Can Infected Teeth Cause Sneezing?
My cat has been sneezing and wheezing
when he is resting. He is eating and drinking
normally and I have been giving him antibiotic
shots for about two weeks but he doesn’t
seem to be improving.
My vet has said he has an
inflamed gum and he recommends the removal of
a canine tooth. However, Baxter is not
experiencing pain on either side of his mouth, at
least when I apply pressure.
I would really like to avoid the trauma of a tooth
removal. Should I get the vet to do x-rays of the nose
and mouth? Other suggestions?
Thanks, Diane and Baxter
Washington, DC
Several different problems can lead to sneezing and wheezing in cats. Sinus infections, allergies, viruses and foreign objects or growths in the nose are some of the most common culprits.
In Baxter’s case, I am wondering whether the inflamed tooth and the nasal symptoms may be related. The roots of the upper canine teeth lie very close to the nasal passages. If a canine tooth root becomes infected, it can cause a chronic sinus infection.
Although Baxter’s tooth does not seem to hurt him, inflamed or infected teeth and gums generally do cause pain. Some cats are very stoic, and do not show signs of dental pain. There is a chance that the tooth is hurting him even though he doesn’t act like it.
I think that taking X-rays of the tooth and the surrounding area is an excellent idea. X-rays will help to determine how severely damaged the tooth is, and whether it is contributing to Baxter’s wheezing and sneezing. This will help you and your vet make an informed decision about extraction of the tooth.
Be aware that if the tooth is not playing a role in Baxter’s troubles, the path ahead could be frustrating. Diagnosing chronic sinus problems often involves complex and expensive tests such as CT scanning, rhinoscopy (using a special instrument to visually examine the interior areas of the nose and sinuses) and biopsy.
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You have questions. 
Not to alarm you, but my cat, Spunky, had the same problem - sneezing that was not helped by medication. Two years ago he had an eye removed because of a cancerous tumor behind the eye. The cancer has returned and the sneezing is related because the tumor has moved into the sinus area. However, before finding that out, I did some research and found that sneezing can be related to an abscessed tooth. I had his teeth cleaned, the sneezing still continued, and then we did x-rays and a biopsy and discovered the tumor. Good luck!
My grandpa’s 12 yr old cat just had this problem. We took him in because we thought he had a cold, but discovered a couple abscess teeth that had to be removed. Once the teeth were removed and he had antibiotics, he was fine. The abscess infection had moved to his sinuses.