Coryza in cats: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Coryza in cats: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Coryza is a very common infectious disease that can have a serious impact on the health of cats. What characterizes it? How to distinguish and treat it? Lore & Science explains it all to you.

• What is Coryza in cats?
• What are the symptoms of this feline disease?
• How to treat coryza?
• How to protect your cat from coryza?

What is Coryza in cats?

Coryza, also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis or cat flu, is a common infectious disease that can be caused by three viruses and one bacterium in particular:

• Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV);
• Feline calicivirus (FCV);
• Reovirus;
• And the chlamydophila felis.

These four pathogens can, alone or in combination, be responsible for the development of coryza. In less frequent cases, other bacteria, such as bordetella, pasteurella and mucoplasma can also trigger it.

Cat flu is highly contagious. It is therefore usually contracted by animals living in a community: pet shops, catteries, shelters, homes or even families with several cats. Fragile animals, such as kittens, older cats and unvaccinated cats are at greater risk of exposure to coryza. It is estimated that 70% of the cat population is a carrier of the virus.

Transmission is mainly by direct contact:

• Mouth;
• Eyes;
• Nose;
• Sneezing;
• Blow of fire propelling droplets ;
• Infected discharges.

However, it can be contaminated indirectly by contact with a soiled item (hands, cloth, object, etc.). The life span of the FHV virus varies between 12 and 18 hours, depending on the degree of humidity, compared to an average of 10 days for the FCV.

Caution is called for when it comes to humans, because while feline herpes virus, calicivirus and reovirus cannot infect us, chlamydophila felis can. It can lead to chlamydia, an exceptional zoonosis that can cause flu-like symptoms, photophobia and conjunctivitis. On the other hand, feline viral rhinotracheitis poses no risk to your other pets, such as dogs.

Finally, it is important to know that coryza is a disease that persists for life in cats, in a latent form. The virus nests in the deep layers of the tonsils or in the trigeminal ganglion, which unfortunately makes it inaccessible by the animal's immune system.

What are the symptoms of coryza?

As coryza can be caused by several pathogenic entities of varying virulence, the symptoms and their severity vary according to the virus. They are generally illustrated by an attack on the respiratory tract and mucous membranes:

• Respiratory: wheezing, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, crusty nose;
• Ocular: discharges, ulcers (FHV), crusts, conjunctivitis;
• Buccal: important salivation, ulcers (FCV);
• Other: fever, exhaustion, loss of appetite, dehydration, lameness...

If you have several felines with the same symptoms, it is very likely that it is coryza because it is so contagious.

A veterinarian can diagnose the disease by observing the symptoms or via a test that will determine the pathogen(s) responsible for the disease. Be careful, the cat is not an animal that easily supports fasting. In case of suspicion, it is necessary to consult a professional if the cat has not eaten for 24 hours.

Finally, depending on the type of virus and the health conditions of the animal, recovery can be easy or difficult, leading to complications and death in the worst case.

How to treat coryza in cats?

The treatment of coryza will depend on the condition of the cat and the severity of its symptoms:

1Probe:

the feline may be hospitalized to have a catheter placed to help with feeding and hydration;

2Antibiotics:

administered in the form of tablets, drops or injections, to fight against bacterial superinfection;

3Anti-inflammatory:

used to soothe his pain;

4Antivirals:

prescribed in the most severe cases, recalcitrant, with complications;

5Hygienic care:

wipe the nasal and ocular discharge, remove the crusts which obstruct the nostrils of the animal, take care that its eyes do not remain stuck;

6Food:

The cat often refuses to eat, so it should be helped by serving soft, chopped, palatable food.

At Lore & Science, we have developed CoryCatCoryCat, a 100% natural and effective food supplement, to be added once a day to your cat's food ration. This solution is an excellent alternative to solid tablets, which can be painful and complicated for your pet to consume due to mouth ulcers or when they have no teeth.

These treatments are intended to relieve symptoms during the attack, but cannot eradicate the disease at this time. As previously mentioned, the cat will remain a carrier of the virus, which may reoccur in episodes caused by stress or another disease.

Even if it does not present any more symptoms, the contagiousness remains permanent in the cats chronically contaminated by the feline calicivirus (FCV). On the other hand, it turns out to be intermittent, depending on the attacks, for cats carrying the feline herpes virus (FHV).

The incubation period for coryza is short, from 2 to 5 days before the first signs appear. If you have other felines, it is necessary to isolate the cat suspected of being infected to prevent the spread of the disease to other cats.

How to protect your cat from coryza?

Vaccination remains the most effective preventive method against the risk of contamination. Injection protects againstherpesvirus (FHV), calicivirus (FCV) and chlamydophila felis, but not other bacteria such as bordetella, pasteurella or mucoplasma.

Vaccination won't prevent your companion from contracting the disease, but it will reduce the severity of symptoms by boosting his immune system. What's more, the contagiousness of excretions will be reduced, thus limiting the risk of spread. The first dose can be administered when the kitten is 8 weeks old, with a booster dose every year to maintain optimal protection.

It is important to vaccinate at-risk felines, such as kittens and older cats, to protect them from any severe form of the disease, which, we remind you, can lead to death.

It is also possible, and recommended, to vaccinate a cat that already has the virus. The injection will allow to stimulate its immune systemThe injection will allow to reduce the severity of the symptoms during the next attack.

Finally, if you have been in potential contact with a contaminated cat, you should know that the herpes virus and the calicivirus are not resistant to bleach, soda or heating to 50°C.

You have a cat with Coryza, share with us your experience in the comments ↓