Cat脓鼻涕: Cold or Feline Rhinotracheitis?
What is Feline Rhinotracheitis?
Feline Rhinotracheitis, commonly known as cat rhinotracheitis, is a highly contagious upper respiratory disease in cats. It is caused by a herpesvirus and poses a significant risk to the feline population. This illness typically affects young kittens and undernourished adult cats, with particularly high mortality rates among young kittens if not treated promptly. Without timely medical intervention, kittens may succumb to the disease within about two weeks.
What Causes Feline Rhinotracheitis?
Cats are more susceptible to feline rhinotracheitis compared to humans and other animals, primarily due to the way the herpesvirus replicates and spreads within the feline body. The virus uses arginine for replication, which cats have in abundance. However, cats have very little lysine, an amino acid that can neutralize arginine. Therefore, to treat feline rhinotracheitis, it is necessary to supplement cats with lysine.
How to Treat Feline Rhinotracheitis?
In the early stages of the disease, without fever, pet owners can administer lysine to their cats to block the virus from multiplying. Additionally, it's important to keep the cat warm, especially during winter, by dressing them in a small coat.
If the cat has a fever and symptoms like conjunctivitis and coughing, it's crucial to take the cat to a veterinarian immediately. Use a cotton swab to clean the mucus around the cat's eyes and apply eye drops. If the cat is coughing, administer veterinary cough medicine as needed.
How to Prevent Feline Rhinotracheitis?
Feline rhinotracheitis can be quite harmful, so preventive measures are essential. If a cat shows signs of a cold, it's advisable to take them to a vet for a checkup. Since cold symptoms in cats can be similar to those of rhinotracheitis, it's important to learn how to differentiate between the two and understand the appropriate treatments.
Once the cat reaches three months of age and is healthy and free from illness, it should be vaccinated at a veterinary clinic to effectively prevent feline rhinotracheitis and other infectious diseases.
