One of the most "nasty" diseases of cats is infectious and herpesviral rhinotracheitis . A lot of owners associate the disease with a common cold, when the animal coughs a little, dies, and everything goes by itself. In fact, everything is much more serious, serious complications can arise.
Ways of infection
The disease is provoked by the virus FHV-1 (feline herpes). Home pets (except for other cats), just like people, you can not be afraid for your health. But a healthy cat is very easy to catch: the infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, keeps on clothes, shoes, even insects are its carriers. The humid environment is the ideal habitat for these bacteria, that is, your pet can get sick just by contacting with puddles, soil, grass, where saliva, feces, tears, seminal fluid, milk of the infected individual first got into it.
The signs of rhinotracheitis do not always appear clearly, the host may not be aware of the problem. Most susceptible animals with weak immunity and kittens. Exacerbate the situation of chronic diseases, stress, hypothermia, malnutrition, poor conditions of the pet.
Rinotracheitis in cats - symptoms and treatment
Viral rhinotracheitis in cats with good immunity is poorly manifested, the symptoms are as follows: the animal refuses to eat, noticeably mild ailment, the discharge from the eyes and nose is very slight. Most often the disease is very acute. The first manifestations are fever, depression, sneezing. Within 24 hours the condition of the pet deteriorates sharply, then it is easiest to notice that something is amiss with the animal.
At the height of infection, the cat begins to sneeze and cough. Allocations from the eyes and nose can be transparent up to purulent. The animal breathes a mouth, there is a dyspnea and salivation, as the mucous membranes become inflamed and swell. Listen to nasal whistles and wheezing. The cornea becomes cloudy, numerous small ulcers can be seen on the upper side of the tongue. The temperature reaches 40 degrees. After severe attacks of cough, mucous vomiting often begins. Summing up all that occurs during such a cat's disease as rhinotracheitis, it becomes clear why the pet is exhausted, does not want to drink and eat. Pregnancy will be difficult, the probability of the appearance of dead offspring is high.
Such a "cold" can provoke pneumonia or bronchitis. In some cases, the nervous system is affected: gait becomes trapped, limbs twitch, possibly muscle trembling. In case of a prolonged lesion of the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal atony and permanent constipation will appear. Chronic rhinotracheitis causes a persistent runny nose, frequent sneezing. The triggered form of such infection can contribute to leukemia or viral immunodeficiency -
To cure the animal, the veterinarian usually prescribes antibiotics, immunomodulators, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and expectorant drugs. Vitamins are provided, drops for the nose and eyes are needed. The minimum treatment period is 1 week. An adult pet carries a virus much easier, lethal cases in only 15%. Among kittens, the mortality rate reaches a sufficiently high level, so an infected pet should be isolated from healthy cats, if such are in the house and necessarily from a small offspring. Prevent the disease can be through timely vaccination. Be attentive to the behavior and condition of your pets.