Gastroenteritis coronavirus in cats: symptoms and treatment

Pet health is one of the most important things, which must be monitored closely by the owner. It is easier to prevent disease or detect it in the initial stages, than to wait for a prolonged shape and a long time to heal. Coronavirus gastroenteritis in cats is a common disease. Under this name hides an acute inflammatory process that affects the stomach and small intestine of the animal.

In the untimely appeal to the vet viral enteritis can lead to dehydration, disruption of rhythmic contractions of the gastrointestinal tract, and in some cases, to peritonitis and death.

The transmission of disease between individuals

Coronavirus gastroenteritis in cats is a disease with a high degree of virulence (infectivity). At particular risk are animals when keeping them in large groups in nurseries, orphanages, hotels for animals. In these conditions most easily transmitted the pathogen between individuals.

Coronavirus enters the body through the oral-nasal or fecal-fecal by eating feces or inhalation of particles from the tray of an infected animal. For transmission enough the smallest particles of the filler. The situation is complicated by the fact that the coronavirus of cats is stable in the environment for quite a long period – up to 7 days.

Infection with coronavirus kittens

Transmission of the virus through the placenta during gestation of the offspring is not happening. Moreover, antibodies in breast milk affect the immune system of a kitten – he was safe.

But later, when the influence of fading and antibodies in calves develops its own immune system, the causative agent enters the body. At the age of 5-7 weeks the kitten is in danger, in order to avoid the disease is to isolate it before. 15-25 days is a sufficient period for the development of reflexes, but at this time the immune system of the kitten is still being formed and is under the influence of maternal antibodies.

Transfer in other ways

The risk of the owner of the infect an animal after contact with other cats is low. This is only possible in the case of direct contamination of clothing or hands faeces of patients with coronavirus species. The same applies to contamination through contact with owners of other animals.

Despite the high level of zarahemla between the felines and the possibility of getting infections from dogs and pigs (that the city is unlikely), the human coronavirus is not terrible.

Natural cure

If the animal has a good immune system, completely cool and is in great physical shape – perhaps the natural removal of the virus from the body (elimination).

The process takes from 2-3 weeks to several months. But the coronavirus can stay in the body no external manifestations and the causative agent will regularly stand out with feces. It doesn't harm the pet, but is the possibility of infection of other animals.

A dangerous strain of coronaviruses – FIPV

Disregard for the treatment of coronavirus infection can lead to complications. There are two types of the virus and relatively safe (with proper treatment) the virus FCoV can mutate to a dangerous strain of the causative agent of viral peritonitis.

This occurs most often under stress, which occurs in a state of depression when symptoms of viral gastroenteritis.

Do not risk the health of your pet and at the first sign of the disease gastroenteritis coronavirus contact the specialist! The mutated virus is extremely dangerous – the probability of death in case of viral peritonitis – up to 100%.

Unfortunately, an effective way of dealing with peritonitis to date not been identified, so it is best to monitor the health of your pet. Some veterinarians are trying to save the situation with antibiotics and the introduction into the abdominal cavity antibacterial solution, but this treatment rarely pays off.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis coronavirus origin

In order to address to the veterinarian, you need to monitor your pet. Signs of gastroenteritis of viral origin is often pronounced and hard to miss:

  • the appetite of weak or missing;
  • there is vomiting and/or diarrhea;
  • feces are liquid, vomit often consist of yellowish foamy bile;
  • animal in a state of apathy, the sight dim, the temperature is raised;
  • after attempting to take food or water come "dry spasms" – the urge without isolation of vomit.

If you have one or more signs should contact the veterinary clinic. Signs may indicate the beginning of other serious diseases. After examination and tests can diagnose the gastroenteritis coronavirus in the cat and prescribe treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteritis coronavirus in cats

Despite the wide spread of the disease, specific treatment is under development. Immunomodulators and stimulants are rarely give significant results, attempts of antibiotic therapy lead to a temporary improvement.

If by laboratory studies diagnosed a protracted gastroenteritis coronavirus have one or more cats in the population,the treatment is mainly to relieve symptoms.

Antiemetic medicine for diarrhea and an intravenous saline solution will help alleviate the condition in the process of the body's fight against the virus. After the improvement of the animal is prescribed a light diet – specially selected food for sensitive intestine in small portions 5-7 times a day.

Prevention of infection

Home apartment cats are not in contact with the outside world, is almost not affected by disease – infection occurs only in 5-7% of cases. In order to reduce this already small percentage, enough to prevent pet contact with outdoor shoes and wash hands if had contact with strange or stray animals. If the house multiple specimens – place the trays as far away from feeding sites.

To prevent diseases in places of detention feline to follow the rules listed below.

  • Each incoming animal the first step is to determine the quarantine contacts only after the tests and eliminating the spread of the virus.
  • If a nursing cat is a carrier of the disease, and kittens take in the first weeks of life, unless there was an infection.
  • Food and water should be as far away from the trays.
  • The filler is to use a clumping of the mixture (based on clay minerals).
  • A group of infected who had no contact with mers have to be separated.

Subject to the recommendations the possibility of infection will be minimized.