Page 14 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

6 PART 1 CAT WITH UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT SIGNS

QUICK REFERENCE SUMMARY
Diseases causing acute sneezing or nasal discharge
MECHANICAL

● Foreign body (p 15)
Acute onset of sneezing and rubbing face, progressing to chronic discharge, often unilateral, no
systemic signs.
NEOPLASIA
● Bleeding ulcer on external nares (p 16)
Acute sneezing and bleeding may occur with a bleeding ulcer on the external nares, particularly the
nasal septum. Usually caused by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but occurs occasionally with
eosinophilic granuloma or associated with acute calicivirus infection. Signs are often episodic with squa-
mous cell carcinoma.
● Intranasal tumors (p 17)
Occasionally present with acute sneezing, ± nasal discharge and bleeding.
INFECTIOUS
Bacterial:

● Bordetella bronchiseptica (p 14)
Pyrexia, sneezing, nasal discharge, mandibular lymphadenopathy, coughing and dyspnea.
Viral:

● Feline rhinotracheitis virus (herpesvirus-1)*** (p 7)
Paroxysms of sneezing, severe serous to mucopurulent oculonasal discharge, usually bilateral
severe conjunctivitis with tearing, photophobia and chemosis, ± corneal lesions.
● Feline calicivirus*** (p 11)
Fever, mild upper respiratory tract signs, oral ulcers.
Chlamydophila, Mycoplasma:
● Chlamydophila felis (Chlamydophila felis)**(p 13)
Mainly conjunctivitis, initially unilateral, later bilateral and often chronic.
● Mycoplasma (p 14)
Mainly conjunctivitis, usually without systemic illness; often occurs as secondary infection in viral
upper respiratory tract disease.
Fungal:
● Cryptococcus (p 16)
Usually chronic signs, but occasionally acute onset of sneezing and nasal discharge.
Immune:
● Allergic (p 17)
Serous or mucoid ocular and/or nasal discharge, without systemic signs. Signs may be seasonal in
occurrence.