Cat diseases worldwidePlanning a vacation with your favorite pet? In addition to the entry and exit regulations, you should also always inform yourself about possible infection risks at your travel destination. You may have the mandatory vaccinations for a border crossing on your radar, but you should also heed regional vaccination recommendations. Tell your vet in time about your vacation plans and consider together what protection your favorite pet needs. In the following sections we will inform you about typical cat diseases you should protect your cuddly tiger from.
Infection with the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) does not manifest itself clinically in all cats. Especially immunocompromised animals can remain symptom-free despite viral disease. However, cats carrying the virus are still infectious to other animals. The long period between infection and outbreak of the disease also has a positive effect on the spread of the disease. This means in reverse that every encounter with conspecifics is a potential risk for your unprotected darling. This can be especially true for young cats. Free roamers become dangerous.
In the case of infection, unfortunately, so far only the symptoms can be mitigated. A cure for retrovirus is not yet known. If it comes to a clinical picture, the clinical symptoms are expressed by dullness, fever and tumor formation. The FeLV virus was first discovered in the early 1960s by a Glasgow veterinarian. He recognized an accumulation of lymph node swellings. Tumors of the lymphatic tie in some closely living cat groups. The virus is usually transmitted directly through the saliva of infected cats. Often the mutual fur care by licking plays a tragic main role. Indirect transmission through contaminated objects such as bowls, toilets or toys is rather rare.
This is due to the fact that FeLV loses its infectivity within a few minutes at room temperature. Under certain conditions, for example when several cats eat their food from the same bowl at the same time, the indirect transmission of the virus can occur. Vaccination in case of a high risk of infection (outdoor cats, contact with cats of unknown status, etc.).) is therefore recommended in any case. If you have any questions, please contact your veterinarian, he will be happy to advise you.
FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) is caused by coronaviruses, which usually cause mild diarrhea. Due to a mutation in the cat's intestine, the comparably harmless virus develops into the dangerous FIP virus and triggers severe symptoms. The name of the virus is derived from the frequent inflammation of the peritoneum. In some cases, however, (only) the pleura is affected. Here the disease is rarely called feline infectious polyserositis. A clear diagnosis of FIP is difficult. Unfortunately, no cure is yet possible. At the beginning of the course of the disease, symptoms such as loss of appetite, emaciation and recurrent fever often occur.
If a contagious peritonitis has manifested itself, the tragic infection is fatal in every cat. Despite further development, vaccination against the FIP virus is still controversial. Therefore, let yourself be advised in detail by your veterinarian and decide together whether a vaccination comes into question.
veterinary advice for the vacation! The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) causes an immunodeficiency disease in cats. Is commonly also called cat AIDS. Even though the FIV virus in cats is very similar to the AIDS virus in humans, a human-animal transmission is impossible. From cat to cat, the virus is mainly transmitted through bite injuries (z.B. transmitted during territorial fights). So do you plan, to take in a new cat, have her examined as a precaution and make sure that she does not show any aggression.
If a cat is infected, the immune system is severely weakened, so that numerous secondary diseases can occur. Most cats remain lifelong carriers of the virus. Show no symptoms for a long time. After this symptom-free phase, some cats develop symptoms similar to human AIDS: Infections of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin, u.a. There is currently no vaccine available in Germany against FIV infection, which is always fatal.
Hepatozoonosis
Hepatozoonosis (hepato = liver) is a rarely diagnosed disease, whose infection often remains symptomless. Unlike most other tick-borne diseases, hepatozoonosis is spread by biting or swallowing the parasite rather than by a bite. The first carriers of the infection are the brown dog ticks and the hedgehog ticks, which are not very common in Germany. If infection occurs with clinical signs, these are mainly fever, weight loss, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, swelling of the lymph nodes, muscle pain and weakness, stiff gait, tenderness, and nasal and eye discharge.
Depending on the severity of the disease, deaths are also possible as a result of organ damage caused by the pathogen. Hepatozoonosis is even rarer in cats than in dogs. However, as hepatozoonosis is still poorly understood and therapies are still experimental, caution is advised. Especially in Mediterranean countries and areas where the brown dog tick feels at home. A good tick control is the best prophylaxis against hepatozoonosis. Variety of different bacteria. viruses are caused. Infection is easy: a small sneeze. The infection spreads by droplet infection from animal to animal. Finally, the disease can be very severe, especially in unvaccinated animals, still young kittens and older animals.
Therefore, pay attention to the symptoms, such as sneezing, secretion from the nose and eyes, fever, lethargy and sometimes ulcers in the oral cavity. Especially when traveling, every cat should be vaccinated against the two main viruses, the Feline Calicivirus and the Feline Herpesvirus. You never know what illnesses affectionate conspecifics carry with them
Feline epidemic
Feline epidemic disease, also known as panleukopenia or feline parvovirosis (FPV) – closely related to the Parvovirosis of dogs – is a highly contagious infectious disease, especially dangerous for young animals. symptoms are severe vomiting, loss of appetite and fever. The disease initially causes a decrease in white blood cells (leukocytes), which results in immunodeficiency. In this condition the pets are defenselessly exposed to all bacterial pathogens. In the case of a FPV diagnosis, a large number of sick cats can now be saved by intensive therapy, but the death rate, especially in kittens, is still up to 75%.
In the case of poor prospects of successful treatment, every cat lover should therefore also consider the option of euthanasia. The cat disease can lead in bad cases to agonizing pain. Vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of feline epidemics, but local outbreaks still occur. Cats take the virus z. B. on infected drinking bowls or from the fur of recovered conspecifics on. Since feline epidemic disease is widespread, caution is advised not only for outdoor cats or travel cats, but even for cats living only indoors. The most effective measure against the disease consists of a prophylactic vaccination, which is carried out for the first time at the age of eight weeks and should be refreshed after one month.
Rabies
The Rabies is probably the most mystified and at the same time the best known viral disease worldwide. Dogs, cats and humans become infected through the bite of already infected animals. And even though vaccines have taken some of the terror out of the disease, tens of thousands of animals and people still die from infection worldwide every year – 99% of them in developing countries in Asia and Africa. Rabies, also called rabies or rage disease, belongs to the compulsory vaccinations in all countries when entering and leaving the country.
Cruel thought, but once your pet has rabies, it may not be treated. A killing of the animal is prescribed. Main symptoms of infection by the Rabies virus: strong salivation, "hoarse" barking, dumb look, unusual attachment of otherwise shy animals.