Rinotracheitis is an infectious viral disease that affects the organs of vision and respiration in cats. The virus of rhinotracheitis or the herpes virus is a relatively unstable virus that lives outside the cat's body for 12-18 hours. The source of the causative agent of rhinotracheitis is sick animals or those that have already been ill. The latter can carry the virus within 8-9 months. In the respiratory tract of the cat, the causative agent of the disease may persist for up to 50 days.
The virus can secrete with urine, feces, secretions from the eyes, nose, or genitals. In nature, infection occurs most often through infected air. At home, this can happen due to the use of contaminated feed, from care items or from a person who has been in contact with a sick animal on the street. The disease develops more rapidly in weakened animals, with their supercooling, or with overheating, with inadequate feeding and poor care.
Symptoms of rhinotracheitis in cats
Infectious rhinotracheitis in cats is usually acute. The onset of the disease is characterized by a lack of appetite, a slight runny nose, a temperature that quickly builds up when there are copious purulent discharge from the nose and eyes. A cat that is sick has a cough and hoarseness. Mucous membranes of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and nose become swollen and red. The sick animal breathes with his mouth open, he has shortness of breath. It is difficult for a cat to even drink and eat.
If viral rhinotracheitis in cats passes into a chronic stage, then constipation may occur. Rinotracheitis can be complicated by pneumonia, bronchitis, ulcers on the skin, trembling of the limbs. Pregnancy of cats can result in abortion or the birth of dead kittens.
The diagnosis should be made by a veterinarian based on a visual examination, as well as laboratory tests. Other diseases such as calciviroz and rheovirus of cats should be excluded.
Than to treat a rhinotracheitis at cats?
Contain sick rhinotracheitis animal in a clean, warm, but well-ventilated room, without drafts. As a treatment, the doctor prescribes sulfanilamide preparations, as well as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, to avoid the chronic course of the disease. To increase the immunity of a diseased cat, immunomodulators are used. To avoid allergies when taking antibiotics, prescribe antihistamines. In addition, the intake of vitamins A, B and C must be assigned. During the treatment of rhinotracheitis in a cat, a diet should be followed. All food should be liquid and mashed: porridge on meat and fish broth, raw eggs, milk, boiled beef, fish and chicken minced meat. If you feed your cat with ready-made food, then choose high-calorie canned food at this time. In addition, all food should be strongly smelling to induce a cat to eat, because because of the illness of the cat can partially lose the sense of smell.
The consequence of rhinotracheitis in cats is the carrier of the herpes virus, which is characterized by hidden periods and periods when the animal secretes the virus, most often after stress.
Prevention of rhinotracheitis in cats
The most important in the prevention of rhinotracheitis is the vaccination of cats. If the cat is still sick, you need to isolate it from other animals, disinfect the room where it was kept, and all cat accessories with a solution of chloramine.