How to help kitty with sinus problems?

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Mouse & Me

Mouse & Me

Member Since 2016
The weather has been awful lately, even a tornado watch, and poor Mouse has symptoms of sinus headache: one eye stays shut, one eye tears, sleeps a lot, blinks at light, etc. All the humans in the house have been going through the same thing!

I don't know how to make her feel better, and more importantly, how to make her comfortable, so her numbers don't climb.
Steam is what I usually do for myself, but that's not happening for Mouse.

Years ago, a vet said I could give my cat sudafed, (1/2), because she suffered from the same thing. It helped her tremendously. Sudafed was not recommended. I know medications get reformulated, information about what's safe changes, but I can't believe that there is nothing I can do for her. I was given eye ointment for her, but that's for foreign objects, like dust in the eye. Useless.
Humidity is getting worse in this valley, and short of moving out of here, we are facing some dreadful times. I do have air conditioning, but that doesn't change air pressure changes.

Is there anything for felines under the weather?
 
Given the tooth extraction, she may have something cooking in the sinus or head area in general. It may be worth a check up. If she is otherwise normal, like no constant vomiting, head pressing, buldging eye or other weirdness, I would imagine especially since you believe it is sinus, that she can hold out to Monday.
Just my two cents.
Good luck
 
One of my cats has seasonal allergies. My vet said I can safely give my cat 1/4 of a tablet of the 10 mg Zyrtec up to twice a day. It does help her, but sometimes I have to give it a couple of days in a row before it helps. Maybe that would help Mouse. I hope you can find something to help. Sending prayers.
 
Mouse & Me said:
Steam is what I usually do for myself, but that's not happening for Mouse.
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I've read of some folk in the forum sitting in the bathroom with kitty and running a hot shower/bath to help steam them when they have breathing difficulties, have you tried that?
 
Has this happened in the past to Mouse? If it has, then it's probably not a result of the tooth extraction but it's good to rule that out.

Are you sure the problem is sinus vs allergy? With winds kicking up and everything coming into bloom, it could also be allergy related -- or both. When my cats have been congested, running the shower and betting the bathroom steamy and then sitting there with the cat did seem to help.

When Gabby was having allergy problems, her vet made the following recommendations:

Additional fish oil omega-3 fatty acids, 200-250 mg daily, are often helpful, but may take up to 2 weeks to really have an effect. Antihistamines are often helpful—we seem to have the best success with Zyrtec, which is over-the-counter, or hydroxyzine which is a prescription medication.

We have Allerderm here, but you may be able to order it online. Zyrtec dosage is ½ of a 10 mg tablet by mouth (in food…) twice daily, or about every 12 hours, try for 7 days. Watch for drowsiness or restlessness, although side effects from Zyrtec are not likely or are very mild. Use plain Zyrtec, or cetirizine, only—no combo meds. The fish oil product we use is AllerG3, or you can use human products.
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I like Nordic Naturals as a fish oil product. It's very pure and it comes in a bottle with a dropper that is calibrated for pet dosing.

 
Mouzer has something up with his sinus'. I can hear him crackling inside his nose. I had asked the vet, that we did have, at the time of Mouzer's diabetes+neuropathy diganosis, if he would do something for Mouzer's sinus', but he told me we need to get Mouzer regulated with his diabetes first, so he didnt do or suggest anything. I am watching your thread here, to see what people say. I dont know if I am supposed to leave Mouzer alone with his crackling sinus' because of this not being regulated with his diabetes or not. I have left that vet and once we have Mouzer figured out, here with the board, I will make an appt with a new vet and give them the information collected here. If anyone knows that I can do somethin for Mouzer's sinus', I sure would like to know. I guess it should be something gentle. He gets this at this time of year, due to Florida pollen and all.
 
Supurrkitten said:
Given the tooth extraction, she may have something cooking in the sinus or head area in general. It may be worth a check up. If she is otherwise normal, like no constant vomiting, head pressing, buldging eye or other weirdness, I would imagine especially since you believe it is sinus, that she can hold out to Monday.
Just my two cents.
Good luck
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Monday, not going to happen. They gave me eye ointment for when she blinks, or closes the one eye. Completely useless.
 
carfurby said:
One of my cats has seasonal allergies. My vet said I can safely give my cat 1/4 of a tablet of the 10 mg Zyrtec up to twice a day. It does help her, but sometimes I have to give it a couple of days in a row before it helps. Maybe that would help Mouse. I hope you can find something to help. Sending prayers.
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I'll pick up some Zyrtec today...thanks
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Has this happened in the past to Mouse? If it has, then it's probably not a result of the tooth extraction but it's good to rule that out.

Are you sure the problem is sinus vs allergy? With winds kicking up and everything coming into bloom, it could also be allergy related -- or both. When my cats have been congested, running the shower and betting the bathroom steamy and then sitting there with the cat did seem to help.

When Gabby was having allergy problems, her vet made the following recommendations:



I like Nordic Naturals as a fish oil product. It's very pure and it comes in a bottle with a dropper that is calibrated for pet dosing.
Click to expand...
Yes, it happens when the pressure is high pressure outside. I feel the same thing. Weird how animals can have the same condition that humans have.
I'm sure that the pollen is a factor, and would love to get out of here rather than medicate!
Maybe the tooth extraction is a factor also, since she didn't have sinus problems before. Again, I've been there myself, with root canals, tooth extractions - I get swollen gums around an area that needs re-root canal work when the weather is bad. There is a relationship between the two.
I'll try the fish oil, as I do have that on hand. Maybe better than medication. If she got any sleepier, she'd be comatose!
Luckily, her numbers have improved, (with the weather). and she's bouncing around today.
 
Cherryl & Mouzer said:
Mouzer has something up with his sinus'. I can hear him crackling inside his nose. I had asked the vet, that we did have, at the time of Mouzer's diabetes+neuropathy diganosis, if he would do something for Mouzer's sinus', but he told me we need to get Mouzer regulated with his diabetes first, so he didnt do or suggest anything. I am watching your thread here, to see what people say. I dont know if I am supposed to leave Mouzer alone with his crackling sinus' because of this not being regulated with his diabetes or not. I have left that vet and once we have Mouzer figured out, here with the board, I will make an appt with a new vet and give them the information collected here. If anyone knows that I can do somethin for Mouzer's sinus', I sure would like to know. I guess it should be something gentle. He gets this at this time of year, due to Florida pollen and all.
Click to expand...
If it were cooler, I would run the humidifier, and keep the bedroom door shut with the cat in the room. I guess, after someone showers - without the exhaust fan going, shut the cat in the bathroom with creature comforts to see if things improve?
 
Usually steam is more for congestion. It may be worth a try, though. Is there a cool(er), dark, quiet place that Mouse can hang out? At this point, I'd try whatever helps you and see if it helps your kitty.
 
Mouse & Me said:
If it were cooler, I would run the humidifier, and keep the bedroom door shut with the cat in the room. I guess, after someone showers - without the exhaust fan going, shut the cat in the bathroom with creature comforts to see if things improve?
Click to expand...

I have some Zyrtec, I keep around for all the kitties. I have been afraid to use it, since that vet wouldnt give Mouzer anything. I was afraid maybe we are not supposed to when they have diabetes. So, it would be ok to try this for Mouzer? With diabetes?
 
Cherryl & Mouzer said:
I have some Zyrtec, I keep around for all the kitties. I have been afraid to use it, since that vet wouldnt give Mouzer anything. I was afraid maybe we are not supposed to when they have diabetes. So, it would be ok to try this for Mouzer? With diabetes?
Click to expand...
I've given it to Furball in the past and it didn't affect her BG.
 
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