What is important to know about the cat’s viral rinotraheita

Rhinotraheita Viral Feline refers to the issue of the upper breathing areas (cat nose and throat). This is caused by the Herpesvirus Felino FHV 1 and impacts cats that have not been vaccinated, no matter their age. However, a greater chance of infection has young cats around 5-6 weeks, cats that are pregnant, or those with weak immune systems because of other health problems.

What are the symptoms?

While some cats can remain asymptomatic, that is, they do not show clinical signs, other cats that have contacted the virus can manifest the following symptoms:

• Sudden access to sneezing due to nasal congestion (inflammation of the nasal mucosa)
• Aqueous or mucopurulent nasal secretions
• Partial or total loss of smell
• Partial or total loss of appetite
• Blefarospasm, involuntary contraction of the eyelid muscles (the cat flashes often or keeps the eyes almost closed)
• Ocular secretions, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva)
• Inflammation and infection of the cornea. In the absence of adequate treatment, they can be complicated with corneal ulcer, corneal scars or dry eye diseases (Sicca keratoconjunita))
• Fever, lethargy, depressed general condition, the chicks are weak and developed inappropriately
• Abortion in the case of cats in pregnancy
• Some cats may have ulcers in the oral cavity and increase the volume of the lymph nodes (ganglion)

Factors that predispose to contact the typical virus for the viral Rhinotraheita

Fortunately, met in numerous communities of cats, breeders or overcrowded shelters, spreading feline herpes virus is favored by inappropriate ventilation, improper hygiene conditions, insufficient and lower quality foods. In addition, physical or mental stress can be another important factor, cats are very sensitive.

How is the virus transmitted?

Sick cats represent a virus tank, eliminating and spreading microbes through secretions of saliva, nasal and eye. Even after the disappearance of clinical signs, following an adequate treatment, cats can remain a period of time of the virus, being able to infect other healthy cats. Pregnant cats can transmit the transplacental chickens virus and in this way the chicks will already be born.

Enrichment of the environment for internal cats

The incubation period (time from contact with the virus until the patient begins to show clinical signs) is from 2 to 10 days.

Diagnosis of feline viral rinotraheite

The diagnosis is established by the veterinarian following an anamnesis, as detailed by the owner (data on the patient’s medical history and on the symptoms he manifests at this moment) and a complete physical examination (the actual consultation of the kitten, after which it will be established).

In addition, it is possible to perform paraclinical tests: biochemical examination in the blood, hematological examination and also biochemical examination of the urine (urinary summary and sediment).

How do we choose the right toys for our quadrupeds?

In the case of chronic infections, the radiological examination can help observe changes in the nasal cavity or changes that can occur in the chest at the pulmonary level.

How is this disease treated?

The treatment consists in the administration of broad spectrum antibiotics (they will not fight the virus). They have the role of prevention or treatment of secondary bacterial complications, such as Chlamydophila Felis and Bronchisectic or, rarely, Micoplasma.

Eye disorders will be treated with coloring (drops) or ophthalmic ointments with antibiotic, vitamins and amino acids. They play the role of treatment or prevention of infections in the eye. In addition, antiviral ophthalmic ointments can be prescribed.

In order to reduce the congestion of the nasal mucosa, nasal instillations can be performed with antibiotic and antihistamine solutions.

Toxoplasmosis – between myth and truth

It is recommended to be the bathroom several times a day of the eyes and nose to remove the secretions that often dry and cause uncomfortable to our cats. This can be done with cotton and hot serum.

Vitamin therapy and intravenous rehydration will help maintain a balanced organism, which will fight more easily.

In addition, the administration of lisin preparations can make it difficult or prevent the replication of the virus in the body, which contributes to reducing the amount of viral particles during the infection.

Patient management by the owner

When our cat is diagnosed with a viral rinotraheite, it is very important to remove any stress factors that can help decrease its immune state. We must give the kitten a quiet place where it can rest without being disturbed, sheltered from the intensely circulated areas.

Guide: how we take care of the chicks of the newborn cat

In addition, the suspicious or diagnosed cat with this virus must be isolated by other healthy cats, which can transmit the virus.

We can bring a litter to the cat that we install close to the place established for rest and also a ship of water and one with food, to reduce the effort made, to carry out these activities.

Try not to leave him unattended for long periods during the day and monitor the breath. If known difficulties in breathing, accelerated breathing or on the contrary, slowly, go urgently to the vet.

If your kitten refuses to eat a few consecutive days, the doctor can resort to entry into nutrition, through nasogastic/gastric pipes. (It is mounted in the veterinary office, where the doctor can teach you how to correctly feed the cat through the tube, clean it and keep it in an adequate condition for a period of time).

In most cases, in the absence of overlapping bacterial infections and with adequate treatment, the cat condition will improve in the next 7-10 days, the prognosis is favorable.

The only way to prevent the occurrence of this condition is the regular vaccination of cats according to the pattern recommended by the vet. The multipurpose vaccines used in veterinary offices will provide immunity to cats against this disease.