TL;DR: Crusty nasal discharge in cats is often caused by mild irritants or aging, but requires veterinary attention if accompanied by breathing difficulties or lethargy. Monitor your cat's behavior and take a clear photo to help your vet determine the severity.
What causes my cat to have crusty discharge around their nostrils?
- Crusty discharge is typically composed of dried mucus, environmental dust, or secretions from the tear ducts.
- The discharge can range in color from clear or black to yellow and green.
- While often caused by simple respiratory irritants or normal aging, it can also indicate viral or bacterial infections such as Feline Herpesvirus or Calicivirus.
Is crusty discharge around my cat's nose a medical emergency?
- The urgency level is generally low if your cat is behaving normally, eating, drinking, and playing.
- Monitor your pet closely; if the crustiness occurs alongside significant lethargy or a total loss of appetite, the urgency increases.
- Seek prompt veterinary care if your cat shows any visible signs of difficulty breathing.
How does taking a photo of my cat's nose help the veterinary triage process?
- A high-quality image allows professionals to evaluate the texture, color, and distribution of the crusting.
- Photos help the vet determine if the issue is localized to the skin or originating from within the nasal passage.
- Visual evidence provides essential information to guide the next steps for your cat's comfort and care.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
In cats, crusty discharge around the nostrils can be indicative of several underlying conditions. An acute unilateral nasal discharge, sometimes accompanied by pawing at the face, may suggest a foreign body. Chronic nasal discharge that was initially unilateral but becomes bilateral or changes from mucopurulent to serosanguineous or hemorrhagic may suggest neoplastic or mycotic disease. Chronic states of feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) and feline calicivirus (FCV) can also manifest with intermittent shedding associated with stress, and bacterial rhinitis or sinusitis is frequently a secondary complication. Allergic rhinitis, smoke aspiration, inhalation of irritant gases, and dusts are also potential causes. Diagnosis is based on history, physical examination, radiographic findings (especially CT), rhinoscopy, nasal biopsy, deep nasal tissue culture, and elimination of other causes of nasal discharge and sneezing. Advanced imaging and biopsy may identify the specific etiology, such as fungal rhinitis, neoplasia, or foreign body. Serum titers for cryptococcal antigen are specific and sensitive for nasal cryptococcosis.
Chapter: Respiratory, Infectious Diseases, Neoplasia, Fungal
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1489)