Mothers can also act as carriers, passing on infections to their litters. About half of the cats infected with FVC will remain infected as carriers, sometimes for a few months after symptoms cease, and, in rare cases, for life. Generally, a fever , poor appetite, and lethargy accompany the more specific symptoms of a URI.
Duration of feline upper respiratory infections Generally an infection will last for 7—21 days. There is an incubation period, the time period from point of infection to when clinical signs become apparent, of 2—10 days. It is thought that the incubation period is the time of highest contagion. Diagnosis of feline upper respiratory infections The clinical signs and symptoms are usually enough to make a diagnosis of feline upper respiratory infection. Diagnostic tests, however, are required to determine the cause of the infection.
So your veterinarian may recommend the following tests:. Chronic upper respiratory infections require additional tests, such as radiographs to evaluate the lungs and sinuses, cultures of cells, and microscopic evaluation of discharge.
Treatment of feline upper respiratory infections Your veterinarian will determine the best treatment course for your cat, which may include specific prescriptions and possible hospitalization, depending on the severity of clinical signs. A typical cat upper respiratory infection lasts seven to 10 days, and most infections can be managed at home. Upper respiratory infections tend to be like a common cold in humans and are rarely fatal. Because most feline upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses such as feline herpesvirus type 1, many veterinarians will diagnose based on the symptoms.
If your cat experiences chronic upper respiratory infections, which is rare, your vet may want to perform chest and head X-rays and other testing. Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics if a bacterial infection is present or if a virus is causing a secondary infection. Remember two major caveats about antibiotics. You know how miserable a cold can be. To help her recover more quickly, your cat with an upper respiratory infection might appreciate these at-home care strategies:.
If your cat has a sore throat, wet food is less painful to swallow. The medicines and supplements can be ineffective or even harmful. You know how you take a hot shower to clear your sinuses? Your cat might appreciate being on the counter or floor the next time you steam up the bathroom. Consider turning on the hot water and giving your cat a steam room treatment a few times a day.
It might even be fun. An upper respiratory infection in cats can look a lot like the common cold in people. Sneezing, runny nose, coughing, congestion, discharge from the eyes, fever, ulcers in the mouth or around the nose and eyes—all signs your cats may have a viral upper respiratory infection. You may also notice that your cat starts pawing at their nose and mouth, has trouble swallowing, or makes wheezes or choking sounds while trying to breathe. Behavioral changes, such as a loss of appetite, lethargy, or poor grooming, can also indicate an upper respiratory infection or other illness.
Regular visits allow your veterinarian to monitor any health condition your cat may have. Plus, if a new health problem does arise, then hopefully, it can be caught and treated early on. Check out these three simple cat treat recipes. Coughing can occur because of the overproduction of mucous, which drains down the throat. However, just because your cat coughs does not mean they have an upper respiratory infection.
Like people, cats can cough for other reasons besides an infection, such as allergies or clearing something from the throat.
Hairballs develop in the digestive tract, not the respiratory system, and are vomited up. Both vomiting and coughing can cause cats to heave and make similar sounds, so it can be challenging for cat parents to tell the difference.
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