Could a Polyp Be Causing Your Cat’s Chronic Symptoms?
Polyps grow quietly in feline nasal passages and ear canals, and their symptoms often look like a lingering cold or ear mites. Snoring builds slowly. Head shaking becomes routine. Nasal discharge lingers despite antibiotics. These benign growths block airflow and irritate tissues, which can delay diagnosis until breathing or hearing problems become hard to ignore. Catching them early makes treatment simpler and recovery faster.
At Cupertino Animal Hospital, our Pet Ear Care Center focuses on stubborn ear and respiratory issues in cats. We diagnose nasopharyngeal and aural polyps with endoscopy and plan care with advanced diagnostic imaging such as CT when needed. Our surgical capabilities include polyp removal techniques designed to lower the chance of regrowth. If your cat has chronic snoring, nasal congestion, or recurring ear infections, ask about polyp screening during routine wellness examinations. Noticing signs early helps prevent complications. Contact us to schedule an evaluation.
Why These Benign Growths Still Matter
Imagine a young cat whose sneezing and noisy breathing never truly clear, even with medications. Or a kitten with ear infections that keep coming back. These are classic stories of feline polyps.
Polyps aren’t cancer, but they can block airflow or ear drainage and trigger repeated infections. The result is a cycle of “almost better” that never lasts. With a thorough exam, they’re very treatable, and most cats do great after removal.
Our Pet Ear Care Center uses video otoscopy to find hidden polyps early so your cat can breathe and hear comfortably again.
What Exactly Are Feline Polyps?
Feline polyps are soft, benign growths that often start in the middle ear or the Eustachian tube (the small passage that connects the ear to the back of the throat). They can grow on a stalk, like a tiny mushroom, and extend into the ear canal, throat, or nasal passages.
Most affect young cats, especially under five years old. They don’t spread like cancer, but where they grow matters: a polyp in the back of the throat can block airflow, while one in the ear can trap moisture and bacteria. Inflammatory polyps are the most common type.
- Nasopharyngeal polyps grow toward the throat and nose.
- Aural polyps extend into the ear canal.
Our team uses targeted diagnostics to map where a polyp starts and how far it reaches before treatment.
Noisy Breathing and “Perma-Colds”: Respiratory Red Flags
Cats with throat or nasal polyps often look like they have a never-ending cold. The key clue is persistence: symptoms don’t clear with standard cold or allergy treatments.
Watch for:
- Constant sneezing that returns after meds
- Snorting or snoring during normal breathing
- Ongoing nasal discharge
- Voice changes or muffled meowing
- Trouble swallowing or messy eating
- Open-mouth breathing in severe cases
- Vestibular syndrome: head tilt and balance issues
Snoring sounds come from turbulent airflow past a blockage. If your cat snores even at rest or seems to struggle to breathe through the nose, it’s time for an exam. Open-mouth breathing is an emergency.
The Ear Connection: When “Chronic Ear Infections” Aren’t Just Infections
Polyps in the middle ear or ear canal can look like stubborn ear infections. If treatment helps only briefly, a deeper cause may be at play.
Common ear-related signs:
- Repeat ear infections that never fully clear
- Ongoing discharge or odor
- Head shaking or pawing at one ear
- Head tilt, wobbliness, or circling
- Abnormal eye movements
- Horner’s syndrome (droopy eyelid, small pupil, raised third eyelid on the same side)
These signs can point to middle or inner ear irritation. Otitis externa affects the outer ear canal, while otitis media and interna involve the middle and inner ear structures.
Our otology-focused exams use video otoscopy to see deeper and more clearly, so we can spot polyps that a quick look might miss.
What About Dogs? Ear Masses Aren’t Just a Cat Problem
While inflammatory polyps are most common in cats, dogs can develop ear masses too, and some require more urgent attention.
Dogs are more likely than cats to develop tumors of the ear, and these growths aren’t always benign. Ceruminous gland adenomas and adenocarcinomas arise from the wax-producing glands in the ear canal. Squamous cell carcinomas can develop in chronically inflamed ears. Even benign tumors can cause significant problems by blocking drainage, trapping infection, and damaging surrounding structures.
Warning signs in dogs:
- Chronic ear infections that don’t respond fully to treatment
- Visible masses or growths in the ear canal
- Bloody or unusual discharge
- Head shaking, scratching, or pain when the ear is touched
- Hearing loss on one side
- Facial nerve changes like a drooping lip or inability to blink
The key difference between dogs and cats: in dogs, ear masses are more likely to be cancerous, especially in older animals or those with long histories of ear disease. Early evaluation and biopsy are important. What looks like “just another ear infection” could be something more serious growing deeper in the canal.
If your dog has recurring ear problems or you notice any visible growth, don’t wait. Our Pet Ear Care Center evaluates both dogs and cats with video otoscopy and advanced imaging to determine whether a mass is present, where it originates, and whether it needs surgical removal or further testing.
How Vets Find Hidden Polyps
A routine check is often not enough. Polyps hide behind the soft palate or deep in the ear, so sedation or anesthesia is usually needed for a stress-free, thorough look.
What we do:
- Video otoscopy to view the ear canal, eardrum, and any masses
- Gentle elevation of the soft palate under anesthesia to see the back of the throat
- Endoscopy for a closer look inside narrow spaces
If a polyp isn’t visible but still suspected, imaging helps.
When Imaging Adds Answers
X-rays can show changes in the middle ear. CT scans offer clearer, 3D views to pinpoint polyp size and location and guide treatment plans. Our cone beam CT scanner provides high-quality 3D imaging during the visit, allowing us to diagnose disease or injury and plan the most effective treatment approach. Our in-house diagnostic imaging helps decide whether a simple removal or a more definitive surgery is best.
Tissue samples are sent to the lab after removal to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes, like cancerous growths.
Treatment Options: Removing the Polyp
Medication alone won’t make a polyp disappear. Removal is the solution. We’ll recommend an approach based on where the polyp starts and whether infections or recurrence are concerns.
Traction Removal: Simple and Minimally Invasive
With the cat under anesthesia, the visible polyp is gently grasped and removed by steady traction. Benefits include:
- No incisions and quick relief
- Fast recovery for most cats
Limitations:
- Recurrence can happen if the base remains
- Some cats may need repeat treatment or a different surgery later
Some vets add short-term anti-inflammatory meds after traction removal. Surgical options for feline inflammatory polyps vary in approach and outcomes.
Our surgical team uses video guidance to remove as much of the stalk as possible.
Ventral Bulla Osteotomy: Lower Risk of Regrowth
For deep-seated or recurring polyps, or when middle ear disease is significant, a ventral bulla osteotomy (a small opening into the middle ear from underneath) allows removal of the polyp at its base and cleaning of inflamed tissue. Advantages:
- Much lower chance of the polyp returning
- Helpful when traction removal isn’t enough
This is a more involved procedure, but recovery is typically smooth with good pain control. If both ears are affected, surgeries are usually staged. We utilize Piezo surgery, an ultrasonic technique that offers safer, less traumatic surgery with minimal bleeding and accelerated healing compared to traditional methods.
Recovery: What to Expect After Surgery
Most cats bounce back quickly. Pain control and, if needed, antibiotics are provided. Cats who have the definitive middle ear procedure usually wear an e-collar for incision protection and may prefer soft food at first.
Temporary changes that often resolve on their own:
- Horner’s syndrome (droopy eyelid, small pupil, raised third eyelid) for a few weeks
- Mild head tilt or wobbliness improving over several weeks
- Brief appetite dip after anesthesia
These signs look dramatic but are usually short-lived and painless. We schedule rechecks to ensure healing is on track.
Long-Term Outlook: Excellent With Proper Care
With the right treatment, the prognosis is excellent. Most cats return to normal breathing and comfort, and their energy improves. Recurrence is more likely after traction removal than after the middle ear procedure, so watch for returning signs like snoring, head shaking, or discharge.
Cats who undergo the more definitive surgery rarely see regrowth. Regular wellness visits help catch any concerns early and keep ears healthy.
FAQs: Quick Answers for Cat Parents
What is a feline polyp in simple terms?
A benign, soft growth that can block the ear canal or back of the throat, causing repeat infections or noisy breathing.
How do I know it’s not just a cold or ear mites?
If symptoms keep returning despite treatment, or your cat snorts, snores, or has one-sided ear issues, it’s worth screening for a polyp.
Is this cancer?
No. Feline inflammatory polyps are benign. The issue is blockage, not spread.
Will medication cure it?
No. Polyps need to be removed. Medication can help with inflammation or infection but won’t eliminate the growth.
Which surgery is best?
It depends on location, severity, and whether the polyp has recurred. Surgical options for polyps differ in technique and recurrence rates, and we’ll discuss the plan that fits your cat.
Can dogs get polyps too?
Dogs occasionally develop polyps, but ear masses in dogs are more commonly tumors, some of which can be cancerous. Any visible growth or chronic ear problem in a dog should be evaluated promptly.
What’s recovery like?
Most cats recover quickly. Temporary eye or balance changes are common after middle ear surgery and typically resolve in weeks.
Your Partner in Ear and Respiratory Health
If your cat’s “cold” never ends or dog’s ear infections keep coming back, a polyp could be the missing piece. The good news: with the right diagnosis and removal, most cats feel dramatically better.
We combine otology expertise, video otoscopy, endoscopy, and advanced diagnostics to identify and treat polyps effectively. Our 4K endoscope provides over 100 times better clarity than traditional equipment, allowing us to evaluate the ear canal, eardrum, middle ear, inner ear, Eustachian tube, nasopharynx, and adenoid gland with exceptional detail. We offer both minimally invasive and definitive surgical options through our ear treatment services and surgical capabilities. If your cat has chronic nasal congestion, snoring, or stubborn ear issues, schedule an examination. We’re here to help, guide, and partner with you to restore your cat’s comfort and ease your worries.
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