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Source: Dr. Kate 1xbet best casino website , 785-532-4282, kstenske@vet.k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR CAT GETS A COMMON COLD? K-STATE VETERINARIAN DISCUSSES OPTIONS FOR THESE CHALLENGING CASES
MANHATTAN -- Most people know that asking a physician for antibiotics to treat the common cold won't do any good, but many of them ask anyway. According to a Kansas State University veterinarian, it's not any different when the patient is their cat.
&1xbet best casino website ;Cat owners will be really, really frustrated because herpesvirus symptoms keep coming back, and veterinarians can become frustrated, too,&1xbet best casino website ; said Dr. Kate Stenske, a K-State clinical assistant professor. &1xbet best casino website ;A lot of times owners will say, 'Can I please have an antibiotic?' but antibiotics aren't always the answer.&1xbet best casino website ;
1xbet best casino website that when cats get the feline versions of the common cold -- herpesvirus and calicivirus -- supportive care is often the best medicine. This can include keeping their nose clean, steam therapy, warming their food -- it makes it smell tasty -- and adding an amino acid supplement called lysine.
1xbet best casino website that a visit to the veterinarian can help decide if a virus is the likely culprit.
&1xbet best casino website ;Clinical signs from viruses often go away on their own in a week and don't require treatment,&1xbet best casino website ; she said. &1xbet best casino website ;Not every cat needs antibiotics, and we're starting to see cats with antibiotic-resistant infections. But if clinical signs recur or worsen, then we may recommend further testing, such as culture, biopsy, and sometimes other tests including rhinoscopy or CT scan.&1xbet best casino website ;
1xbet best casino website is presenting on feline respiratory conditions at the Western Veterinary Conference, Feb. 15-19, in Las Vegas.
Both the herpes and calici viruses cause common cold symptoms like runny noses and sneezing. Some differences, 1xbet best casino website says, are that herpes can cause serious eye problems such as keratitis, whereas calici can produce an ulcer on the tongue. Herpesvirus can flare up after the cat has been under stress, such as enduring a houseful of visitors during the holidays.
&1xbet best casino website ;So minimizing stress is a great way to prevent flare ups of herpesvirus,&1xbet best casino website ; Stenske said. &1xbet best casino website ;If your cat sees a veterinarian -- and it should -- it will be vaccinated against herpes and calici. Most cats with herpes are infected as kittens, and remain infected for life, but the vaccines will minimize the clinical signs during flare-ups,&1xbet best casino website ; she said.
Some cats, especially breeds like Himalayans and Persians, are prone to secondary bacterial infections when they have herpesvirus. In this case, 1xbet best casino website , antibiotics are necessary and make them feel much better. Clear mucus is an indication that it's viral, she said, whereas green or yellow mucus suggests bacterial infection. To find out for sure, 1xbet best casino website a veterinarian can submit a culture to determine which bacteria is present and what the best antibiotic will be for treatment.
If a cat's sniffles and sneezes aren't caused by the herpes or calici viruses, 1xbet best casino website other infectious diseases could be to blame -- which is why it's important to see a veterinarian. Chlamydophila is a bacterial infection that usually affects kittens but is easy to diagnose and treat. 1xbet best casino website it causes crustiness in the eyes and a runny nose.
Cats also can have respiratory problems from a fungal organism called Cryptococcus. 1xbet best casino website it causes problems in the nasal cavity and sores around the nose. The organism can destroy skin and bone, and can move into the brain and cause neurological damage.
&1xbet best casino website ;This is why we like to catch it early and get them started on treatment, which can be long-term,&1xbet best casino website ; Stenske said.
Cat owners who also share their home with a dog should be aware that the bacteria that causes kennel cough can jump from dogs to cats, 1xbet best casino website .
&1xbet best casino website ;Kennel cough will show up with signs of coughing, sneezing and discharge from the eye,&1xbet best casino website ; Stenske said. &1xbet best casino website ;We'll vaccinate dogs for it but don't usually recommend it for cats because it is so rare.&1xbet best casino website ;
If a cat's respiratory ailment isn't caused by an infectious disease, 1xbet best casino website there are other conditions that could cause symptoms. Tooth root abscess, trauma to the nose or even a foreign object stuck in the nose are possibilities.
&1xbet best casino website ;Also, some cats have allergies like human allergies,&1xbet best casino website ; Stenske said. &1xbet best casino website ;They can flare up at certain times of the year, or they can be allergic to things like smoke. A lot of times we don't know specifically what the allergen is.&1xbet best casino website ;
In more serious cases, 1xbet best casino website , respiratory ailments sometimes can be caused by cancer.
&1xbet best casino website ;If we suspect a fungal infection or noninfectious cause we recommend doing full diagnostics,&1xbet best casino website ; Stenske said. &1xbet best casino website ;But if it looks like signs of a simple, common virus, we see if it goes away in a week or two.&1xbet best casino website ;
