| In cats, chronic viral nasal disease | | | | are discontinued, there may be sneezing |
| develops from one of two viruses | | | | and relapse of symptoms. These signs are |
| involved in upper-respiratory tract | | | | similar to what would be seen in a cat |
| diseases. Both the feline | | | | with a polyp. |
| rhinotracheitis virus (FVR) and feline | | | | If the history suggest a systemic cause, |
| calici virus (FCV) are extremely | | | | then a complete blood count, serum |
| contagious. Clinically, the difference | | | | chemistry profile, urinalysis, and chest |
| between these two viruses is unnecessary | | | | x-rays are indicated. These tests should |
| for diagnosis and treatment. | | | | also be done if there is any concern |
| Symptoms and Causes | | | | about anesthetic risk for the next phase |
| The typical signs associated with | | | | of the examination. |
| chronic viral disease include sneezing, | | | | The second phase of examination involves |
| bilateral nasal discharge, nasal | | | | more aggressive testing, such as skull |
| bleeding, increased breathing sounds, | | | | x-rays, endoscopy, and nasal biopsies to |
| and discharge from the eyes. Any | | | | eliminate non-viral causes for the nasal |
| bleeding associated with viral disease | | | | disease. You may or may not want to |
| is usually very minimal; however, if | | | | continue with this aggressive diagnostic |
| nasal bleeding becomes extreme, it may | | | | path, depending on the severity of |
| be suggestive of a tumor. | | | | clinical signs and the evidence provided |
| Nasal discharge from one side of the | | | | by the history, physical examination, |
| nose is more typical of a foreign body, | | | | and other less invasive tests. |
| tumor, or tooth-root abscess. Moderate | | | | Treatment |
| to severe bleeding or deformity of the | | | | Some form of antibiotic treatment is |
| facial bones suggests an erosive | | | | often prescribed for a cat with chronic |
| process, such as cancer fungal or a | | | | viral nasal disease. If the chosen |
| foreign body. | | | | antibiotic is going to be effective, |
| To differentiate chronic viral nasal | | | | symptoms should improve noticeably in |
| disease from other causes of feline | | | | three to five days. |
| upper-respiratory disease, you must know | | | | If improvement is evident, your |
| the past health of the cat. Any previous | | | | veterinarian will determine the length |
| signs of acute infection would be | | | | of time that the antibiotics should be |
| expected with viral disease. An old | | | | continued. Normally, the dose is tapered |
| injury or prior trauma might have healed | | | | off slowly. In some cats, intermittent |
| externally but resulted in deep bone | | | | bouts of sneezing can be controlled by |
| damage or changes in the nasal anatomy | | | | continued administration of low-dose |
| which can lead a patient to be | | | | antibiotics. |
| predisposed to nasal disease. | | | | Symptomatic treatment also includes the |
| Diagnosis | | | | use of decongestants, cortisone, and |
| A cat with chronic viral nasal disease | | | | humidification. Your veterinarian will |
| is generally in good condition. Chronic | | | | determine the best treatment for your |
| viral nasal disease can be diagnosed | | | | cat. Local decongestant therapy can be |
| only by the elimination of other upper | | | | very helpful. Local treatment also |
| respiratory conditions, such as cancer, | | | | decreases the chance of systemic side |
| foreign bodies, bacterial disease, | | | | effects. Decongestants can be given |
| allergic disease, fungal disease, | | | | topically or orally. |
| polyps, dental disease, and prior | | | | The problem of using cortisone is that |
| trauma. Not only will this guide your | | | | it can mask the development of other |
| veterinarian in the proper course of | | | | problems or decrease the ability of the |
| treatment, but will also give you an | | | | abnormal nasal cavity to cope with |
| accurate prognosis. If the diagnosis | | | | infection. Cats who are virus carriers |
| becomes chronic viral nasal disease, you | | | | may start actively shedding the virus. |
| may expect a long-term treatment or | | | | Consequently, cortisone should only be |
| potentially negative results. | | | | used if absolutely necessary and with |
| Your veterinarian will examine the skull | | | | close monitoring. |
| and hard palate very carefully, along | | | | Humidification is a very simple way to |
| with an eye examination. The viruses | | | | provide relief to some patients. |
| involved in upper-respiratory diseases | | | | Increasing the moisture content of the |
| do not cause mass lesions or | | | | nasal secretions makes it easier for all |
| inflammation of the inner structures of | | | | the material in the nose to drain. Home |
| the eye. If these problems are | | | | vaporizers are inexpensive and easily |
| identified, then viral disease is | | | | obtainable from local drug stores. |
| unlikely. | | | | Placing the cat in a bathroom while the |
| To rule out the possibility of cancer, | | | | shower runs may also be helpful. |
| the lymph nodes around the cat's head | | | | To increase your cat's comfort, |
| and neck are also carefully examined. | | | | frequently clean your cat's face, nose, |
| Your veterinarian may also look for a | | | | and eyes with cotton balls and water. |
| discharge from both sides of the nose or | | | | You can also heat the food to help your |
| from the cat's eyes. After antibiotics | | | | cat smell it and increase the appetite. |