Calcevirus infection in cats: symptoms and treatment

Calcevirus infection in cats is a highly contagious viral disease that requires an immediate response from the hosts. If appropriate measures are not taken in time, then the animal may die.

Symptomatology

It is from your awareness that the life of the animal will depend. If there is a calcevirus infection in cats, the symptoms will not be long in coming. The signs of the disease are especially pronounced in small kittens. In general, they are much more difficult to tolerate the disease. Adult cats with good immunity or vaccinated animals can tolerate calcivirosis almost asymptomatically. But knowledge is not superfluous.

Here are the characteristic signs of the disease:

1. The animal rises to very high levels (40.5 ° C). It lasts about 72 hours, and then normalizes.
2. There is discharge from the eyes and nose. At the very beginning - transparent, but gradually intensifying and emitting a very unpleasant odor.
3. The cat's salivation increases, so the chin and chest of the animal is constantly wet.
4. The oral cavity and nose are covered with numerous sores that are filled with fluid. They bring a cat a lot of inconvenience. Bubbles begin to burst, forming bleeding wounds, and a strong rot smell comes from the cat's mouth.
5. When calcevirus infection in cats is just beginning to develop, the owner may notice a somewhat unusual behavior of the animal during eating. He chews food very slowly and carefully, constantly clearing his throat, as if choking. If you examine the cat’s mouth at this time, you will see sore gums. Pussy eats very poorly, becomes lethargic.
6. Diarrhea may occur, followed by constipation.

The virus often affects the upper respiratory tract. The animal develops a cough, shortness of breath, sneezing. Everything can end with pneumonia and pulmonary edema.

If the virus was able to enter the brain, then the cat (about a week after the above signs) cramps begin, impaired coordination of movement. Yesterday's affectionate purr becomes very aggressive.

The disease, which has passed into the chronic stage, is asymptomatic. Sometimes small discharge from the eyes or nose, lameness, apathetic behavior can be observed. But with the slightest weakening of the immune defense, calcivirosis becomes acute.

How can an animal get infected?

Now you can understand when calcevirus infection occurs in cats, you already know the symptoms of the disease. It will not be superfluous to find out ways of infection.

There are four ways to know:

1. Pussy can catch the virus without even talking to its carrier. It is enough that she sniffs the infected feces or lays on the grass, which is dirty with the urine of the carrier.
2. The virus can be transmitted by airborne droplets. But I am glad that the radius of its action is nevertheless limited: only a meter from the source of the disease.
3. Calcivirosis can bring a person into the house. The virus remains active for several days, so even a completely domestic cat can get sick.
4. The disease can be transmitted through any discharge of a sick animal.

Diagnosis of the disease

In most of all cases, no specific tests are required. Typical signs characteristic of this disease make it possible to make an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, a smear of fluid is taken to conduct an analysis to cut off or confirm a similar disease - feline herpevirus infection.

Calcevirus infection in cats: treatment

A sick animal needs compulsory isolation. Unfortunately, there are no specific antiviral drugs, so the treatment is aimed at eliminating secondary infections that developed against the background of the underlying disease.

So, calcevirus infection in cats, how to treat? Everything here will depend on the veterinarian, his experience. As a rule, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed. Since calcivirosis exhausts the animal very much, it is necessary to take immunostimulating drugs and vitamins. When coughing, you can drink your pussy, for example, with Bromhexine or Pertussin.

Mandatory and constant treatment of the inflamed oral cavity. In case of eye damage, eye drops should be used. It can be preparations "Bars", "Decta-2" and the like.

It is important to remember that the calcevirus infection, the treatment of which we are now considering, is very insidious. And in any case it is impossible to interrupt the complex of measures prescribed by the veterinarian, even if the cat looks completely healthy. The cured disease can return again and then the pussy will have no chance of survival.

Calcevirus infection in cats: complications

By itself, calcivirosis is not as dangerous as secondary infections developing against its background. The most common upper respiratory tract disease. Young cats can even get pneumonia.

Next are gingivitis and stomatitis. Sometimes a calcevirus infection (especially in small kittens) can be accompanied by an animal limp, as it develops joint inflammation - arthritis. Then it passes, but is always accompanied by severe pain.

Forecast

Calcivirosis is especially dangerous for kittens. An adverse outcome is possible for weakened animals. The incubation period in babies does not exceed a day, and if the cat is not vaccinated, about 80% of the sick kittens die. Adults survive much more often, in about 70% of cases. But under one condition, that the treatment of calcivirosis is started early and it does not have complicated secondary infections. Old and weak animals, as a rule, die in more than half of cases.

Cat care

You can often hear that calcivirosis is dangerous to humans, but it is not. The disease can only affect cats, and is completely safe for people, dogs and feathered pets. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid to get infected and refuse to care for a sick cat. Indeed, now the life of purrs depends only on you.

Calcivirosis greatly depletes the pet's vitality. It is very important that the pussy gets good nutrition. The feeding regimen and diet will be selected by the doctor.

It is very important to keep the place where the animal is clean. Replace litter daily and ventilate the room. It is important not to forget about the necessary hygiene procedures. The animal needs to rinse its eyes, clean its nose, hair adhering from secretions and be sure to treat its mouth.

Preventive actions

Calcivirosis is a very complex disease. During the period of illness, the animal will constantly need your attention and care. It is practically impossible to leave a sick cat alone, since in addition to careful care, moral support is also required. And only a beloved host can give it.

A trip to the veterinarian for vaccination will help to avoid a similar situation and not see the torment of your pet. The calcivirosis vaccine is the best you can offer your pet. Of course, she cannot fully protect the animal, but in case of infection, the disease will be much easier.