Page 41 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

4 – THE CAT WITH STRIDOR OR STERTOR 33

MECHANICAL
● Foreign body (grass, grass seed, awn) (p 40)
Acute onset of sneezing and rubbing face or gagging followed by chronic unilateral nasal dis-
charge and sneezing. Occasionally stridor.
NEOPLASTIC

● Neoplasia** (p 36)
Chronic mucopurulent or hemorrhagic nasal discharge, often initially unilateral progressing to
bilateral, sneezing, stertorous respiration ± facial distortion.
● Nasopharyngeal polyp (p 37)
Chronic snuffling, stertorous respiration and dyspnea from nasal obstruction, retching or gagging
with eating ± mucropurulent nasal discharge.
INFLAMMATION
● Nasopharyngeal stenosis (p 38)
Chronic snuffling, partial nasal obstruction, retching or gagging with eating.
INFECTIOUS
Bacterial:

● Secondary bacterial rhinitis*** (p 35)
Typically there is a history of signs of chronic bacterial rhinitis occurring following acute viral
upper respiratory tract disease. Signs include chronic mucopurulent or hemorrhagic nasal dis-
charge, sneezing, stertorous respiration and occasionally nasal distortion.
Fungal:

● Cryptococcosis and other fungi** (p 36)
Cryptococcosis typically results in chronic mucopurulent or hemorrhagic nasal discharge, sneez-
ing, stertorous respiration and distortion over bridge of nose (Roman nose), or a polyp-like mass in
the nasal opening. Occasionally there are signs of a nasopharyngeal mass only. Other fungi such as
Aspergillus, Penicillium, Sporothrix and some other fungi are very rare causes of chronic nasal
disease.
Chlamydophila and Mycoplasma spp:

● Chlamydophila and Mycoplasma spp (p 38)
Chronic ocular and nasal discharge, and chronic conjunctivitis. Sneezing and occasionally stridor.
Trauma:

● Oronasal fistula or nasal fractures following trauma (p 39)
Chronic snuffling, sneezing, stridor or stertor and nasal discharge associated with cleft palate or
obstructed nasal cavity.

continued