Cat Sneezing; Diagnosis and Remedies
Just like humans, a variety of situations can start a cat sneezing; diagnosis by a veterinarian can confirm it, but sometimes the culprit is just allergies. There may be some exceptions to this rule, however, with certain sneezes meaning something more sinister.
Allergens are substances in the environment that the body perceives to be a threat to an individual’s health. The substances may be completely harmless to the body, yet the immune system kicks in for undeterminable reasons to battle a particular item. The enemy may be a piece of dust, smoke, a food derivative or preservative, pollen or some other airborne item; it may affect two different people in totally different ways. The same is true with our pets, such as a cat. Often, a sneeze is just a sneeze for our cats, but there are some situations that should be taken seriously.
Sneezing caused by allergies.
Felines are just as likely as humans to develop allergies. Believe it or not, flea allergies are at the top of the allergen list for cats that are susceptible. Most cats have slight reactions, such as itching, when the flea injects its saliva into the skin to allow blood to flow freely. Others cats experience more than just minor itching, however, as their immune systems kick in. Intense and vigorous attempts to ease the discomfort at the site of the bite can soon cause the skin to break; leaving an opening for bacteria to enter and an infection to begin. “Inhalant” allergies are also very common, and can include the same allergens that affect humans; pollen, mold, mildew and dust mites. Food allergies can also be acquired by cats as they age, as well as contact allergies. Most cats will experience itching as a symptom, but when you notice your cat sneezing, diagnosis made from results of tests by a veterinarian just may point toward allergies. Often, the treatment will be allergy shots, depending upon the type of allergen that is detected.
Sneezing caused by respiratory infections.
When you notice that your pet cat is beginning to sneeze continuously, it may be indicative of a respiratory infection. Viruses that are commonly known to affect cats are the Parainfluenza and the Adenovirus. Either of these viruses could cause not only sneezing, but also swollen eyes and glands, breathing problems, runny nose and coughing. Infected pets are contagious, so it is important to have all pets tested if one has one of these respiratory infections. In addition, the viruses can be transmitted to humans; making a trip to the veterinarian essential in order to curb the virus quickly. As with humans, viral infections in cats are treated with antibiotics.
Sneezing caused by dental issues.
A little known yet common cause of sneezing in cats is a dental issue. If your feline has extremely bad breath or swollen gums, this could be the sign that a tooth infection or abscess is present; especially if these symptoms are accompanied by frequent sneezing. When this type of infection is present, dental treatment and possibly the removal of the infected tooth is necessary to restore dental health.
More rare causes for cat sneezing.
Diagnosis by the veterinarian for the causes of sneezing is made after tests have been performed. Sometimes, the cause could be something very serious indeed; cancer. In very infrequent cases, the cat may sneeze blood; a symptom that could indicate nasal cancer. An x-ray will likely be performed to confirm this possibility.
The occasional sneeze from a cat is no reason for concern. When the sneezes become frequent or are accompanied by other symptoms or blood, it is time for a visit to the veterinarian.