By: Nicole Shalit

Feline viral rhinotracheitis, or FVR is an upper respiratory infection caused by feline herpes virus 1. FVR is very contagious and causes several diseases including death from pneumonia. It is transmitted through the air and direct contact. It replicates in the nose, tissues, and tonsils. This virus is shed in saliva and eye and nasal secretions.

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and sometimes fever and loss of appetite. The symptoms usually appear within four to seven days. FVR is usually diagnosed by the symptoms. Many healthy cats can carry the herpes virus; therefore testing positive for herpes does not automatically mean they have an upper repertory infection. Antibiotics are used to prevent secondary bacterial infections. There is no specific drugs as of right now for feline viral rhinotracheitis, although one study shows that ganciclovir, PMEDAP, and cidofovir hold hope for treatment. Severe cases may need supportive care such as intravenous fluid therapy, oxygen therapy, or even a feeding tube.

Another common disease among cats is diabetes. A common symptom of this would be a large increase in water consumption and urination. A massive loss of weight has also been associated with this disease. Cats can also get kidney disease. Kidneys are responsible for getting rid of the body’s waste and to regulate the body’s fluid balance. Urinary tract diseases are also common among cats. This is caused by inflammation of the bladder. Owners will see a cat their cats visit the litter box frequently, strains to urinate, cries when urinating, or urinates in un appropriate places.

If you see any of these symptoms in your cats, take them to a vet to get a diagnosis, it could save your cats life.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 12th, 2007 at 3:40 am and is filed under The health of your cat. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.