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