CHECK OUT CAT VIRAL INFECTIONS AND THEIR CURES

Cats, just like humans, are prone to sicknesses. In fact, cats succumb to two cat viral infections discussed shortly. But we have good news: there is a cure. 

These two common viral infections are the Feline Herpes 1 virus known as rhinotracheitis virus and infection with Chlamydia psittaci and mycoplasma.

When a cat is infected, it will experience a fever, have weepy eyes, a crusty nose, and sneeze a lot. This can go away with or without treatment, but this can come back. 

When this happens, the condition is called Feline Keratoconjunctivitis; the virus settles in the nerves around their face. Corneal scars can be seen to be a little over a centimeter in diameter. This makes it hard for the cat to see, and it usually happens due to stresses associated with boarding, weather change, a new pet in the house, or, as mentioned earlier, other diseases. 

Things will worsen as the outer coating of the cornea will be lost to the invading virus. Secondary bacterial and mycoplasmal infection of these areas may cause deep ulcers around the eye and, in some cases, damage the surrounding areas as well. 

Fortunately, this can be treated using an amino acid called –lysine by reducing the amount of another amino acid called arginine present in the cat’s body. The vet will prescribe 200 to 500 mg per day and sprinkle it into their food. There are different brands available and when you look for one, make sure it is glycol-free. 

You can also try topical antibiotics proven to be effective, but they are only designed to quell secondary bacterial invaders.

Another option for you is to use topical anti-virals designed to fight the virus directly. Some examples of these include Herplex (idoxuridine), Viroptic (trifluorothymidine, and Vira-A (vidarabine). These medications are relatively expensive and have to be given 5 times a day. Use it only when the cornea is indeed infected.

An oral solution called Oral Interferon is more affordable than topical anti-virals. Although it has never been scientifically proven to treat cat viral infections, cat owners that have used this have claimed it does shorten the length of the infection. The best part is that there are no known side effects, so you don’t lose anything by trying it.  

Vaccines seem to be the best way to prevent these diseases from happening. Ideally, this should be given to a cat during their 9th, 12th, and 14th week of age. It should be administered using a 25-gauge needle on the anterior side of a rear leg and massaged afterward to prevent tumors from forming in the injection sites. 

Other eye infections mimic what was just mentioned. One example is eosinophilic conjunctivitis. So, before any medication can be given, the vet will first have to do a test to ensure that the proper medication is given.  

This is known as PCR or the Polymerase Chain Reaction test. It is a DNA test that amplifies the presence of viral DNA so that even one single virus can be detected in a sample from a conjunctival swab.

Cat viral infections are common among kittens, but they can be prevented and cured. You have to know first which one you are dealing with, so the proper medication can be given. Do some research online and talk to your vet for more information about them.