Page 27 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

3. The cat with signs of chronic nasal

disease. (chronic > 3 weeks duration)

Jacquie Rand

KEY SIGNS

● Chronic mucoid, purulent and/or bloody nasal discharge.
● Chronic sneezing or snuffling.
● Stertorous respiration, snoring, dyspnea or mouth breathing.
● Facial distortion or nasopharyngeal distortion.
● Gagging.

MECHANISM?
● Signs of chronic disease result from chronic inflammation or obstruction of the nasal struc-
tures or its junction with the pharynx.
WHERE?
● External nares, nasal cavity, frontal sinuses and nasopharynx

WHAT?
● Most cats with signs of chronic nasal disease have secondary bacterial infection following her-
pes or calicivirus infection; less common causes are Cryptococcus and neoplasia.

QUICK REFERENCE SUMMARY
Diseases causing signs of chronic nasal disease
ANOMALY

● Congenital anomaly of the nose or hard palate**(p 27)
Breed-related obstruction of the external nares (e.g. Persian cats) causes chronic snuffling and ster-
torous respiration.
Cleft palate, and congenital anomalies of the nasal cavity cause signs in young kittens which
depend on the type and severity of the anomaly, e.g. nasal discharge and inability to suckle associ-
ated with a cleft palate.
MECHANICAL

● Foreign body (p 28)
Acute onset of sneezing and rubbing face or gagging, followed by chronic unilateral nasal dis-
charge and sneezing, or gagging. Often associated with a blade of grass, a grass seed or awn.
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