Cat viruses list

It's the leading cause of death for pets in their senior years. Nobody knows the exact cause of cancer, but outside factors like toxins in the environment seem to play a big role. Treatments include chemotherapy and radiation, but other holistic and alternative medical treatments are also available. There is no cure for cancer, and many treatments sadly fail. What other serious feline diseases should be on the list? Do you keep up with vet visits to prevent or catch medical issues before they get serious?

Let us know in the comments below! Kidney health is typically evaluated with annual bloodwork at your veterinarian. Most survivors of parvovirus do not harbor long-term effects. FIP is caused by a viral infection.

The odd thing about FIP is that most cats are infected with the causative virus feline coronavirus when they are young, but only a small proportion of infected cats go on to develop FIP at a later date due to the virus mutating within their bodies.

Cats with FIP can develop a range of symptoms, including poor appetite, lethargy, weight loss, fluid build-up in the abdomen or chest, enlarged lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, eye abnormalities, difficulty walking, behavioral changes, and seizures. Treatment for FIP is limited to supportive therapy. Acromegaly is caused by an overproduction of growth hormone within the body, often due to a tumor within the pituitary gland.

The result is an excessively large cat with a big head and enlarged organs. Acromegaly is also associated with the development of diabetes mellitus and heart disease. Treatment for acromegaly in cats has been unrewarding. Dysautonomia also called Key-Gaskell syndrome is caused by abnormalities within the nervous system.

The cause has not been identified. Treating the symptoms of dysautonomia can make these cats feel better, but most are eventually euthanized due to poor quality of life. Why is My Cat So Itchy? A drug that breaks down mucus, like bromhexine, also can help reduce congestion. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can lower the fever and reduce mouth pain, and broad-spectrum antibiotics can be used to treat opportunistic bacterial infections, when necessary.

Cats often lose their appetite and stop eating due to congestion and the sores in their mouths. Owners should provide strong-smelling, soft foods, which can be pureed to make them easier to swallow and heated slightly to increase their odor.

If cats have not eaten for more than three days, they may need hospitalization to receive fluids and IV nutrition. Vaccines do not protect against FCV entirely, but they can greatly reduce the severity of the infection if your cat is exposed. Several combination vaccines against FCV, feline herpesvirus type 1 and feline panleukopenia virus the cause of feline distemper are available, which can be given nasally or as an injection.

The vaccines given nasally contain a modified live form of the virus, while injected vaccines can be modified live viruses or inactivated ones. Cats that receive the nasal vaccine may sneeze for four to seven days after vaccination. Once kittens reach six to eight weeks of age, they should receive a vaccine every three to four weeks, with the final booster being given after 16 weeks of age.

If the cat is already older than 16 weeks, give two doses of the vaccine, three to four weeks apart. Cats should receive boosters every three years, unless they are in a high-risk, multi-cat environment, in which case they should be revaccinated annually.

Even cats that have recovered from a calicivirus infection should receive boosters, because they may not be protected against other strains of the virus. Studies suggest that the nasal form of the vaccine leads to more rapid protection against the virus, which may be helpful in containing outbreaks in shelters.

If you have multiple cats and one or more are being treated for FCV, then you should quarantine the infected animals and clean food and water bowls, the litter box and other items that may be contaminated with the virus. A dilute bleach solution made up of one half cup of bleach per gallon of water is effective at killing the virus. Cleaning solutions that contain phenol, like Lysol, also are effective, but should not be used around cats because they cause irritation and are toxic.

Owners may wish to remove other cats from the home during this period to prevent exposure. The virus will die off naturally after one month. Cats that become carriers will continue to shed the virus in the home, even after they recover from the infection.

Owners may need to re-home carrier cats before disinfecting the home to protect the remaining animals from exposure.

Whenever you bring a new cat into the home, it is wise to isolate the animal from other cats in the household for one to two weeks while you watch for signs of disease. Symptoms of visceral larva migrans may include fever, fatigue, coughing, wheezing, and abdominal pain. Ocular larva migrans is the term used for a condition in which Toxocara larvae migrate to the eye, causing visual disturbances, abnormal eye movements, or eye pain and discomfort. Cutaneous larva migrans, an itchy skin disease, is caused by contact with soil contaminated with Ancylostoma larvae.

Proper hygiene, including washing hands before meals, cleaning soil from vegetables, and reducing exposure to cat feces can prevent infection. Anti-parasite medications for kittens and annual fecal exams for adult cats can reduce environmental contamination and the risk of human infection. Fungal Infections Ringworm or dermatophytosis is not caused by a worm at all.

Rather, it is a skin infection caused by a group of fungi. Infected cats most often come from environments housing large numbers of animals. In cats, ringworm usually appears as a dry, gray, scaly patch on the skin. In humans, ringworm often appears as a round, red, itchy lesion with a ring of scale around the edge. Infected cats continuously drop fungal spores from their skin and fur. These spores, which remain capable of causing infection for many months, are difficult to eradicate from a household.

Children are particularly at risk of infection. Treatment involves the use of either topical antifungal ointments or oral antifungal medication, depending upon the severity and location of lesions. To reduce environmental contamination, confine infected cats to one room until they are free of infection, then thoroughly clean and disinfect the household.

Protozoal Infections Protozoans are single-celled organisms. The three most common protozoal diseases in cats and humans are cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis. Cryptosporidiosis can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps, and dehydration in both cats and people. Either direct or indirect contact with the feces of cats infected with Cryptosporidium organisms can lead to transmission of this disease. As with most other zoonotic diseases, immunocompromised individuals are at the greatest risk of infection.

To prevent the spread of infection, schedule annual fecal examinations for your cats, and medicate infected cats as directed by your veterinarian. Other preventive measures include wearing gloves while handling feces-contaminated material and washing hands afterwards.