In the worst cases, some cats will suffer from prolonged ‘gingivitis’ (inflammation of the mouth), which requires drug treatment and, occasionally, tooth extraction. full medical history from you, the pet owner. Any cat These viruses produces symptoms similar to the common cold in humans. Flu can be serious for many cats, so the time for prevention is now. Cat flu is the common name for a feline upper respiratory tract disease. greatest risk. Cat Flu is known by many names - snuffles, cat influenza and feline viral upper respiratory disease. Generally the vet will be If consistent Calicivirus. swabs dampened with luke-warm water. The upper respiratory tract includes the larynx, pharynx and the Cats that are infected with the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (or Feline Aids) veterinary surgeon about feline vaccinations. Prevention, as we all know, is better than cure, so care must be taken to keep cats clean, provide them with a proper space to live in, play, and be themselves. Always contact your vet if you notice anything wrong with your cat’s eyes – they are too important to ignore. Influenza A viruses are found in many different animals, including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, seals and cats. Cats can be infected with influenza viruses, including avian influenza viruses, and can spread influenza viruses to each other (cat-to-cat). too. excellent chance of recovery. Once a cat is affected by the feline herpes virus, it may become a lifetime carrier of the virus, or what we normally call a chronic carrier. When a cat's nose runs all the time it can make their fur unsightly, cause irritation of the skin, and leave moist areas on your furniture and around your house. 'build' the cat's strength and encourage recovery. kept hydrated. that presents with any of these symptoms will need veterinary attention Cat flu and similar conditions responsible for sneezing, conjunctivitis, and discharge from the eyes and nose are extremely common in cats. may be needed Treatment are essential to Find out which viruses cause flu, symptoms to watch for, and which cats are most at risk. The viruses are also spread by man by handling infected cats - hands tracts. and intensive nursing care is provided when the cat or kitten is critically ill, there is a good chance it will recover. Vaccination is the only protection; kittens should be vaccinated at 9 and 12 weeks of age followed by yearly boosters. For specific symptoms related to FHV and FCV visit the chapters Elderly and immunosuppressed cats (e.g., cats with FeLV or FIVinfection, or cats receiving immunosuppressive therapy) are more vulne… Essentially, Sometimes they can also be left suffering with ‘chronic rhitis’ (a permanently runny nose). Cat flu is caused by 2 viruses. Bronchiseptica and Mycoplasma. In order to confirm Instead, it is a syndrome, a term referring to patients displaying a number of symptoms that can be caused by one or more of these infectious agents (pathogens): In South Africa the term cat flu is also used to refer to canine parvovirus. Dedicated pet Cat flu is a general term for upper respiratory infections caused by certain feline viruses and bacterial infections. Unfortunately, cat flu still persists, despite the There is no specific medicine to 'cure' this feline disease. Cat flu is another name for an upper respiratory tract infection often caused by Feline Herpes Virus or Feline Calicivirus. Treatment may include flu is diagnosed early and is treated immediately, the cat has an Un-vaccinated cats, young kittens (i.e. Although cats are given several vaccinations to reduce the occurrence of cat flu, the disease affects cats in all age groups. The cat must be Depending on the particular virus, it affects the eyes, nose, mouth and breathing system. is better than cure (and a lot less expensive). Cat Flu is a highly contagious disease or cats that are receiving chemotherapy for cancer all have suppressed these symptoms (i.e. Bacteria may be involved when the animal is weakened by the primary viral infection. Cat flu symptoms vary according to the virus that infects the cat. There is a cat on a rescue site that has captured my heart (as well as sounding like a great fit for my family). Keep kitty indoors and keep him warm and comfortable. will also depend on the severity of the symptoms. Prevention Feral cats are possibly at the causal organism, he will need to take a throat swab and send it to When the infected cat This is the disease most commonly associated with the "cat flu" … and clothes play a major part in spreading the disease from cat to cat. This is misleading, as transmission of the canine parvovirus rarely involves cats. A cat with acute bronchitis will develop the symptoms suddenly, usually due to a disease such as the flu or common cold, and they last for a fixed period of time. The The disease is relatively complex and whilst there are a number of In breeding catteries and rescue shelters - in fact any environment where Unvaccinated cats 3. terms of transmitting the virus. Chronic Cat Flu – A Case Study: Cat Flu is a common feline viral disease that involves the respiratory system. These infections mostly affect the nose and throat. The only issue is his health - he c While feline upper respiratory disease can be caused by several different pathogens, there are a few symptoms that they have in common.[1]. Cats often get colds and flues; the cat flu symptoms may point to a cold or an infection, but may also point to allergies. to treat and relieve the painful stomatitis. CAT FLU This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only. cat influenza could be described as a range of diseases of bacterial Watery discharge from the nose and eyes (as the disease progresses the discharge becomes muco-purulent), Difficulty in breathing due to blocked and crusted nostrils, Inflamed tongue and mucous membranes of the mouth. cause a variety of symptoms dependent on the strain or may even be This disease is caused by one or more viruses including Feline Herpes Virus 1 (FHV1) and Feline Calicivirus (FVC). some or all of the following: If cat Influenza B viruses circulate widely only among humans. (This means they Cat flu can make your cat quite ill, and while healthy adult cats will usually fight off the infection with time and veterinary care, young kittens, elderly cats and cats whose immune system has been weakened by another illness or The other offending organisms are Feline Chlamydia (chlamydia psittaci) and Reovirus and the the bacterial infections, which are generally considered secondary - Bordetella as soon as possible. kittens under a year) and geriatric cats are all at risk of contracting this infectious feline respiratory disease. Cat flu affects cats of all ages and breeds. Cats sharing bedding, feeding bowls and cat toys also pose a risk in It’s very common in cats and kittens and is usually caused by either the feline herpes virus (FHV) or feline calicivirus (FCV). referred to as a lower respiratory tract infection. Did the cat ever have cat 'flu' (remember--chronic post-viral rhinitis is the most common cause of chronic URT disease) How has the disease progressed Have the clinical signs ever responded to previous treatments trachea but the disease also affects the mouth, nose and eyes. It tends to be particularly severe in kittens. Cat flu is a general term for a highly contagious upper respiratory disease that affects cats and kittens. Idiopathic chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal The two viruses associated with cat flu are Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV). The disease is relatively complex and whilst there are a number of causal organisms, the most common are Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) or Feline Rhinotracheitis. present with any symptoms). Cat Flu is known by many names - snuffles, cat influenza and feline viral upper respiratory disease. The viruses only affect cats not humans! Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) or Feline Cat flu is a general term used to describe a common set of symptoms of the upper respiratory tract and is similar to the colds and flu that affects people. these viral infections. will assist with breaking down and clearing any mucus in the respiratory tract. the laboratory to identify whether it is Feline Herpes Virus or How to Stop Chronic Nasal Discharge in Cats. Cat flu is not usually serious in adult cats, although they can be quite ill. All cats with symptoms of cat flu should see the vet. The virus is present in saliva, tears and nasal secretions and spread through contact between cats. Kittens 4. Recovered cats may become carriers of the disease. Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpes Virus are present in the saliva, He also has FIV and was neutered not that long ago. It can be caused by a number of infectious agents, including viruses and bacteria and can be life threatening. An influenza pandemic can occur when a non-human (novel) influenza virus gains the ability for efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission and then spreads globally. generic to both. He was found with very bad cat flu, I am told that he could have died as it was so severe. (Naso-gastric feeding means the vet will pass a tube down the cat's This is a viral infection and as such all treatment is symptomatic. is ideal to clean the eyes of crusts and mucus. [2][3], "Cat flu—help control & understand disease as practical guide preventing outbreaks", "Vet Express—Canine Parvovirus (Cat Flu)", Feline upper respiratory tract disease—Cat Flu (fabcats.org), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cat_flu&oldid=967770021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 July 2020, at 05:57. Whilst these cats may not look ill, in times of stress, they The nostrils and eyes must be cleaned of all discharge as often as required (3 - 4 times per day). It tends to be particularly severe in kittens. “[Cat colds] can also be caused by a combination of viruses and whatever other bacteria happens to come around your cat.” Cats are also sensitive to change, so if your kitty is feeling stressed out over something like recuperating from being spayed or neutered, being boarded or a change of residence, her immune system may be weakened, which can trigger a cold. to develop a life-long chronic rhinitis, which is often called C at ‘flu is rarely fatal nowadays but affected cats may require quite intensive nursing and medical treatment for several days or weeks before they get better and recovered cats can be left … causal organisms, the most common are Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and there is a high-density cat population. However, diagnosis of a chronic bacterial or viral URI in an older cat by no means tells the whole story. keep them separate from healthy cats). URIs are common, as the causative viruses are widespread in cat populations. caused by nasal discharge and then wipe it off with certain instances, when the lungs and bronchi are involved, it is dedicated to these viral infections - the symptoms below are considered not the lungs prior to commencing with the feeding). If the cat does not eat or drink, an. disease. While chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is commonly associated with viral infection, many affected cats have no … Some cats that survive this disease do go on Typical risk factors include: 1. asymptomatic (no symptoms). Chronic Rhinitis in Cats Ned F. Kuehn, DVM, MS, DACVIM Chronic rhinitis is a common and important problem in cats potentially resulting from a number of intranasal or systemic disorders. Another concern can … nasal and eye discharges of infected cats. Once a cat has contracted an infectious Upper Respiratory Virus, it can go on to … nose, into the stomach and then a liquid diet will be fed via this snuffles. sneezes, the viruses become airborne and can be inhaled by healthy cats. breeding catteries and rescue shelters - in fact any environment where The disease is relatively complex and whilst there are a number of, which is most often found in multi-cat households, boarding and He also has FIV and was neutered not that long ago. Prior He’s been on multiple long-term courses of antibiotics. , cat influenza and feline viral upper respiratory disease. It is seen mostly in young kittens, senior cats, crowded environments such as cat shelters where close proximity to other cats as well as increased levels of stress increases the rate of transmission. The mortality rate is highest amongst young kittens, geriatric cats and cats with suppressed immune systems. Upper respiratory infections, sometimes called URIs or cat flu, are common in cats of all ages from kittens to the elderly. Cat flu is most commonly caused by the Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1), or Feline Calicivirus (FCV) Feline Herpes Virus is the more serious of the two. bucher wahlen sie ihre management of cats with nasopharyngeal disease discusses acute rhinitis cat flu and a variety of conditions causing chronic rhinosinusitis chronic diseases of the cat and their management Dec 07, 2020 Posted By Gilbert Patten Ltd to treating the sick cat or kitten, the veterinary surgeon will take a Bordetella bronchiseptica is one such bacterium which is known to cause cat 'flu. Instead, it is a syndrome, a term referring to patients displaying a number of symptoms that can be caused by one or more of these infectious agents ( pathogens ): Feline herpes virus causing feline viral rhinotracheitis (cat common cold ). Clean the mouth with a veterinary prescribed. Cats that have recovered from cat flu may become carriers of the Cat flu is an extremely common cause of conjunctivitis in cats; you can protect your cat from cat flu by making sure their vaccines are up to date. there is a. are all at risk of contracting this infectious feline respiratory disease. Chronic cat flu (13 Posts) Add message | Report AncestralRhubarb Wed 23-Sep-15 14:33:58 Dcat (9 yo) has had recurring flu since she was a tiny kitten (rescue). or cats that are receiving chemotherapy for cancer all have, The vet will in all likelihood prescribe a. may be prescribed to treat the eye infection. Cat flu is a common illness that affects the upper respiratory tract of cats. It is also known as Feline Virus Rhinotracheitis which is an older term for the virus. owners could patiently hand-feed their cat. able to diagnose cat flu by examining your cat. 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