At Animal Expert we want the best for your pet, so we try to address all the diseases, conditions and behaviors that may occur to your four-legged friend.
On this occasion, we will talk about feline calicivirus, symptoms and treatment, since this disease is extremely common in cats and can be dangerous for your cat if it is not detected in time.
- Always remember not to take care of your pet.
- Go to your veterinarian for any unusual symptoms or behavior and give your boyfriend all the love.
- Care and food he needs to be a strong.
- Healthy and happy animal.
It is a very infectious disease that usually affects large feline colonies, due to the ease with which the virus is transmitted, although it can also occur in domestic cats.
Calicivirus (FCV) is a type of feline flu that manifests as an acute respiratory disease that affects the upper tracts of the feline and can cause sinusitis and rhinitis, the virus belongs to the family Caliciviridae, genus Vesivirus.
Even when they appear to be cured, affected cats can become healthy carriers, where the high level of transmission of this disease resides.
Feline calicivirus is a virus whose infectious strain changes easily, that is, the same strain adapts and changes depending on the environment in which it is located and the requirements it presents, so the virus develops small variations.
These variations have led to the existence of a large number of strains of this disease, making it difficult to identify and prevent it accurately.
Furthermore, even cats vaccinated against the virus can contract it, precisely because of this mutability. Of course, vaccinating them significantly reduces the chances, which is why it is considered mandatory to do so.
It is very common to appear in colonies or shelters of feral cats, as it spreads very easily, however, if your domestic cat has access to the outside, it may also be infected and other cats in the house, if any.
In addition, your cat can sometimes contract this virus chronically or even become a carrier, meaning it won’t have any symptoms or discomfort, but it can transmit the disease to other cats.
The main route of contagion is direct contact with infected felines or carriers, as it is transported in saliva and faeces, albeit in a smaller proportion.
The most common means of contagion occurs through objects or spaces used or frequented by an infected cat involving contact with animal fluids, such as canteens, toys and sanitary beds, as bacteria can survive in these areas for up to 28 days.
They are more likely to get the virus from young puppies, stray animals, older cats and immunosuppressed cats, however, any cat can become infected with the virus, so it is important to keep up with the vaccines and care needed to prevent contagion..
It is important to note that this virus is not transmitted to humans or dogs.
Feline calicivirus is a respiratory disease, because the virus enters the animal through the mouth or nose, lodged in the lymphoid tissue corresponding to the oropharynge, affecting the lungs, its symptoms are:
The disease can be aggravated by causing pneumonia and arthritis, even in rare cases.Some strains cause fever and limping.
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 10 days after infection.The pain of mouth ulcers causes the cat to stop eating.Conjunctivitis can also cause corneal ulcers, due to the animal’s efforts to scratch.
The virus cycle lasts about four weeks and most cats recover, although there are chronic and healthy carriers.Approximately 80% of cats stop infecting the virus 75 days after recovery, but the remaining 20% become healthy carriers for years or even the rest of their lives.
In recent years a more virulent and dangerous strain of this virus has been discovered, called feline systemic virulent calicivirus (VS-FCV), whose symptoms in addition to those already mentioned are:
If not treated in a timely and appropriate manner, the virus can lead to death.
Symptoms quickly determine whether it is a case of feline calicivirus, especially when ulcers appear in the animal’s mouth; however, laboratory tests are performed on cultures of tissues of the oropharyngeal mucosa.
Once the presence of the virus has been identified and the strain will be prescribed treatment, it is not a drug that kills the virus, however, drugs are prescribed that support the animal during the duration of its pathological cycle, helping to relieve symptoms.and prevent them from getting worse.
Antibiotics are prescribed for possible infections, as well as medications that help the cat breathe better, pain relievers to control pain, as well as antivirals to control the effects of the infection.
Hydration is extremely important, so in principle fluid therapy treatment will be prescribed at your doctor’s discretion.
If the cat refuses to eat because of the pain, we recommend that you offer it a sweet and scented food, in case of failure, you should use the assisted feeding in liquid form, using a syringe, always careful not to hurt the animal or Cause unnecessary stress.
In the face of mucous secretions and tears, it is necessary to assist the cat with a constant cleaning carried out with a piece of wet cotton, to avoid the discomfort of the cat and avoid possible complications by bacteria.
The feline must be kept in a comfortable, warm and air-free environment to help its rapid recovery, and it is essential that the animal remains isolated from other cats around it and prevents outdoor incursions.
See your veterinarian about testing to rule out diseases such as leukemia and feline immunodeficiency, as cats with this type of infection are more likely to develop other diseases.
Pets recommend following the vaccination schedule of kittens, as indicated by the veterinarian, repeating the withdrawals each year, although this does not prevent the virus from spreading to 100%, it will be more protected than other animals.
If you’ve saved a street feline, it should remain isolated from your other animals until you perform the lab tests needed to rule out this and other diseases.
When it comes to shelter, vaccination is also critical.Cats that have been confirmed infection with feline calicivirus should be separated from others to prevent an epidemic, each must have its own feeder and its own sandbox, periodically it is necessary to disinfect the objects it uses with products that eliminate the virus and not harmful to the feline.
Shelters should take care of the last sick animals, after caring for everyone else, wash their faces and arms and change clothes when they have finished handling the carriers of the virus.
The area where calicivirus animals will be isolated must have adequate ventilation, low humidity and cold temperatures, the spaces will be cleaned frequently.
The most important thing for the prevention of this disease, in addition to maintaining a vaccination regimen, is to maintain strict hygiene that prevents its spread.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Viral Diseases section.