Maya Linn's sneezing problem

[phesina]

Prayers and healing energies are being sent for dear sweet beloved Maya Linn. Be well, little girl!

[Freedom]

Donna, my Sugar has a nasal polyp. An xray will not show this, xrays show bone, not soft tissue. The way to see it is with a procedure where the pet is anesthetized, and a small scope is inserted, either up the nostril or via the back of the throat. For Sugar, the darn thing is in a place they can't reach,* so they can't remove it, cauterize the spot and be done. Instead, Sugar has a "lavage" where they flush water through the passage to remove as much of the polyp as possible. They biopsy the largest bit to come out, to determine if it is cancerous or not. Most polyps are not cancerous, and Sugar's is not. Sugar has had this lavage 3 times in 5 years and is scheduled again for next week. I worry as now she is age 14.5 years, and that darn anesthesia becomes a risk in itself!

Picture the nasal passage as an upside down "J". Sugar's polyp is on the bottom of the upper curve == the curve is at the top, remember. So they would need an instrument which can turn 180 degrees in a VERY small space; no such thing exists at this point. It would have to be strong enough to remove the polyp and all its roots. Then a similar instrument to cauterize, again no such thing exists. The only thing they "could" do is break the facial bone to get in there - NOT doing that!

So, in between procedures, we use prednisone and nasal spray (Afrin or the store brand) to control the inflammation and swelling of the surrounding tissues. I think they told me the pred also slows the growth of the polyp. When we get to the point that this is no longer working, have to do the lavage again.

We went as long as 2 years once. Sugar had the lavage last May 2011, and is now having to go again next week, not even a year this time. Sigh.

Hope this info helps. Not sure how much of it "translates" from a dog to a cat, and of course, do not give any meds without a vet's OK, as many things dogs can take are toxic to cats.

[moosmom]

I think that little "spot" on the outside of her left nostril is a polyp. It seems to get more prominent when she has flare ups. I'm waiting for the vet to call me.

Thanks for the explanation, Sandie. That explains a lot. Poor Sugar. I hope she feels better.