What kind of infection do cats have? Infectious diseases in cats: symptoms and treatment. Common viral diseases in cats and cats: symptoms and treatment

Veterinary therapist IVC MBA

IN modern world many people prefer cats for their greater independence from humans, in contrast to dogs, which need to be given time; adaptation to a solitary lifestyle, grace and the ability to warm its owner on cold winter days. A loving and caring owner tries to protect his pet from trouble in the form various diseases that cats get sick.

This concern is manifested in high-quality nutrition and timely prevention of viral diseases. Unfortunately, there are a number of types of incurable viral infections that cats are susceptible to. In the absence of symptoms of the disease and specific diagnostics, you can live with the animal for a long time, unaware of the presence of a chronic viral infection (hereinafter CVI) in the pet. In this article, I would like to reveal in detail the danger of HVI, to try to avoid this problem when purchasing the desired kitten.

So, what are chronic viral infections and what danger they pose to our pets. CVIs are viral diseases with a long incubation period, which can last from several weeks to several years. Infection can occur both in utero and through contact of healthy cats with sick animals, as well as carriers.

Coronaviruses - etoRNA - containing viruses . These viruses acquired this name due to the similarity of the club-shaped processes with the corona spinarum. The infection is caused by a virus of the Coronaviride family. There are 2 pathogenic strains - the closest relatives of the same microorganism. One causes peritonitis, the other causes enteritis.

Coronaviruses are divided into 3 forms:

Asymptomatic form - the animal can be a carrier of the virus and can infect other cats, while nothing threatens life.

A mild form, it is not dangerous and is capable of causing quite easily flowing ailments - enteritis (intestinal feline coronaviruses - FECV).

A highly pathogenic form is feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). In the body, destructive changes occur in all systems and organs, which leads to death.

Coronavirus enteritis (FECV) is relatively safe and occurs in animals in young age, at the heart of the symptoms - loose stools, which rarely leads to death; But viral peritonitis of cats is extremely dangerous, since it has a high mortality rate. FIPV and FECV are quite interconnected, these microorganisms are considered a single population of viruses, but with varying degrees of pathogenic changes. Studies have shown that coronavirus enteritis in the process of mutation turns into viral peritonitis.

Transmission of infection is oronasal, i.e. infection occurs through the respiratory tract by airborne droplets, through feces, feeding kittens, during mating. In cats living alone, this disease is less common, a greater percentage of this disease occurs in show cats, as well as cats living in large groups.

Symptoms

There are 2 forms of VIPK:

1. Exudative (with "effusion")

"Wet" peritonitis is accompanied by a clear sign the presence of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity. The liquid generally has a light yellow tint, there is some viscosity.

With the accumulation of biological fluid in the chest cavity, the animal experiences respiratory impairment as a result of effusion, while the cat assumes a forced posture. Breathing is more often of the chest-abdominal type.

When fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity, owners often pay attention to the pet's enlarged belly.

It can also be observed:

fever (not always);
weight loss;
general weakness, oppression;
enlarged lymph nodes;
decreased or loss of appetite.

2. Non-exudative ("dry")

Symptoms are often mild in this form. This form is difficult to diagnose. Its characteristic features are weight loss and lack of appetite.

Diagnostics. It happens in a complex way. To begin with, clinical and biochemical blood tests are taken from the animal; perform ultrasound of the abdominal cavity; serological research methods (ELISA - determination of the amount of antibodies to a given disease; or ICA - express test), also examine the effusion fluid.

Forecast... Adverse. Sometimes, with the exudative form of VIP, after the removal of fluid and the symptomatic treatment carried out, a "dry" form of the disease develops. Cats with "dry" VIPK can live up to a year.

Treatment... Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease, only symptomatic therapy is carried out, aimed at improving the quality of life of the pet.

Prophylaxis... Aimed at reducing the number of cats kept in one room (maximum 6-10 cats). Cleanliness and timely disinfection of the trays used and their sufficient number, frequent change of the filler.

This is a chronic viral disease characterized by a weakening of the immune system, the development of anemia, and lymphosarcoma. Young animals are very susceptible to this infection. FeLV is diagnosed in all countries of the world, the disease affects cats of different age groups and breeds.

Paths transmission... Fecal-oral (saliva, feces, nasal discharge), through the milk of infected cats, bites, contact with a sick animal from cat to cat, flea transmission is possible, as well as if the rules of asepsis and antiseptics are not followed during injections, blood collection.

Pathogenesis... FeLV is due to genetic predisposition, as well as immunological deficiency in animals. In sick cats with an antibody titer of 1:32 clinical picture there may not be a disease, but such animals are considered virus carriers. Antibodies may also be undetectable in clinically ill cats. FeLV inhibits the activity of the red bone marrow, which leads to anemia, lowers immunity and contributes to the development of other diseases.

Clinical picture There are three forms of the disease:

Stable or persistent. The immunity of such an animal is greatly weakened, the disease progresses rather quickly and treatment is most often ineffective.
Latent or latent. The animal has a circulatory disorder. The virus enters the lymphatic system and the red bone marrow. The animal begins to hurt more often, tumors appear.
Transient or transient. Thanks to its strong immunity, the animal recovers 3 months after infection.

More often all these animals have severe anemia, immunosuppression (predisposition to other infections or its presence), lymphosarcoma - multiple or atypical. The incubation period is 60-80 days, sometimes from 2 to 6 years. FeLV occurs in a latent form without manifestation clinical symptoms infection and may not manifest itself for a long time. Under the influence of negative factors (change in feeding conditions, hypothermia, stress), the virus is activated, and the disease develops. At the very beginning, changes in the blood can be noted (leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, the appearance of atypical blood cells); pallor / icterus of the mucous membranes, enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, decreased appetite, indigestion.

Diagnostics

Occurs on the basis of clinical, hematological, serological and virological studies. The most significant diagnostic methods include:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunochromatographic analysis (ICA). False negative results are common.
Clinical blood test.
Blood biochemistry.
Abdominal ultrasound.
Biopsy and histology.

Treatment... There is no cure. It is aimed at providing symptomatic therapy and improving the quality of life of the animal. For example, with severe anemia, a blood transfusion is prescribed, as well as the use of drugs that stimulate the production of red blood cells in the red bone marrow. Prescribed drugs that stimulate the immune system. If lymphomas are found, chemotherapy is given.

Prophylaxis... The virus is very unstable in the external environment; outside of a living organism, it dies after two days. To destroy this virus, it is enough to disinfect the premises and animal care items, bowls and so on. Keeping a pet clean, good nutrition and limiting contact with stray animals is the key to the health of the pet.

This disease is dangerous only for cats, for humans and other species of animals, it does not pose any risk.

The main method of preventing this disease is vaccination. For such purposes, the Purevax FeLV and Leukocel vaccines are used. Vaccination is carried out from nine weeks of age. Immunization is performed twice, with an interval of 21 days. Further, cats should be vaccinated once a year.

Viral immunodeficiency (VIC, FIV)

Infectious disease of cats, characterized by a chronic course, accompanied by damage to the immune system, high mortality.

This disease has become endemic in cats throughout the world.

The virus remains at room temperature for about 4 days. When heated to 60 degrees, the virus dies within half an hour, during boiling it dies. When treated with alcohol-containing drugs, the virus is inactivated after 5-10 minutes. VIC is quite resistant to ultraviolet light.

Stray cats are more often sick with VIC, the approximate age of animals is 5-10 years.

Paths transmission... The main way is the bites of sick animals, non-pedigree cats are more likely to become infected; the infection is also common among animals that have free access to the street. Infection is possible with mutual licking. The virus is found in saliva, blood, and other fluids.

The clinical picture. Clinical signs are rather nonspecific and quite varied. They reflect concomitant infections that develop against the background of a decrease in the immune system. Animals appear:

Weakness;
Loss of appetite;
Gingivitis;
Chronic diarrhea
Weight loss, etc.

Due to the fact that the animal's immune system malfunctions, various infections can join the VIC: calcivirosis, chlamydia, viral leukemia, etc., which aggravate the general condition.

Cats with FIV are at increased risk of developing lymphoma, and the clinical signs may be similar to those of FeLV.

Diagnostics... Clinical laboratory tests are used: blood OCA (neutropenia, lymphopenia, anemia, monocytosis may occur). A biochemical blood test reveals a large amount of protein, an increase in the activity of liver enzymes, azotemia, hyperglycemia.

There are several specific studies of this disease:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); IHA.

The virus can be detected by PCR if serological tests are negative.

Treatment. There is currently no specific treatment.

It has been noted that treatment with Zidovudine improves the clinical condition and function of the immune system in many cats. These drugs are expensive and can cause significant adverse reactions such as anemia. Also used are immunomodulators that have a beneficial effect on the body.

Clinically ill and immunocompromised cats should not be vaccinated.

Prophylaxis... There are no vaccines. Minimizing contact with cats outside the home. Compliance with the diet, keeping animals clean, disinfection of care items and timely replacement of filler in trays. When new animals appear - mandatory quarantine and medical examination of a new pet.

Love your pets!

Bibliography:

Gaskell, Bennett: A Handbook of Infectious Diseases of Canines and Felines, Aquarium Print, 2015.
Various sources from the Internet

Viruses surround us everywhere. A cat inevitably meets with them throughout its life, and more than once. A pet that does not go for a walk can face danger simply by sniffing the shoes of the owner who has returned home.

What infectious diseases of cats are there? How do they manifest themselves and are they dangerous to humans? How to protect your beloved pet? What if the cat is sick?

Common viral diseases in cats and cats: symptoms and treatment

Rabies: 100% fatality

Perhaps the most dangerous viral infection for both the cat and its owners is rabies, or hydrophobia. An animal infected with rabies dies.

The causative agent is the rabies virus. Infection occurs after an infected animal (wild - fox, mouse, rat, or vagrant - cat, dog) bites a pet.

The virus from the saliva of a sick animal enters the blood of the bitten one, with the bloodstream reaches the brain and spinal cord. Here it multiplies and accumulates, and then spreads through the central nervous system, provoking degenerative processes and paralysis. The animal suffocates due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

The incubation period in kittens is usually less than a week, in adult animals - 3–6 weeks. The closer the bite is to the head, the more rapidly the disease progresses.

Also, the duration of this period is influenced by:

the number and depth of bites;
immunity and general condition of the animal;
the amount and aggressiveness of the pathogen that has entered the body.

Most often, hydrophobia occurs in a violent form. Quiet (paralytic) and atypical are much less common and less detectable. The characteristic symptoms and features of the course of each form of rabies are described in the table:

Rabies form	Typical symptoms	The course of the disease, complications
Exuberant	Changes in behavior, difficulty swallowing, bouts of aggression, squint and pupil dilation, profuse drooling.	At first, the cat is lethargic, eats poorly, hides or, on the contrary, becomes intrusive, constantly rubs its head. Then it becomes irritable and fearful, can bite and scratch. He tries to eat inedible things - stones, branches, etc. All the time he scratches or gnaws at the bite site. It is difficult for an animal to swallow: it does not eat, does not drink, as if gagging, its saliva flows. Attacks of rage, riots alternate with periods of depression and complete immobility. Muscle paralysis leads to sagging jaw, loss of the ability to move. After 3–11 days from the moment the first symptoms appear, the animal dies due to paralysis of the heart and respiratory muscles.
Quiet	Obsession, excessive affection, difficulty swallowing, drooling.	The active phase lasts 2–4 days, after which the animal dies. Initially, the animal may bite, but not necessarily. Constantly rubs near the owner. Anxiety then quickly gives way to apathy. The lower jaw drops, the cat coughs - the owners think that she has choked and try to help her. The disease is often complicated by hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
Atypical	Drowsiness and lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, exhaustion, muscle atrophy.	The cat loses interest in life, eats poorly, does not ask to go outside. The owners go to the veterinarian with complaints of vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Lasts from several weeks to several months. Atypical symptoms make diagnosis difficult, increasing the risk of infection in humans and other animals.

Owners should not try to make a diagnosis on their own, let alone treat a pet. The rabies virus is deadly for humans, so in case of a bite, you need to urgently wash the damaged area with hot water and laundry soap and contact a medical facility for emergency vaccination.

Having suspected that the cat is infected with rabies, the owner should isolate the pet by closing it in a separate room or putting it in a carrier, and inform the veterinary specialist about the situation. The veterinarian will give instructions that you must strictly follow.

Panleukopenia, or plague

Panleukopenia (infectious gastroenteritis, feline plague) is caused by the virus panleukopenia feline from the parvovirus group. The causative agent of the disease is resistant to external influences and is able to remain viable in the external environment for up to a year. Virus carriers excrete it with feces, urine and saliva; transmission through blood-sucking insects is less common.

The pathogen enters the body of a healthy animal through the mouth or nose - the animal receives it by eating something on the street, licking itself after a walk or while breathing. An increase in the incidence is observed in summer and autumn, kittens that have just lost the immunity received with colostrum are especially susceptible to infection.

From the moment the pathogen enters the body until the first manifestations of the disease, it takes from 2 to 8 days. Typical symptoms:

depression, refusal to eat, temperature rise within 1-2 days to 40 ° C;
thirst that the pet cannot quench, because it drinks a little;
vomiting of dark green-yellow mucus;
gradual exhaustion;
a change in the color of urine to dark yellow or light orange;
drying out of the oral mucosa, blue edematous vessels on the soft palate;
inflammation of the conjunctiva and nasal mucosa;
laryngeal edema.

A sick pet with a high fever prefers coolness. He lies on his stomach with his head thrown back and outstretched paws or sits, bent over a bowl of water, but does not touch it.

During the examination, the veterinarian notes soreness in the animal's groin and abdomen, the palpation of which can provoke vomiting. Before diagnosing panleukopenia, a specialist must exclude:

the presence of foreign bodies in the digestive tract;
acute toxoplasmosis;
leukemia;
immunodeficiency state;
pancreatitis.

The hyperacute form of distemper is characterized by a CNS lesion syndrome. The animal suddenly becomes very agitated, overly mobile, fearful, does not eat or drink, loses sleep, vomits white or yellow foam. In the absence of immediate treatment, convulsions and paralysis develop, the animal dies within 1-2 days.

Panleukopenia is extremely dangerous - 30–90% of cases die. The prognosis for a pregnant cat and her offspring is especially unfavorable: pregnancy is usually interrupted, but if kittens are born, they have numerous defects, often incompatible with normal life.

Herpesvirus rhinotracheitis

Rhinotracheitis, which mainly affects the respiratory tract, is not triggered by a rhinovirus (this pathogen only causes disease in humans). Infectious rhinotracheitis (RTI) in cats and cats is caused by a DNA-containing herpesvirus. A characteristic sign of infection is simultaneous damage to the eyes and respiratory organs (see photo).

IRT is very contagious, every second representative of the feline family who comes into contact with a sick person or a virus carrier gets sick. The mortality rate is 5–20%. This infectious disease cannot be transmitted from cats to other animals and humans.

The pathogen is spread mainly by contact and aerogenic (through inhalation of contaminated air). The greatest risk of contracting herpesvirus rhinotracheitis are in such categories of unvaccinated pets, such as:

contained in a group (in a shelter, nursery, etc.);
participating in exhibitions;
walking and mating uncontrollably;
weakened by stress or illness;
malnourished;
animals aged 2 to 12 months.

From the moment the pathogen enters the body until the first clinical manifestations of this viral disease of cats, it takes from 3 to 8 days. Symptoms of acute RTI:

body temperature 39-40 ° C for 2-3 days;
abundant purulent discharge from the eyes and nose;
cough and hoarseness;
vomiting with purulent exudate;
drooling and ulceration of the upper surface of the tongue;
soreness when swallowing, causing refusal to eat or drink.

As a rule, after a week and a half, especially if the diagnosis was made on time and treatment was started, the four-legged patient recovers. In most cases, the animal becomes a virus carrier.

If the disease is prolonged, there is a decrease in intestinal tone, the cat suffers from constipation. In some pets, IRT takes on a chronic course and periodically reminds of itself. Complications of herpesvirus rhinotracheitis:

bronchopneumonia;
ulcerative keratitis;
skin ulcers;
disorder of the central nervous system (tremor of the limbs, circling movements);
termination of pregnancy and stillbirth.

Antiviral agents are used to treat the animal. Efforts should also be directed towards eliminating symptoms. Particular attention is paid to the maintenance of the pet and its diet.

With natural feeding, the animal is given low-fat meat broth, chopped boiled meat or fish (without bones), eggs, and dairy products. Vegetables and cereals are excluded. If the cat receives ready-made food, then the canned food is heated, and the dry granules are soaked in warm boiled water.

Herpesvirus dies when using disinfectants, so pet owners are required to regularly process all pet care items with a 2% formalin, phenol solution or hot steam. In addition, in order to avoid infection, you must:

vaccinate your pet on time;
regularly carry out deworming and treat the cat with fleas and ticks;
do not allow your pet to come into contact with street brothers;
do not allow the cat to hypothermia, drink and eat cold;
protect the animal from stress.

Many-sided calcivirosis

Calicivirus (other names: calicivirus, calicivirus or calcevirus infection) is a very common feline disease. It is caused by the RNA-containing virus Feline calicivirus, which in the external environment can live from 2 to 10 days.

A healthy cat becomes infected by contact with a sick animal through general subjects care, when inhaling contaminated air and eating contaminated food. The incubation period is 2-10 days, but with good immunity and the absence of other pathologies, the disease can be latent. The accession of a bacterial, fungal or other infection contributes to the rapid and severe course and death with a probability of 80%.

Initial symptoms of calicivirus infection:

the appearance in the mouth of smooth bubbles up to 1 mm in diameter;
temperature rise to 40.5 ° С for 3-4 days;
sneezing and coughing;
discharge from the eyes and nose;
apathy;
loss of appetite.

In the future, the bubbles burst and turn into sores, similar formations appear outside the oral cavity: on the nose and lips. The cat has increased salivation. With late treatment for veterinary help, the animal reveals damage to the trachea, bronchi and lungs. In such cases, every third four-legged patient dies.

Kittens and cats up to two years of age are severely affected by calicivirus, and the younger the animal, the worse the prognosis. The symptomatology of the disease in babies differs from the manifestations of the disease in adult pets. A kitten may have:

lethargic, depressed state;
vomiting and diarrhea;
frequent, shallow breathing, shortness of breath.

In kittens up to two weeks of age, a calicivirus infection affects the brain and causes seizures. In most cases, sick babies die.

Trying to cure a cat with obvious symptoms of calicivirus on your own is not worth it. Treatment includes antiviral therapy and prevention of secondary infections, relief of the condition (use of eye and nasal drops, ointments, treatment of mucous membranes) and stimulation of the body's defenses.

Coronavirus and viral peritonitis

The causative agent of feline viral peritonitis is an RNA-containing coronavirus. It is released into the external environment along with nasal mucus, urine and feces of sick and recovered animals for 2-3 months. Healthy cats become infected through food, water, and airborne droplets.

The disease can occur in three forms - wet, dry and asymptomatic. The most dangerous and fatal form is the wet, or exudative form.

Symptoms and features of the course of each form are described in the table:

The form	Symptoms	Course and aftermath
Asymptomatic	Absent	Once in the body, the virus, due to the immune response, is unable to multiply. The disease does not develop, the viruses die. The most common form.
Dry (proliferative)	Purulent discharge from the eyes, changes in the retina and iris. Yellowing of the mucous membranes. Manege movements.	The disease lasts from several weeks to six months. During this period, cats develop: glomerulonephritis, pneumonia, paresis of the extremities. Without proper treatment, the animal dies.
Wet (exudative)	Shortness of breath, palpitations, noise in the lungs. The cat's belly grows and sags.	Fluid builds up in the chest or abdomen. The disease develops rapidly - after 2-3 weeks the animal dies.

In clinical manifestations, the disease is similar to toxoplasmosis, bacterial peritonitis, the consequences of trauma and other pathologies. To make a diagnosis, blood and exudate from the abdominal or chest cavity of the cat is examined, and an x-ray is taken.

Treatment includes:

injections of cephalosporins or sulfonamides;
pumping out the accumulated liquid;
the introduction of diuretics;
the appointment of painkillers and heart drugs.

In severe cases, the animal is given a blood transfusion, chemotherapy and hormonal treatment. Be sure to transfer to lighter feed, additionally introduce vitamin supplements into the diet.

Viral leukemia

This disease can present with different symptoms, but is caused by the same RNA-containing feline leukemia virus belonging to the Retroviridae family. The pathogen cannot survive for a long time outside the host's body and quickly dies under the influence of high temperatures or disinfectants.

The virus is excreted by sick animals with saliva, nasal secretions and blood (in case of bleeding). It is known that it affects every tenth cat, kittens up to 4 months of age are especially susceptible to infection. The pathogen is transmitted by airborne droplets, by contact, as well as through blood.

The clinical picture of the disease is so diverse that it is impossible to diagnose only on the basis of external manifestations and examination of the animal, laboratory tests are required. Its presence may be indicated by:

stomatitis;
changes in the skin;
persistent recurrent infections of the respiratory tract;
loss of appetite and weight loss;
pallor of the mucous membranes;
inflammation of the lymph nodes;
glomerulonephritis;
hepatitis;
anemia;
leukopenia;
the formation of tumors.

A blood test of an animal infected with the leukemia virus will show changes in red blood cells and lymphocytes, a decrease in platelet levels. Biochemical studies usually reveal kidney and liver damage.

Treatment depends on the symptomatology and necessarily includes the prevention of secondary infections. Feline interferon has proven itself well in the treatment of this viral disease.

Feline immunodeficiency

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is very similar in structure to HIV and spreads exclusively through blood. The most common case of FIV infection is infection during a fight between cats, so it is males that are at risk for this disease. Much less often the virus is transmitted during mating.

VIC gradually depletes the animal's immunity, as a result of which it resists infections worse, is seriously ill and eventually dies. However, the immunity of cats is much more active than human immunity, it resists the immunodeficiency virus. Sometimes a pet lives a long active life, and the owners do not even know that he is infected with VIC.

The more the cat's immune system is affected, the more severe manifestations of immunodeficiency are observed in him. As a rule, these are secondary viral and bacterial infections that affect organs respiratory system, Gastrointestinal tract, skin and mucous membranes, poorly treatable and constantly recurrent. In severe cases, the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lymph nodes are affected.

analysis by polymerase chain reaction (a negative result does not exclude the presence of VIC);

immunochromatographic.

Therapy is mainly aimed at strengthening the immunity of the pet (for this purpose, interferon of cats is used), as well as the treatment of secondary infections and concomitant pathologies. The disease is incurable, however, if all the recommendations of the veterinarian are followed, the animal can live a full-fledged long life.

How to protect your pet from viral infections?

Viral diseases in cats are widespread. Most effective method the prevention of most viral infections is vaccination. Inoculate healthy animals that have passed the deworming procedure 2 weeks before the appointed date. The specific time frame is set by the veterinarian, who should be entrusted with the choice of the drug. Vetaptics offer the following vaccines:

against rabies: Nobivak, Rabikan, Rabies, Quadriket, Leukorifelin;
from viral leukemia - Nobivak Felv, Purevax Felv;
against panleukopenia, herpesvirus rhinotracheitis, calicivirus - Multifel-3, Nobivak Tricat Tpio.

Immunity is formed within 2 weeks after the introduction of the vaccine and lasts for a year. To maintain the health of a pet, it is necessary to revaccinate it annually.

Non-specific prophylaxis measures:

regular treatment of bowls, tray, couches, etc., as well as the room in which the pet is located, with disinfectants;
walking the animal only on a harness, preventing close contact with stray animals;
balanced feeding of the pet in accordance with age and health;
periodic processing of the animal to get rid of worms, fleas, ticks;
regular (at least once a year) visits to the veterinarian, even in the absence of complaints.

(3 appreciated at 5,00 of 5 )

The feline family is known to have strong immunity, but viruses and infections are insidious. In our time, fatal diseases of cats are so widespread that you cannot do without additional protection. This is what we will look at in the article: illness and protection.

Feline distemper (panleukopenia)

Perhaps the most deadly disease after rabies. The disease of feline panleukopenia is common in Eurasia, America and even Africa. Absolutely all ages are susceptible to infection, but more often the disease affects kittens and young animals. Panleukopenia causes panleukopenia virus of the same name - Panleukopenia feline, which "eats" the cells of the bone marrow and the digestive tract. Than rapidly reduces the number of leukocytes in the blood. The mortality rate reaches 90%.

The initial symptoms of feline panleukopenia vary with the course of the disease. If it is hyperacute, then the body temperature drops sharply. In acute and subclinical flow, the thermometer indicator rises to 41-42 C, and then falls. Common symptoms:

rapid deterioration (apathy, lethargy);
vomiting and diarrhea with dirty green mucus;
refusal of food and water;
fetal death (during early pregnancy);
the animal does not actually move;
conjunctivitis and rhinitis.

It is not difficult to recognize the disease, especially in kittens, because playing behavior changes dramatically to painful. One gets the impression that the animal is on the verge of death.

Recovery occurs if the pet has gone through a critical period - 2-3 days. Not scientifically proven, but according to observations of sick cats with panleukopenia, the survival rate of females is higher than that of males.

Prevention of healthy animals consists in vaccination from the age of two months. The frequency of vaccinations is once a year. A sick individual acquires lifelong immunity and is a carrier of the virus. All care items are thoroughly disinfected.

Rabies in cats

The disease does not require publicity and long explanations. And yet, rabies in cats is caused by the Rabis virus, which occupies the entire nervous system and seeks to quickly get to the "tidbit" - the brain. Both people and animals are sick. The infected mammal is unable to resist the "invader", the mortality rate is 100%.

It is important to recognize the symptoms of rabies in a cat as soon as possible, so that the purr does not inadvertently reward you with the virus. General clinical picture:

inappropriate, aggressive behavior (some cats, on the contrary, hide and flatter);
photo and hydrophobia;
profuse salivation;
eating inedible items, but at the same time completely refusing to feed;
paralysis of the lower jaw and limbs;
squint, opacity and pallor of the cornea;
diarrhea and vomiting.

Then complete paralysis sets in and the purr dies.

Fortunately, scientists have long developed vaccinations for animals against a deadly disease - this is prevention. Vaccination of cats is carried out after the change of teeth and once a year. Sick pets are euthanized.

Feline AIDS or Feline Immunodeficiency (FIV)

The disease is similar to human HIV in symptoms, but is only dangerous to cats. And this fact has been repeatedly confirmed by research. The Feline immunodeficiency virus infects the body, which enters the bloodstream through saliva. Males are more at risk of infection, because they are more aggressive than females, and often intervene in cat fights, where they get bites, and then disease. Mortality rate is 100%.

It is virtually impossible to determine the symptoms of immunodeficiency in cats at the initial stage. In the process of the development of the disease, they notice:

constant lethargy;
refusal to eat;
frequent gastrointestinal disorders;
a decrease in the number of leukocytes;
the formation of malignant tumors;
rapid weight loss;
anemia;
enlarged lymph nodes;
inflammation of the organs of the oral cavity and others.

Like rabies, FIC cannot be cured, but it is possible to acquire immunity against the disease. It is enough to purchase a vaccine against feline AIDS, and to conduct an annual revaccination.

Feline leukemia (FeLV)

The disease is widespread and just as dangerous. The Feline leukemia virus enters the cat's body, which multiplies in the lymphoid and hematopoietic organs. Feline leukemia disease occurs in different forms but the result is death. It is rare to recover from a transient form of leukemia, when the cat's immunity "killed" the virus. There are no specific data on mortality, approximately 90%.

Recognizing the symptoms of feline leukemia is difficult due to the unclear clinical picture. Common signs:

periodic fever;
deterioration of health;
decreased appetite;
signs of colds;
the development of tumors of the hematopoietic organs;
liquid table and vomiting.

The disease is not curable. However, experienced veterinarians try to maintain the pet's immunity and eliminate the effects of leukemia in the hope that the cat will cope with the disease on its own. There is a prophylactic vaccination that is given at a young age.

So, we've looked at four fatal cat diseases that are difficult or impossible to treat. We strongly recommend that you vaccinate your pets to save life.

A virus is an infectious non-cellular agent that does not multiply by division, but forms copies of its own inside the cell of the host organism. DNA viruses multiply in the nucleus, RNA in the cytoplasm. The ICTV classification distinguishes seven types of virus orders: Caudo, Herpes, Ligamen, Mononega, Nido, Picorna, Tymo.

Antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents do not work on viruses. Antiviral medicines are nucleotide analogs. They are embedded in the molecule of the emerging virus and make it inactive. In addition, there are medicinal globulins and serums containing ready-made antiviral antibodies, substances that increase immunity.

Non-cellular agents destroy the cell and leave the body, leaving behind nutrients for the bacteria that inhabit the body. They multiply and do more harm than the viruses themselves. Therefore, the treatment of such diseases is not complete without the use of antimicrobial agents.

This article introduces readers to viral diseases of cats. The owner of the animal is responsible for the life and health of the pet, himself and those around him.

Common viral diseases of cats

Viruses cause serious, life-threatening diseases in cats. Infection occurs through air, water, food, bedding and contact with infected animals. There are the following factors contributing to the development of the disease:

Contact with a virus carrier. Visiting cat shows is a great danger.
Transmission of viruses with food, water, through the air.
Failure to comply with zoohygienic conditions.
Stress factors:

Transportation.
Boring content.
Overheating or hypothermia.
Poor nutrition.

The following diseases are considered the most common among cats and the most dangerous:

The most dangerous viral zooanthroponosis is rabies. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

The causative agent is a mixovirus.
Carriers are stray dogs, cats, and wild carnivores.
Infection - through saliva when bitten by a sick animal or defects in the skin and mucous membranes.
Incubation period. After the bite, the animal is observed for 10 days. If there are no clinical manifestations, the animal is considered healthy.
Symptoms are nervous phenomena.
Forms of the disease:

Exuberant. Profuse salivation, aggressive behavior, appetite perversion, paralysis. Photophobia, hydrophobia. After 3-11 days, the animal dies.
Paralytic. Lasts up to 4 days. Paralysis occurs without the phase of aggression.
Atypical. The symptoms are erased. Ends with paralysis and death.

Diagnostics:

Lifetime - based on anamnesis, epizootic situation, clinical symptoms.
Postmortem - histological examination of the brain.

Treatment. Specific serum injection within 72 hours. If symptoms appear, treatment is ineffective.
Prevention - annual vaccination.

Auesky's disease

The first to fall ill are cats, from them productive animals become infected. A person becomes infected through meat. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

The causative agent is herpesvirus.
Carriers are rodents, infected pigs.
Infection - through eating virus-carrying mice, rats and contact with pigs.
Incubation period. Up to eight days.
Symptoms are nervous phenomena.
Forms of the disease:

Classic. Excitement gives way to oppression. Constant meowing, drooling, vomiting, photophobia, itching, death.
Atypical. Strong oppression, the animal does not meow. Rapid death.
Encephalitis. Signs similar to the classic form. Additionally - aggressiveness, lack of coordination, paralysis.
Gastroenteritis. Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, fulminant death.

Diagnostics. It is required to distinguish between Auesky's disease (pseudo-rabies) and rabies.

Treatment. In the initial phase, use:

Immunoglobulin Vitafel.
Immunostimulants - fosfprenyl, immunofan, gamavit.
Antibiotics - Maxidin.

Prevention has not been developed.

Panleukopenia

Feline plague (panleukopenia) is the most dangerous disease characterized by high mortality. Survivors after a four-day illness become virus carriers. In the warm half of the year, young animals, old cats are sick. Pathology is characterized by the following features:

Recovered animals acquire a stable immunity to parvovirus. Antibodies protect offspring up to twelve weeks of age.

Viral rhinotracheitis

The disease affects the organs of vision and respiration. Mortality does not exceed 20% of the number of cases. Those who have been ill develop lifelong immunity. Pathology is characterized by the following features: The causative agent is the herpes virus.

Infection - air, discharge from the genitals, eyes, nose. Infection is transmitted through food, contact between people and insects.
The incubation period is 3 ... 8 days.
Symptoms:

Acute form:

Inflammation of the conjunctiva. Rhinitis.
Cough.
Ulcers on the tongue.
Hyperemia of the mucous membranes. Redness of the nose.
Temperature> 40 ° C.

The acute form ends with recovery after a decade.

Chronic form:

Constipation.
Rhinitis chronic form lasts for years.
There is bronchitis, turning into pneumonia
Skin ulcers appear.
The nervous system is affected.
Abortions, stillbirths are recorded.

Diagnosis - clinic, analysis of nasal and ocular secretions.

Universal antibiotics.
Sulfonamides.
Antihistamines.
B-group vitamins. Ascorbic acid.
Diet food consists in the use of liquid boiled feed.

Prevention - vaccination.

Calicivirus

The disease affects the respiratory system. They get sick in the cold half of the year. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

The causative agent is calicivirus.

Carriers - sick cats, virus carriers.
Infection - through the air and by contact.
The incubation period is 1 ... 3 days.
Symptoms resemble those of rhinotracheitis. Calicivirus is complicated by stomatitis, vision and respiratory diseases. The disease lasts 7 ... 21 days. Lethality is 30%.
Diagnosis - clinic, epizootic situation, blood tests. Anemia and leukopenia are observed.
Treatment is symptomatic. Apply:

Universal antibiotics.
Sulfonamides.
Nitrofurans.
Vitamins A, C, B 12.
Hyperimmune serum.
Diet, as in leukopenia.

Prevention - vaccination.

Cat flu

Co-infection with rhinotracheitis and calicivirus viruses.

Coronavirus peritonitis

Represents a problem for fellinologists running a nursery. Among the many relatively harmless coronaviruses, there is a deadly one. The disease is difficult to diagnose. It resembles diseases of the brain, eyes, digestive organs and cardiovascular pathologies. Young animals up to two years old, old cats are ill. The lethality is high. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

The causative agent is the FIP coronavirus.
The carriers are sick and recovered cats.
Infection - through the air, discharge from the genitals, nose, eyes. Infection is transmitted through food, contact between people and insects.
The incubation period is 21 days.
Symptoms:

Temperature> 40 ° C.
Symptoms of peritonitis.
Vomiting.
Ascites.
The belly is swollen.

Treatment is symptomatic. Use universal antibiotics to destroy the accompanying microflora.
Prevention. Not developed.

sneezing;
apathetic state;
disorders of the digestive functions;
an increase in regional lymph nodes - in most cases in the head area.

Veterinarians do not recommend treating cats with tuberculosis, since tuberculosis is a fatal disease for them. The owner himself must contact a phthisiatrician and pass the necessary tests.

Cat scratch disease

Belongs to the category of acute infectious diseases. It develops when the bacterium Bartonella enters the human body. Infection occurs with a bite, scratches caused by a cat. Most often, the disease manifests itself in children, because they play with kittens the most. The bacteria themselves are transmitted to pets from birds and rodents. There are no external manifestations of infection with the bacterium Bartonella in cats.

The incubation period for humans ranges from 10-30 days, and sometimes 2 months. The disease begins rapidly. A person's body temperature suddenly rises to high levels (38-39 ℃). Regional lymph nodes are greatly enlarged, especially in the axillary, cervical and head regions. The nodes are inactive, very painful and increase in size - up to diameter chicken eggs or an orange. The person feels mildly unwell.

Others possible symptoms are:

intestinal dysfunction;
headaches;
muscle weakness
a skin rash that resembles scarlet fever or measles.

A person's treatment can take 2 or even 3 months. Antibacterial agents are necessarily prescribed: Erythromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin, Tetracycline, Ofloxacin. For humans, "cat scratch disease" can be deadly.

Toxoplasmosis

A person can become infected with toxoplasmosis (an infectious disease) through saliva, or by removing the tray behind a pet. The seals themselves become the carrier of the causative agent of the disease - the bacteria Toxoplasma gondii, as a result of consumption or hunting for birds and rodents.

As a rule, the disease does not manifest itself in any way in pets or in humans. Basically, the disease does not have serious consequences for the life and health of the owner. However, toxoplasmosis is extremely dangerous for pregnant women. Various pathologies of fetal development and even its fading are the most likely consequences of the disease in a pregnant woman.

Symptoms that appear in this case:

inflammation of the eye membranes;
a sharp increase in the temperature of the body;
excessive weight loss and even exhaustion;
respiratory disorder;
malfunction of the digestive tract.

It is impossible to prevent this disease, because there is no effective vaccine. Both animals and people can get this infection only once in a lifetime. After the first contact with the pathogen, a stable natural immunity is developed for life.

The disease is a consequence of the penetration of simple microorganisms into the body - chlamydia. A person becomes infected from a pet by airborne droplets. The furry pet also becomes infected with pathogenic pathogens from rodents.

If you do not start urgent treatment immediately after the first clinical manifestations appear, pulmonary edema occurs, and the pet dies. You can notice chlamydia in a pet due to the following symptoms:

very frequent sneezing;
cough;
hard breath;
loss of appetite;
inflammation of the eyes;
severe weakness and lethargy of the cat;
purulent discharge from the nose.

Human chlamydia is threatened with pneumonia. Having made the correct diagnosis, doctors in each case prescribe modern antibiotics that can fight these microorganisms.

Salmonellosis

Most often, kittens under the age of 1.5 years suffer from this disease. A person becomes infected by contact with an animal. Pathogens are transmitted through saliva, feces. It is impossible not to notice salmonellosis, because this disease manifests itself especially sharply. The main signs of a cat:

sudden high fever;
breathing disorder;
severe drooling;
refusal to communicate with the owners;
loss of appetite and even complete refusal to eat;
vomiting;
purulent mucous discharge from the nose and eyes;
very loose stools with bloody impurities.

If you notice at least some of these symptoms, you should definitely contact your veterinarian. Otherwise, the pet may die.

In humans, the disease also manifests itself in the form of severe intoxication. As a rule, a person is admitted to the infectious diseases department. To combat salmonellosis, complex therapeutic regimens are used, special place in which antibiotics are taken. The period of complete recovery is 3-5 weeks.

Ringworm

A person can become infected with ringworm from a cat, and vice versa. As a rule, the disease, if not in the most neglected form, is very easily treated in both the former and the latter. The causative agents of the disease are microscopic fungi. Infection occurs by contact, that is, directly from the cat (stroking, playing or lying with him), or through objects on which the pet was lying.

Anemia- anemia, a decrease in the content of hemoglobin, erythrocytes in the blood or their simultaneous decrease, accompanied by inhibition of hematopoiesis in the red bone marrow. There are post-hemorrhagic anemias (acute and chronic), hemolytic, hypoplastic (hematopoiesis disorders - alimentary or deficient, myelotoxic) and aplastic (depletion of bone marrow hematopoiesis).

Etiology. The causes of anemia are most often combined.

The diagnosis is made taking into account the history, as well as the data of hematological studies (quantitative and qualitative composition erythrocytes, hemoglobin content), changes in the hematopoietic organs.

Symptoms In acute posthemorrhagic anemia due to external and internal bleeding, the symptoms depend on the initial state of the animal's body and the amount of blood loss. With insignificant blood loss, drowsiness, lethargy of the cat, unsteadiness of its gait, yawning, hypothermia, vomiting, dryness and pallor of the mucous membranes, cyanosis are noted. With massive blood loss, collapse is possible, characterized by hypothermia, involuntary urination, dilated pupils, shortness of breath, weakening or increased heart rate; the amount of hemoglobin and erythrocytes decreases, ESR increases, blood viscosity decreases.

In chronic post-hemorrhagic anemia, the symptoms grow more slowly and lead to a change in the functional functions of the parenchymal organs.

With hemolytic anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria occur. In the blood, the content of unconducted (indirect) bilirubin rises.

With hypoplastic anemia as a result of a lack of iron, copper, cyanocobalamin, folic acid, high-grade proteins, as in myelotoxic anemia (arising from toxic suppression of hematopoiesis), fatigue of the animal, anemic mucous membranes, shortness of breath, decreased nutritional status, diarrhea, erythropenia, anisocidosis, megalocidosis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia are noted.

With aplastic anemia, normocytic and even macrocytic anemia occurs along with pancytopenia (aphanulocyto and fanulocytopenia), as is the case with radiation sickness, poisoning with benzene derivatives, and plague.

Treatment for anemia depends on the nature of the disorder. The animal is provided with complete rest, a complete, easily digestible diet rich in protein, vitamins, trace elements and carbohydrates. First of all, etiological factors (bleeding, toxicosis, lack of macro and microelements) are eliminated. Symptomatic, pathogenetic and substitution therapy is prescribed. Hemostimulin, ferrocal, aloe syrup with iron, feramide, ferrocerone, fercoven, ferbitol are shown.

Hemoblastosis (leukemia). The main signs of hemoblastosis are malignant growth of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, impaired cell differentiation. They combine two groups of blastomatous lesions of the hematopoietic system: leukemias (lymphoid, myeloid leukemia, undifferentiated leukemias); hematosarcomas or reticulosis (lymphosarcoma, lymphatic-fanulomatosis, reticulosarcoma, etc.), characterized by focal tumor growths of poorly differentiated elements of hematopoietic tissue.

Etiology. The dominant theory of the etiology of hemoblastosis is the viral genetic theory.

Symptoms Lymphosarcomas are more common in cats, in which systemic hyperplasia of the lymph nodes, spleno- and hepatomegaly, ascites, hemorrhagic diathesis, edema, neuphilic leukocytosis (20-30 thousand / mm) with the appearance of blastocytes in the blood, sometimes signs of systemic damage to the lymph nodes for a long time come to the fore time is not detected, but signs of ascites, pneumonia appear.

Usually, with lymphosarcoma, the submandibular, cervical, popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes increase, and lymphoid infiltration is established in the punctate. Localized lymphosarcomas, in contrast to systemic ones, proceed according to the leukemic type and only in the final phase does neurophilia appear with a shift of the nucleus to the left. Lymphoid leukemia causes less hyperplasia of the lymph nodes, hepato and splenomegaly, although it proceeds against a background of high leukocytosis (up to 500 thousand / mm).

Myeloid leukemia is characterized by splenomegaly, lymph node hyperplasia, high leukocytosis with a shift of the nucleus to the left.

Monocytic leukemia is a more rare form of haemablastosis in cats, the disease proceeds against the background of an increase in the number of monocytes and monoblasts up to 35-65%. In a leukogram with basophilic leukemia, the number of basophils of varying degrees of differentiation increases to 80% or more.

Mast cell leukemia is manifested by basophilia, neutrophilia with a significant shift of the nucleus to the left, hepato and splenomegaly, slight hyperplasia of the lymph nodes. In the bone marrow punctate, foci of blast mast cells are found.

The diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis, taking into account clinical manifestations, as well as data from hematological studies of punctates of the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. The most important data for the identification of hemoblastosis are obtained by establishing the species, stage and degree of morphological differentiation, proliferation of cellular elements of white blood and hematopoietic tissues. The disease lasts from several weeks to several years, but usually ends unfavorably.

The treatment does not give satisfactory results. To alleviate the condition of the animal during illness, symptomatic methods are used, fortifying agents, arsenic drugs in combination with iron preparations are prescribed. It is also necessary to prevent the possibility of infectious complications.

What diseases are there in cats?

Cats, like all pets, get sick from time to time. If the problem is identified immediately, the pet receives timely therapy and in most cases it manages to regain health. Therefore, it is important for every owner to know the symptoms and treatment of diseases in cats.

Since all feline diseases, due to their abundance, are known only to specialists, the owner of a four-legged pet will only need to understand the basic feline health problems in order to have a good idea of what kind of help you can provide yourself, and when you need to contact a veterinarian.

Symptoms of unhealthy cats

Despite the fact that it is quite difficult to determine the cause of the disease without a doctor, it is very easy to notice that a cat is unwell. The main common symptoms of cat disease are as follows:

Major infectious diseases

Infectious diseases often affect animals that have free range, but a domestic cat is not immune from such a misfortune, since pathogenic bacteria and viruses can be brought in by people on shoes.

All viral diseases are prevented by timely vaccination. Consult your veterinarian for a complete vaccination schedule for your cat. Vaccination is necessary not only for kittens, but also for adult cats.

Pathology of the cardiovascular system

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are common in cats, especially in aging cats.

Vascular atherosclerosis- this pathology affects cats over the age of 12 years, suffering from obesity. It occurs most often as a complication after infectious diseases or invasions.
Myocarditis- a disease in which inflammation of the heart muscle occurs. Symptoms include depression of the cat, increased body temperature, lack of appetite and high blood pressure. Without treatment, the disease is most often fatal.
Endocarditis- an inflammatory process in the inner lining of the heart muscle. The cause of the disease has not been precisely established. Pathology is manifested by a depressed state, exhaustion, increased body temperature and heart failure.
Pericarditis- inflammatory process in the tissues of the pericardium. It appears as a complication of an infectious disease, as well as with very strong stress, severe hypothermia and exhaustion. Symptoms are similar to endocarditis.
Myocardosis- a disease leading to a violation of the heart rhythm and circulatory failure. Manifested by anemia, edema and low blood pressure.