A lot of people would like to know whether their dogs and cats can catch common colds like humans do. The answer is YES and NO!
Symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and coughing can develop as a result of a viral, bacterial or fungal infection in the canine or feline respiratory system. But while human colds are usually associated with a change in season, cat and dog colds are independent of seasonality and are usually caused by a virus.
Many pet owners bring their dog or cat to a vet, kennel or cattery while traveling. The risk of infection increases greatly. In addition, the holidays are often a time of high-travel, and pets may come along for the journey.
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In recent years, the vaccination of cats has become more popular. The three most common vaccines give protection against feline infectious enteritis (FIE), feline influenza (cat flu) and feline leukaemia (FeLV). An initial course of two injections, the first at nine weeks are usually given, and yearly boosters are recommended thereafter.
FIE causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and the cat develops a very high temperature. Before the vaccine was introduced, it killed a great many cats by dehydration due to the bowel symptoms. Cat flu is caused by two viruses: the feline rhinotracheitis (FCV). FVR is the more severe of the two, causing coughing, sneezing, and nasal and eye discharges.
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Posted on 2009 under Cat Respiratory Health | 14 May
Homeopathic vaccine temporarily relieves feline flu symptoms including sneezing, nasal congestion and fever – natural cat flu remedy
Viral support for your cat
All cats are exposed to different viruses during their lives. Just as for humans, the younger or the older the animal, the greater it’s susceptibility to illness.
When a feline’s immune system is battling a virus, the mouth, nasal passages, sinuses, and upper airways can be affected, breathing can become hampered, and airways can become increasingly blocked and congested.
Conventional vaccines are not recommended for young kittens or for pregnant queens, leaving these cats at a greater risk for ill health. Symptoms may be mild or severe, and are unpleasant for the poor animal.
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Cat flu is a general name given to infectious acute feline respiratory disease caused by a number of organisms. It is commonly seen in cats that have not been vaccinated, especially when they are kept in an over-crowded, dusty environment with poor ventilation and high humidity.
A huge majority (almost 80%) of the infections are caused either by feline calicivirus (FCV) or feline rhinotracheitis virus (FRV or herpes virus). The rest are caused by organisms known as Feline coronavirus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Pasturella multocida, Mycoplasma (parasitic bacteria) or Chlamydophila felis. Many cases of cat flu are tested positive for infection by more than one of these infectious agents.
Cat flu is a contagious disease and even cats without visible signs of the infection may pass it on to a healthy cat. The symptoms of cat flu include:
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