Feline rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. This virus is highly contagious, but usually only causes mild symptoms in mature cats. However, this disease can be fatal to kittens if they develop pneumonia.
Transmission
As mentioned earlier, the virus that causes rhinotracheitis in cats is very contagious. It can be transmitted to your cat if he comes into contact with contaminated cages, food dishes, or litter boxes. Also, cats can become infected if they come into contact with discharge from an infected cat's eyes, nose, or mouth. As the owner, you also have to be careful as you can harbor the virus on your hands or clothing.
Symptoms
Cats affected with feline rhinotracheitis show common symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. This includes sneezing, coughing, and discharge from the nose. Some cats also get secondary bacterial infections that can prolong the disease. Other symptoms that may develop include loss of appetite, corneal ulcers, and a fever.
Treatment
To keep your cat from getting a secondary bacterial infection, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics. Feline rhinotracheitis usually goes away on its own within ten days, so no other medications may be necessary. However, you may be able to give your cat nasal drops to decrease the amount of discharge from the nose.
You will need to make sure your cat is consuming enough food and fluids. If not, he may need to have a feeding tube. You should also make sure to minimize your cat's stress and keep him indoors. The room should be warm and have plenty of ventilation. You should also try to have a humidifier in the room.
Prognosis
If affected by feline rhinotracheitis, your cat should fully recover within ten days. If he develops a secondary bacterial infection, recovery may take a little longer. In some cases, this condition causes the cat to suffer chronic nasal discharge and sneezing.
Feline rhinotracheitis is usually a mild condition. However, there are many other diseases and conditions that may affect your cat in the future such as feline distemper . So, stop by cat-illnesses.com to learn about more of these other conditions like feline hypertension .
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