Page 378 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

370 PART 7 SICK CAT WITH SPECIFIC SIGNS

If the wound is not healing well, or the cat has had Severe conjunctivitis with tearing, photophobia and
recurrent abscesses, FeLV/FIV testing is recommended chemosis.
to rule out an underlying immunodeficiency. Further
Hypersalivation may occur as an initial sign before the
considerations are inappropriate antibiotics (consider
classic signs of upper respiratory tract appear.
culture and sensitivity testing) or the presence of an
undetected foreign body (consider surgical exploration Punctate corneal ulcers that may coalesce to larger
of the area) or involvement of underlying bone ulcers or perforation.
(osteomyelitis).
Fever of 1–2 days duration, anorexia and depression.
Retching or coughing may occur.
Prognosis
Cats with anterior uveitis have occasionally have herpes-
Prognosis is good unless there is an underlying immuno-
virus 1 in the aqueous humor.
deficiency.

Prevention
Diagnosis
Restrict the cat to an indoor environment only;
Presumptive diagnosis can be made on the basis of
although less effective, confine cat indoors at least from
history and clinical signs because treatment for feline
dusk to dawn.
herpes virus-1 and calicivirus are similar.
Neuter male intact animals to decrease territorial
Ocular ulcerations and chemosis are more suggestive
behavior.
of FHV-1.
FeLV and FIV serology should be repeated 2–4 months
Definitive diagnosis is by direct IFA of cells obtained
following bite wounds.
from conjunctival or nasal scrapings, or by viral isola-
tion or polymerase chain reaction assays from
oropharyngeal or nasal swabs.
FELINE VIRAL RHINOTRACHEITIS
(FVR)*** (FELINE HERPESVIRUS
INFECTION (FVH-1))
CALICIVIRUS***
Classical signs
Classical signs
● Sneezing.
● Conjunctivitis. ● Mild conjunctivitis and ocular discharge.
● Punctate corneal ulceration. ● Serous to mucoid nasal discharge.
● Ocular discharge. ● Stomatitis, oral ulcerations.
● Anterior uveitis. ● Fever.
● Nasal discharge. ● Signs associated with pneumonia.
● Fever, anorexia and depression. ● Rarely, facial and paw edema, hemorrhage,
icterus and rapid death.
See main reference on page 7 for details (The Cat With
Acute Sneezing or Nasal Discharge). See main reference on page 11 for details (The Cat
With Acute Sneezing or Nasal Discharge).
Clinical signs

Acute onset of sneezing followed by oculonasal dis- Clinical signs
charge.
Sudden onset of serous ocular discharge and mild
Discharge progresses from serous to mucoid to conjunctivitis; these signs may begin unilaterally, but
mucopurulent. often progress bilaterally.