown areas of epithelium, are dangerous because they continue to grow.

Causes of polyps:

• chronic inflammation of the nasal cavity and inner ear;
• infectious rhinitis in cats;
• allergic asthma;
• congenital defects of the nasopharynx.

Polyps are most often diagnosed in young animals under 2 years of age. The growths gradually grow from the nasal cavity into the ears, becoming large and interfering with the cat's breathing and eating.

External manifestations of disease symptoms:

• mucus discharge from one nostril;
• sneezing and coughing;
• The pet snores and makes grunting sounds.

Polyps can be detected using an endoscope by palpating the soft palate with a finger.

Only magnetic resonance imaging can provide an accurate diagnosis, since soft tissues are not visible on x-rays.

Polyps are removed surgically under anesthesia, using forceps to grasp the body of the neoplasm along with the stalk.

Other causes of a runny nose

A pet's immune system reacts to the onset of illness. Germs and toxins are eliminated along with mucus, resulting in a runny nose. Causes of runny nose in indoor cats include sudden temperature changes, allergies, and frozen food.

Other causes of runny nose in cats:

• Tumors in the nasal cavity come in various forms. The symptoms are similar to those of a runny nose, but the underlying cause is different. Surgery is required.
• Viral diseases. Accompanied by high fever and decreased activity. Dark nasal discharge may be observed.
• Age-related diseases such as diabetes, kidney stones, and heart failure can cause chronic rhinitis. It's impossible to completely cure this condition.
• Fungal infection of the nasal cavity. Surgical and medical treatment are required. If left untreated, the disease can lead to skull deformities and even death.
• Otitis. It can trigger a runny nose due to its inflammatory nature.
• Congenital defects of the nasopharynx, deviated septum. Surgery will correct the deviation.
• Strong odors irritate the mucous membranes and cause swelling. Provide your pet with clean air and rest to allow recovery.

There are certain cat breeds that suffer from rhinitis more often than others. British and Scottish Fold cats regularly suffer from runny noses due to the shape of their ears and noses. Therefore, owners should regularly take their cat to the veterinarian.

Diagnosis of rhinitis

If your pet shows obvious signs of illness, the cause must be determined before treatment. Diagnosis of rhinitis in cats is made at a veterinary clinic.

Steps to determine the cause of a runny nose:

• Physical examination – external examination and diagnosis using an endoscope.
• Laboratory tests of blood and urine to determine the nature of inflammation (bacterial, viral).
• X-rays allow us to examine the shape of the nasal cavity and foreign objects.
• Mucosal swabs are analyzed for microflora. The type of pathogen is determined to determine a treatment plan.

The more detailed the examination, the more effectively a cat's runny nose can be treated. Without treatment, the animal can develop chronic diseases that cause irreparable harm.

Treating a runny nose in pets with home remedies

In mild cases, when your pet is feeling well and there is no bloody discharge, you can treat your cat's runny nose yourself. Place your pet in a warm, draft-free area. Treat the eyes and nostrils with an antiseptic, and remove any dried nasal discharge with a cotton swab.

Treatment methods for various types of runny nose in cats:

• Mild runny nose without fever. Zinc sulfate drops, inhalations with a soda or saline solution are used. Streptocide powder is used, or Anandin drops are administered.
• Infectious rhinitis is treated with Galazolin moisturizing drops and Doxycycline tablets. For severe cases of rhinitis with difficulty breathing, intravenous drips and immune support medications are administered.
• Allergic rhinitis in cats is treated with antihistamine tablets, just like in humans, but the dosage must be followed.
• If foreign objects get into the cat's nose, it is necessary to administer moisturizing drops, and if the object is within reach, remove it with tweezers.

If the treatments used are ineffective and your pet's condition does not improve, you should contact a veterinary clinic immediately. Delaying treatment will lead to complications.

Alternative treatments for runny noses in cats

You can cure your pet of rhinitis and colds using home remedies.

Traditional methods of treatment:

• Warm compress. Heated salt in a cloth bag is applied to the nose. Discharge is removed with a cotton swab. Warming is permitted only if there is no purulent or bloody discharge.
• Antiseptic rinsing. Using a syringe without a needle, inject 0.5 ml of a solution of baking soda or salt into the nose. The solution is prepared by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt or baking soda with 250 ml of water. To prevent resistance, wrap the cat tightly, including its paws, in a blanket.
• Herbal drops. Use beetroot juice or aloe vera leaf drops. Do not use pure juice; dilute it 50/50 with boiled water. One drop in each nostril 3-4 times a day is sufficient.
• Eucalyptus inhalation. Boil 1 tablespoon of the dry infusion in 0.5 liters of water for 15 minutes. Let it steep for half an hour. Wrap the cat in a blanket and hold it over the steam for 10 minutes, being careful not to burn it.
• Pouring Streptocide powder into the nostrils helps quickly relieve inflammation and stop the formation of pus.
• Rinsing with a warm solution of Furacilin.

The flowing snot and tears irritate the skin, so you need to wipe your nose and eyes with strong tea, and then sprinkle with Streptocide powder.

A cat loses its appetite when it's sick. To speed up its recovery, offer your pet's favorite food warmed up.

Possible complications after rhinitis

It is essential to treat a cat's runny nose, otherwise there is a risk of consequences:

• chronic bronchitis and pneumonia;
• kidney dysfunction, urolithiasis;
• chronic disease - plasmacytic rhinitis;
• lymphocytic gingivitis – a lesion of the oral mucosa;
• persistent decrease in immunity - the cat often gets sick;
• damage to the cornea of ​​the eye - can lead to blindness;
• formation and growth of polyps - surgical removal will be required.

A neglected illness and delayed veterinary care can lead to complications after a runny nose. Self-treatment at home can also have serious consequences.

Preventing runny noses in pets

Proper care will protect your pet from serious illnesses and ensure a healthy, long life. Here are some steps to prevent runny noses:

• Timely vaccination to protect against the most dangerous infections.
• Avoid drafts and dampness. Keep your pet warm. Do not dry wet fur with a hairdryer.
• Balanced food with added vitamins to maintain good immunity (Pro Plan, Sirius, Hills Ideal Balance).
• Eliminating potential allergens: changing litter, frequent wet cleaning, removing houseplants. Using hypoallergenic food (Brit Veterinary Diet, Acana Pacifica for cats, Brit Care Lucky I'm Vital Adult).
• Once every six months - treatment for worms (drugs Profender, Milbemax, Prazicide).

The owner's attention, care, and timely treatment will give the pet a long and happy life.