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Feline Calicivirus Infection in Cats
What is Feline Calicivirus Infection?
If your cat starts to show cold or flu-like signs like sneezing, discharge around the eyes and nose, and lack of appetite, contact your veterinarian. A detailed history, physical exam, and bloodwork can help to diagnose the disease. Treatment and prognosis will depend on the severity of the symptoms.
Feline Calicivirus(FCV) infection is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system in cats. It spreads by direct contact with virus containing droplets from an infected cat and contaminated surfaces such as food and water bowls or bedding. If your feline companion becomes infected, you will notice signs like loss of appetite, sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and ulcers on the tongue. Signs can last from a few days to a few weeks depending on the severity of the infection. Kittens tend to be most susceptible to more severe forms, and may develop pneumonia from the viral infection.
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Symptoms of Feline Calicivirus Infection in Cats
Most FCV infections result in an upper respiratory infection, but it can also lead to a limping syndrome or a systemic infection that affects organs throughout the body. General symptoms of infection tend to occur with each form of FCV and may include:
- Lethargy and depression
- Lack of appetite
- Fever
Types
Oral and Upper Respiratory Disease
If your cat becomes infected with the oral and upper respiratory disease form of FCV, symptoms may include:
- Ulcers of the tongue and mouth
- Discharge from the nose and eyes
- Sneezing
- Pneumonia
- Difficulty breathing
FCV-Associated Lameness
In some cases, the virus will cause a thickening of the synovial lining of joints. You may notice symptoms like:
- Lameness
- Difficulty walking
- Swollen, painful joints
FCV-Associated Virulent Systemic Infection
On rare occasions, a cat can become infected with a more virulent strain of FCV. Felines that have this form of the disease will be severely ill, and you may notice signs like:
- Pneumonia
- Skin swelling and ulceration
- Bleeding from the nose and intestine
- Sudden death
Causes of Feline Calicivirus Infection in Cats
All forms of the infection are caused by FCV. This is a virus that is transmitted through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and lining of the eyelids. Once the virus enters the body, it multiplies mainly in the oral and respiratory tracts and causes the upper respiratory signs listed above. If the virus goes beyond the respiratory tract, it may affect the synovial membranes of the joints, leading to the signs of lameness and arthritis.
Very rarely, FCV is able to access other cells and tissues in the body. In this case, the virus attacks vital organs like the liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs, resulting in all the general symptoms, and also signs of systemic infection like swelling and ulceration of the skin and bleeding from body openings. In very severe cases, the only sign you see will be death.
Diagnosis of Feline Calicivirus Infection in Cats
If you suspect your cat has FCV, contact your veterinarian. Your doctor will collect a detailed history including when you first noticed the signs and whether your feline friend has been in contact with other cats. Following a thorough physical exam to evaluate your cat's health and check all the body systems, your vet may choose to conduct further tests.
A presumptive diagnosis is possible based on the history and physical. Depending on the severity of the illness, your vet may want to take x-rays to check for signs of pneumonia or run bloodwork to check for signs of organ damage. Treatment can be conducted based on the symptoms. For a definitive diagnosis, the doctor can take swabs of the mucous membranes of the eye or mouth and send them to a laboratory for analysis.
Treatment of Feline Calicivirus Infection in Cats
There is no specific treatment for the initial infection with FCV, but your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections. If your cat has associated lameness, antiinflammatories and painkillers may be prescribed. When symptoms are severe, your cat will be hospitalized to provide intravenous fluids, nutritional therapy, and oxygen as needed.
If the symptoms of FCV infection are manageable, provide nursing care at home. Keep your cat comfortable. You can use a humidifier to make breathing easier. Wipe the the eyes and nose as needed to clear away discharge. If your cat has oral ulcers, use soft food that is gently warmed.
In most cases, symptoms will last a few days to a few weeks. Pneumonia can become severe and may be life-threatening especially in young kittens. In the case of FCV-associated virulent systemic infection, 50% or fewer affected animals survive.
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Recovery of Feline Calicivirus Infection in Cats
Follow-up after recovery from the disease depends on the symptoms your cat may have experienced. For cats with pneumonia, your veterinarian may want to conduct a post-infection physical with x-rays to confirm recovery. Most infected cats continue to shed the virus for about 30 days after infection, so you will want to keep your cat isolated from other animals. Some cats can become chronic carriers and may shed the virus long term.
The best way to manage FCV is by vaccination. Kittens should receive 2-3 vaccinations 8 weeks apart, followed by routine booster shots as directed by your veterinarian. The vaccine does not prevent infection, but can reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Feline Calicivirus Infection Average Cost
From 462 quotes ranging from $200 - $500
Average Cost
$300
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Feline Calicivirus Infection Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
domestic short hair
Lolo
5 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Smelly Mouth
I took my cat to get the Fcv vaccine and about 2 hours later he smelled really bad and he had a cut like wound from his nose to his upper lip. Should I be worried? He’s usually hyper and he’s been asleep since we got back
Aug. 20, 2018
0 Recommendations
If there is an injury which has appeared and is giving off an unpleasant odour, you should return to your Veterinarian to be on the safe side; this wouldn’t be related to the vaccination but may be due to injury in the cat carrier or another cause. Without an examination I cannot say how severe the injury is or what specific treatment would be best. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 20, 2018
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Domestic Short haired
Buddy
4 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Deep, Deep Red And Bleei
Deep, Deep Red And Bleeding Gums
My cat is four years old and has been diagnosed with calicivirus. It's showing itself in his gums, they are bright red and bleeding. The vet suggested removing the majority of his teeth, which she did, but it hasn't helped at all. He was on steroid tablets for a while which seemed to help a bit but today he is drooling, is so hungry and asking for food but can't eat it. He sleeps most of the time at the moment when he's not asking for food he can't eat. It's heart breaking. He's due to go back to the vets for a steroid injection on Monday but surely there must be something more we can do? The vet has said he has to live with it.
July 28, 2018
0 Recommendations
This type of infection is viral so any treatment is supportive and symptomatic, sometimes antibiotics are prescribed to treat any secondary infections which may be present; some cats get over the infection whilst others will be persistently infected for life and will shed the virus. There is very little to be done in the line of treatment unfortunately, good nursing care along with symptomatic and supportive therapy is best. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 29, 2018
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Feline Calicivirus Infection Average Cost
From 462 quotes ranging from $200 - $500
Average Cost
$300
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
