In Animals and Pets Online we want the best for your pet, That is why we try to cover all the diseases, ailments and behaviors that may be presented to your furry friend.
On this occasion, we will talk about the feline calicivirus, symptoms and treatment , because this disease is very common among cats and can be dangerous for your cat if it is not detected in time.
Always remember not to self-medicate your pet, go to the consultation with your veterinarian before any unusual symptoms or behavior, and give your little friend all the love, care and food he needs to be a strong, healthy and happy animal.
What is feline calicivirus?
It is a highly infectious disease that usually affects large colonies of felines, due to the ease with which the virus is transmitted.However, it can also appear among home cats.
Calicivirus (FCV) is a type of feline flu .It manifests itself as an acute respiratory disease that affects the feline's upper pathways, causing sinusitis and rhinitis.to the family Caliciviridae, of the genus Vesivirus.
Even when they appear to have been cured, felines that have been affected can become healthy carriers, therein lies the high level of contagion of this disease.
Why is feline calicivirus risky?
Feline calicivirus is a virus whose infectious strain easily mutates , that is, the same strain adapts and changes according to the environment in which it meets the requirements which this presents, against which the virus develops small variations.
These variations have resulted in the existence of a huge number of strains of this disease, which makes its exact identification and prevention complicated.
In addition, even cats vaccinated against the virus can get it , due precisely to this ability to mutability.Of course, vaccinating them considerably reduces the chances, so it is considered mandatory to do so.
Its appearance is very frequent in wild colonies of cats or in shelters, because it spreads very easily.However, if your pet cat has access to the outside, there is also a possibility of contagion, being able to infect other cats in the home if There will be.
In addition, sometimes your cat can contract this virus chronically, or even become a carrier, which means that he will not present any symptoms or discomfort but could transmit the disease to other cats.
How is it spread?
The main route of infection is through direct contact with infected felines or carriers, as it is transported in saliva and feces, although in smaller proportions.
The most common means of infection is produced through the objects or spaces that an infected cat uses or frequents and that involves contact with fluids of the animal, such as feeders, toys and sanitary beds, since the virus can survive in estosambitos for up to a period of 28 days.
The young felines , street animals, old cats and immunosuppressed cats are more likely to get the virus.any cat can become infected with the virus, so it is important to be up to date on vaccinations and care necessary to prevent infection.
It is important to note that this virus is not spread to humans or animals.dogs.
Symptoms of feline calcivirus
The feline calivicirus is a respiratory disease, since the virus penetrates the animal through the mouth or nose, lodging in the lymphoid tissue that corresponds to the oropharynx, affecting the lungs.Their symptoms are:
- Colds
- Sneezing
- Mucus
- Conjunctivitis
- Ulcers on the palate
- Ulcers on the oral mucosa
- Ulcers on the nose
- Depression
The disease can be aggravated causing pneumonia and arthritis, although only in rare cases.Some strains produce fever and lameness.
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 10 days after being contracted.The pain of the mouth ulcers causes the cat to stop eating .Conjunctivitis can also bring the cornea into the cornea, due to efforts that the animal does to scratch.
The virus cycle lasts a maximum of about four weeks and most cats recover, although there are chronic cases and healthy carriers.Approximately 80% of felines stop spread the virus within 75 days of healing, but the other 20% become a healthy carrier for years, or even for the rest of their lives.
In recent years a more virulent strain has been discovered and dangerous of this virus, called FCV-VS, systemic virulent feline calicivirus, whose symptoms add to those already mentioned:
- Icterici a (yellow skin)
- Swelling of the face and extremities
- Ulcers on pads of the legs, nose, mouth and ears
- Hair loss
- Gingivitis
- Stomatitis
If not treated on time and properly, the virus can cause death .
What is the diagnosis?
Mainly, the symptoms help to know quickly if you are facing a case of feline calicivirus, especially when lasulceras appear in the animal's mouth .However, tests are performed laboratory with tissue cultures from the oropharyngeal mucosa.
Treatment of feline calcivirus
Once the presence of the virus has been confirmed and the strain identified, the treatment is prescribed.There is no drug in itself that annihilates the virus, but remedies that provide support are prescribed to the animal during the cycle that lasts the disease, allowing it to relieve the symptoms and prevent them from getting worse.
Antibiotics are prescribed for possible infections, medicines that help the cat to breathe better and analgesics for control pain .In addition, antivirals are given to control the effects of infection.
Hydration is extremely important, so a fluid therapy treatment will be prescribed in principle.according to the criteria of the doctor.
If the cat refuses to eat because of the pain, it is recommended to offer soft and smelly foods.If this fails, you should resort to assisted feeding in liquid form, for middle of a syringe, always being careful not to last imitate the animal or cause unnecessary stress.
Before the mucous secretion and tears, it is necessary to assist the feline with constant cleaning made with a wet cotton garment, to avoid discomfort to the cat and prevent possible complications due to bacteria.
The cat should be kept in a comfortable, warm and free from drafts, to contribute to its rapid recovery.In addition, it is essential that the animal stay isolated from other cats in the home, and avoid incursions abroad.
Consult your veterinarian the possibility of testing to eliminate leukemia and feline immunodeficiency, as cats that suffer from this type of Infections are likely to develop other diseases more easily.
Prevention
In domestic animals, it is recommended to follow the vaccination schedule for the cats from the moment the veterinarian indicates it, and repeat the reinforcements every year, although this will not prevent one hundred percent from contracting the virus, It will be more protected than other animals.
If you have rescued a stray cat, it should remain isolated from your other animals until you can perform the necessary laboratory tests to rule out this and other diseases.
If it is a shelter, vaccination is also paramount.Cats whose feline calicivirus infection has been confirmed should be separated from the rest to avoid an epidemic.Each one should have their food container and your own sandbox.Periodically it is necessary to disinfect the objects you use with products that eliminate the virus and not be harmful to the cat.
The people in charge of the shelter must take care of the sick animals, after taking care of all the others, and wash their faces and arms and change their clothes after manipulate those who carry the virus.
The area where animals with calicivirus will be isolated should have adequate ventilation, low humidity and a cool temperature.The spaces will be cleaned frequently.
The most important thing for the prevention of this disease, in addition to maintaining a vaccination regime, is to maintain a rigorous hygiene that prevents its spread.
This article is merely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case you present any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Feline Calicivirus-Symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Viric Diseases section.
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