Cat chronic sinus infection treatment with saline solution - READ DESCRIPTION

Описание: -------
Unfortunately, this beautiful kitty has passed away, along with her sister, at the age of 16-1/2. Her sister developed kidney disease which, at the end, progressed rapidly. In her last few days, this one lay beside her and started hyperventilating non-stop... the vet diagnosed acute heart failure - literally a broken heart. They died together, next to each other, at home.
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For the record: I'm NOT a vet, I am just showing you what I do with my cat and her condition, not advising you to do the same. I don't know you nor your capabilities, and I don't know your cat nor its condition. Consult a vet.

One of my Siamese cats has a chronic nasal condition in ONE nasal passage which started when she was 7 and got progressively worse (she's now 11), leading to severe congestion in one nostril, coughing and reverse hiccup.

A rhinoscopy showed no evident problems - no foreign matter and no growths - other than a raw area in the nasal passage. Repeated tests for bacterial and fungal infections came back negative.

Despite no bacteria, antibiotics helped (perhaps because they reduce inflammation), but the condition would return each time within a few weeks. Asthma drugs didn't help (in fact they seemed to make it worse). An anti-inflamatory (Meloxidyl, an NSAID, 0,5 mg/ml) helped a bit, but long-term use can lead to kidney problems so I'm reluctant to use that.

We don't smoke, and have no air-fresheners or fragrances/incense. The problem persisted after a move to a cleaner city, so particulates and mould were not part of the problem.

Administering a simple saline solution, and getting her to sneeze it out, reduced the problems significantly. It keeps her nasal passage clean, without the need for drugs or weird herbal recipes. She breathes freely through her nose for many hours afterwards, and she enjoys the treatment so much, that she comes and sits in front of me when it's about time for her treatment.

I inject the solution into her nasal passage. Each dose is about 3 drops, or 0.3 ml, then I tickle her nose with a piece of tightly-rolled tissue to get her to sneeze, then repeat.

Key to administering the treatment is taking my time, injecting slowly at first so the she gets used to the strange feeling in her nose, pausing when she indicates, and telling her how good she's being. Also, repeat tickling the nose until she sneezes properly.

Conclusion: For whatever reason, she seems to have a slightly irritated right nasal passage, perhaps because it's narrower and/or she has an allergy. The saline solution + sneeze keeps it clean and calm, reducing inflammation and keeping it snot-free.

Below is the recipe for the saline solution I use.

Recipe for saline solution:
Pour 1/2c/125ml/125g boiling water into a sterilised mason jar.
Add in 1/2 a level teaspoon table salt (may be iodised)
Stir well, let sit for a few minutes, then close the jar
BEFORE USING, allow to cool for at least a couple of hours to room temperature!!!
Store at ROOM TEMPERATURE.

SHAKE WELL each time before using

I refresh the solution and sterilise the syringe once a week.


OTHER TIPS which helped:

I replaced the sisal rope on her scratch-pole with a piece of outdoor carpeting. She would sneeze almost every time after she scratched, and with the carpet she doesn't do that anymore.

try a different brand of wet-food for at least a month to see if it affects the situation. And smell the food yourself - if it doesn't smell 'fresh' all the time when you open a package, then definitely switch brands.

switch to natural, dust- and fragrance-free litter (e.g. wood pellets instead of clay or silicate)

clean the litter-box twice daily