Updated: October 28, 2011 6:06PM
It was obvious our oldest cat, Frances, was not feeling well. Her eyes were glazed and runny; her nose was dripping. We took her to the vet who said, “It’s probably an upper respiratory infection.”So Frances took her antibiotics, but a couple of months later her symptoms returned. Seasonal allergies were suspected, so we added Benadryl until the first hard freeze.When she got sick again during the middle of a move, the vet discovered the underlying cause: feline herpes.More technically known as Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, feline herpes is a common virus that causes upper respiratory disease in cats, said Dr. Tony Kremer, owner of six Chicago-area veterinary hospitals and Help Save Pets animal shelter in Plainfield.“Feline herpes is transmitted through nasal and ocular secretions from direct cat-to-cat contact or from shared food, water dishes and toys,” Kremer said. “It can also be spread when handling an infected cat and then handling a healthy cat without properly disinfecting your hands.” Symptoms in catsPrimary symptoms are runny eyes and nose; many cats with feline herpes also have severe sneezing, Kremer said. The eyes may even become inflamed to the point of swelling. The American Veterinary Association claims feline herpes virus type I, as well as feline calicivirus, is responsible for up to 90 percent of upper respiratory infections in cats.“It’s much more common in the young due to their immature immune system and the fact that they have not yet finished their vaccines,” Kremer said. “Lack of vaccination, stressful situations, exposure to multiple cats and being outdoors makes cats susceptible to it.” Vaccinations for both viruses are available, although the vaccine for feline herpes does not mean a cat won’t acquire the infection. The vaccination will, however, reduce the disease’s severity and reduce shedding. This protection may last up to three years, but not all veterinarians agree. “I recommend re-vaccination each year,” Kremer said. “We have seen a rash of preventable diseases due to unreliable protocols. A series of three to five vaccines are necessary to give full immunity, depending how young a kitten is when it starts its shots.”Different virusFeline herpes is not the same virus as the herpes simplex viruses that humans contract. The only similarity between them is the fact that none of the viruses can be cured, only controlled. Once an affected cat is symptom free, he or she may be asymptomatic for life, although it remains a carrier of the virus, so proper sanitation, especially in multicat households, is imperative. Symptoms may again appear if the cat becomes stressed, but treatment is usually supportive — keep the patient warm and ensure good nutrition and hydration — until the virus runs it course, Kremer said.L-lysine has an anti-viral effect and can help fend off the virus. Antibiotics are useful for any secondary infections that occur. Eye medication to reduce inflammation and secondary bacterial infection is “a must,” Kremer said. Take the cat back to its veterinarian should symptoms persist despite treatment.“If a cat has signs of feline herpes that do not dissipate after a few weeks, make sure it is tested for FELV and FIV,” Kremer said, “since these diseases weaken the immune system.”© 2011 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit http://www.suntimesreprints.com/. To order a reprint of this article, click here.
