rhinitis

Question
we have a male cat approx 12yrs .He developed a runny nose and sneezing quite a long time ago but it seems to come and go ,so we avoid the issue .We have booked him in for treatment several times {the vet thinks it could be a polyp }he was prescribed antibiotics which initially helped however it didn't clear the problem, the vet has suggested surgery but we have backed out each time ,partly due to the problem easing but also because he has had a hardtime ,he lost a leg a few years ago ,we nearly lost him .We have noticed his mucus is sometimes bloody ,does this mean his condition is getting worse {2} By delaying treatment ,are we endangering his life .{3} What is the likely outcome if we continue to avoid his treatment , He is eating and drinking ok and is mostly lively however when he has a bout of mucus and multiple sneezing he does sometimes seem under the weather.

Answer
Hi Gordon,

Bloody mucus indicates a great deal of inflammation.  If he hadn't previously had bloody mucus but it's becoming more common, this is a sign things are escalating.  It can be an indication that there is a growth (either a polyp or a tumor) that is become more invasive and breaking blood vessels.

Delaying treatment is generally discouraged for any condition, because things tend only to worsen.  Until a diagnosis is made, it's difficult to say whether his life is being endangered by going without treatment.  However, when you are dealing with a potential growth or infection in the sinus area, the issue can be very serious.  Bacteria from the sinuses can actually back up into the brain resulting in death.  And polyps or tumors that could be easily removed when small can also rupture through the delicate bones in the sinuses and nasal cavities, cause pressure on the eyes and brain and also be fatal.

The outcome if treatment is avoided will depend on what's causing his illness.  If he has allergic or viral rhinitis, his condition may be somewhat self-limiting and might continue to wax and wane.  I would still find it ideal to diagnose and try to treat, as I'm sure it's uncomfortable, and chronic stress on the body can lead to slow deterioration of body condition, resulting in dull fur, weight loss and overall poor health.  If he's dealing with something more aggressive like a bacterial infection, tumor or polyp, he could be in for a bad time.  Just a few months ago, I lost a cat to a very similar situation.  It turned out after months of antibiotics that a tumor had been growing in her sinuses.  Had we been more aggressive in diagnosing her, the tumor might have been possible to remove.  It was only discovered once her eye began to be dislocated by the rapidly growing tumor, and she was beyond saving.

I hope your kitty is feeling better soon!

Jessica