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Cat's nose is a disease that requires treatment from a vet as soon as possible. Home management won't help much. Cat's runny nose - although it resembles a human cold - is a serious disease. Cat runny nose is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract of cats and can even result in the death of your pet. What are the causes and symptoms of cat runny nose? How long does this disease last? What is the treatment? What are the complications?

Cat's nose , a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract of cats, is a disease for which urgent treatment by a vet is required. Home management won't help much. Cat's runny nose - although it resembles a cold in humans - is a serious disease. Catarrh is characterized by inflammation of the airways from the nasal cavity to the bronchi, and also the eyes. Although it is a viral disease, in some cases bacterial superinfection and serious complications, such as pneumonia, may occur. The disease may also lead to ulcerative keratitis, which may even result in the cat losing her sight.

Cat's nose - causes. How is it infected?

The most common cause of the disease is infection with feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1). It belongs to the same family of viruses as the human herpes simplex virus or the chicken pox virus. Feline calicivirus (FCV-1) may also be responsible for the disease. Viruses are found in secretions from the nose, throat and conjunctival sac, as well as in urine and feces.

The infection occurs:

  • by direct contact with a sick cat
  • by sharing a bowl, litter box and bed with a sick cat
  • by caregivers if the virus is on their hands, shoes and clothing
  • during pregnancy (maternal infection of the fetus)
  • during mating (then the virus potentially causes miscarriages and even temporary infertility)

Kittens between 6 and 12 weeks of age are most prone to catarrh infections due to the mother's loss of immunity and not yet fully developed immunity. Similarly, cats staying in large groups (catteries, shelters).

Worth knowing

Cat's nose - can a person get infected? Is cat's cold contagious to humans?

Cat runny nose is not dangerous to humans. He cannot catch this disease from a cat. Cat flu viruses are dangerous only to felids.

Kitten suffers from runny nose

Source: youtube.com/Lena & Matilda BB

Cat runny nose - symptoms

  • sneezing
  • nasal discharge (serous to purulent)
  • rugged, swollen eyes with discharge

Kittens between 6 and 12 weeks of age are most at risk of catching a cat's nose due to the mother's loss of immunity and not yet fully developed immunity.

  • drooling (profuse foamy saliva appears)
  • increased body temperature
  • apathy
  • sleepiness
  • lack of appetite
  • ulcers and erosions on the tongue, palate and lips (with calicivirus infection)

Some cats suffer from the disease lightly, others very hard (this especially applies to young kittens, in which the disease can even end in death).

Important

Cat's nose - serious complications

A bacterial superinfection may occur in the course of the disease. Pneumonia and stomatitis and conjunctivitis may occur. The keratitis may also become ulcerated, which could result in the animal becoming permanently blind.

According to an expertveterinarian Anna Kalinowska, Animal Eye Care

Cat's catarrh is a syndrome of viral-bacterial inflammations of the nasal cavity, mouth, upper respiratory tract, conjunctiva and cornea, which is dangerous only for cats. The challenge for the veterinarian is the variety of symptoms, from runny nose to corneal ulceration to lameness.

Although the disease begins as a viral infection, it very quickly becomes entangled with bacterial superinfections, which creates additional problems in treatment. The peak incidence is observed in 6-12 week-old kittens, which is associated with the extinction of passive (maternal) immunity.

Vaccinations are very important as they reduce the risk of disease and moderate its course. Unfortunately, they are unable to prevent infection or asymptomatic carriage.

Currently in our country there are no virucidal preparations, treatment is based on symptomatic treatment, ensuring good living conditions, topical and general administration of chemotherapeutic agents with a broad spectrum of action, as well as regular removal of secretions from the eye and nose area, as it is the main source of germs in the environment.

Cat's nose - treatment

An antibiotic is used in the treatment of cat's nose - in order to prevent complicationsbacterial - both internally and externally (in the form of eye drops).

Home treatment for cat runny nose is not effective.

You should also follow the rules of hygiene - remove secretions from the cat's conjunctiva and nose, wash bowls, litter boxes, clean lairs, wash hands after contact with the cat, etc.

Increasing the humidity in the air may also help to help your pet clear dried mucus from the respiratory tract and make it easier to breathe. For example, it is worth taking your cat to the bathroom while taking a bath or shower.

In addition, you should ensure proper nutrition of your cat and constant access to clean water. The cat should rest in peace and quiet, isolated from other animals that are a potential source of disease.

It may take several weeks for symptoms to completely resolve.

However, some cats that have suffered from catarrh are carriers of the causing germs for the rest of their lives. From time to time, relapses of the disease appear, mainly in periods of increased stress and weakened immunity.

According to an expertdr inż. Jacek Wilczak, nutrition expert in the Noteć Valley, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Adequate diet is an extremely important factor in the functioning of the organism during illness, and even more so with a viral disease. This applies to both its form as well as the content and proportion of individual nutrients.

During the disease, the blood flow in the blood vessels related to the digestive tract decreases, hence the absorption of nutrients is impaired. Therefore, the digestibility of the food that we give to the cat during a viral disease is important.

Precisely because of its digestibility, wet food will be a better solution than dry food. The food should be given to the cat in smaller quantities but at shorter intervals.

The composition of the feed should take into account the increased demand for wholesome protein, which is quickly used in the regeneration process and guarantees the cat's proper nutrition during illness.

Although even short-term starvation of the cat may result in the risk of damage to, for example, the liver, lack of appetite during the disease is completely normal, and the owner should act from the very beginning of the disease by giving small portions of food.

Worth knowing

Cat's nose - vaccine. Cat's nose can be prevented!

Preventive vaccinations are available against catarrh (and specifically against herpesvirus and calicivirus). They are performed in kittens according to the schedule recommended by a veterinarian and are repeated every 1-2 years.Vaccines are to be used only in he althy and previously dewormed cats.

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