Feline Herpes


by Kent Pinkerton - Date: 2007-01-12 - Word Count: 320 Share This!

Feline upper respiratory disease complex affects the mouth, nasal passages, sinuses and upper airway tracts of cats and kittens. Causes of this condition include Chlamydia psittaci, reovirus, Bordatella bronchioseptica, Pasterurella and mycoplasmas but majority of cases are caused by calicivirus and feline herpes-1 virus, also called feline rhinotracheitis virus.

Feline herpes may be prevented through vaccination (e.g. injectable killed vaccine, modified live injectable vaccine, modified live vaccine administered through the nose). Vaccination may not totally prevent the disease however, as mild disease may still develop or the cat may be a carrier of the virus.

Feline herpes is transmitted through contact with the eye and/or nose discharges of an infected cat. This commonly occurs via cat-to-cat contact or through contact with dishes, bedding, toys, and the like contaminated with the discharge. Survival of the virus in the environment is less than twenty four hours and the virus is vulnerable to common household disinfectants.

Feline herpes is diagnosed through review of history (e.g. vaccination or contact with an infected cat) and symptoms. Viral isolation and culture are not requested often.

The incubation period of the feline herpes virus is two to seventeen days. The illness may last for two to four weeks, with the cat manifesting sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers, drooling, fever, depression and severe loss of appetite. The feline herpes virus causes abortion. It does not result to limping like the calicivirus does.

Management of feline herpes includes clearing the eyes and nasal passages (e.g. regular removal of discharge, nasal decongestants, etc) and application of ointments for oral ulcers and drops for eye lesions. The immune system of the cat should be strengthened through vitamins and antibiotics which control secondary bacterial infections, if there are any. Sufficient food and water intake is a must to maintain the cat's health.

The feline herpes virus may stay in the cat for a long time. Carriers of rhinotracheitis usually shed the virus when they are stressed.


Related Tags: herpes, genital herpes, herpes cure, herpes and pregnancy

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