Feline Calicivirus: Frequently Asked Questions
Cats can experience many of the same kinds of viral and bacterial infections as their human owners. Some diseases, however, pose threats specific to these animals. One such disease known as feline calicivirus (FCV) can cause both uncomfortable symptoms and potentially serious complications.
As a concerned cat owner, you'll want to learn what you can about FCV's risk factors, symptoms, and complications, as well as any diagnostic, treatment, and preventative measures that might restore and preserve your favorite feline's health. Check out these frequently asked feline calicivirus questions and their answers.
Why Do Cats Get Feline Calicivirus?
Although the germ that causes feline calicivirus (a member of the Caliciviridae virus family) poses no threat to humans, it spreads extremely easily among cats. For this reason, felines who spend time in catteries, animal shelters, boarding facilities, and other environments that host multiple cats have an elevated infection risk.
Even when the keepers of such an environment take care to disinfect the space, traces of FCV can remain alive on surfaces, presenting a future infection risk to other cats. This disease threat may linger for up to one month. Additionally, a human who handles an infected cat may transmit the disease to a healthy cat.
What Symptoms and Complications Can Feline Calicivirus Cause?
A case of feline calicivirus may take up to 14 days to show symptoms. When those symptoms finally arrive, they may resemble those of a bad cold at first. For instance, your cat may develop a runny nose, discharge from the eyes, loss of appetite, and a mild fever. The eyes may show signs of conjunctivitis (pinkeye).
The virus also presents other symptoms more specific to FCV. Look for signs such as lameness, mouth or tongue ulcers, drooling, breathing problems (a complication related to pneumonia), and a high fever. Jaundice or swelling of the face and legs could mean that the disease has damaged your cat's internal organs.
Feline calicivirus usually runs its course within three weeks. However, many cats will continue to carry the virus for months or even for the rest of their lives, making them a potential infection threat to their fellow cats.
How Do Veterinarians Deal With a Case of Feline Calicivirus?
Your veterinarian can tell you whether your cat has feline calicivirus. The mouth and tongue ulcers, in addition to other external symptoms, may prove sufficient to make a diagnosis. To confirm that diagnosis, the veterinarian may examine tissue and discharge samples and run them through laboratory tests.
Veterinary medicine currently lacks an antiviral drug that can stop FCV in its tracks. Instead, your veterinarian will concentrate on measures to control the symptoms and complications. For instance, if your cat has developed pneumonia as a complication, antibiotics can help tame the pneumonia and restore normal breathing.
Other supportive treatments can help your cat feel and function better during the weeks it may take for the infection to die out. Examples include medication to ease joint pain, eye drops to treat conjunctivitis, and in severe cases, a feeding tube to help cats with painful mouth ulcers receive nourishment.
How Can You Protect Your Cat Against Calicivirus?
The most powerful single preventative measure against feline calicivirus involves vaccination against the disease. Veterinarians routinely include this vaccine in the core vaccinations recommended for all cats. If you've kept up with your cat's core vaccination schedule, your cat already enjoys this protection.
Unfortunately, since FCV can assume a variety of variations and mutations, no one vaccine can offer total protection against the disease. However, even if your vaccinated cat does get FCV, it should suffer much less serious symptoms and complications than it would without that protection.
Alta Vista Veterinary Clinic has the experience, skills, tools, and compassionate approach your cat needs, whether it suffers from FCV or any other nasty infection. Contact our office today to schedule an exam, treatment, or any necessary preventative vaccinations.
