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Cat keeps sneezing and has a runny nose? Don't panic! Understand the common causes and the difference from FIP (Veterinary diagnosis is the most important!)

Seeing your beloved cat constantly sneezing, with a runny nose, and red eyes, as the owner, you must be very worried. Is this a common "cat cold"? Or is it a more serious problem? Upper respiratory symptoms are actually very common in cats, and one of the most likely causes isFeline infectious rhinotracheitis, which is what people often callFeline herpesvirus (FHV-1)infection. However, many responsible owners have also heard of the worrying feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), and inevitably worry whether these symptoms areEarly symptoms of feline FIP. This article will help you understandTypical symptoms of feline infectious rhinotracheitisand briefly explain the difference between it and some symptoms that may appear in FIP.But please remember: No information in this article can replace the diagnosis of a professional veterinarian! The diagnosis of FIP is extremely complex, and any suspicion must be judged by an experienced veterinarian in combination with various examinations.The final answer to the question "What disease is cat sneezing" can only be given by your veterinarian.

The most common cause: Feline infectious rhinotracheitis (FHV-1 / feline herpesvirus)

This is one of the most common culprits causing "cold" symptoms in cats. It is caused by feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), which is highly contagious, especially in multi-cat households or catteries. Like the human cold virus, it mainly attacks the upper respiratory tract of cats.

CommonFeline herpesvirus symptomsinclude:

  • Sneezing:This is a very typical symptom, which may be frequent, sometimes even violent sneezing.
  • Runny nose:At first, it may be a clear serous nasal discharge. If a bacterial infection occurs secondarily, the nasal discharge may become thick and yellow or green.
  • Eye symptoms (conjunctivitis):Redness and swelling of the eyes, tearing (tears may also change from clear to purulent), cats may squint or blink frequently. In severe cases, it may even lead to corneal damage (keratitis, corneal ulcer).
  • Loss of appetite, listlessness:Because the nose is blocked and they cannot smell the food, or they feel unwell and do not want to eat, they appear listless.
  • Fever:Some cats will experience an increase in body temperature.
  • Oral ulcer:Occasionally, ulcers may also be seen on the oral mucosa.

About the characteristics of feline rhinotracheitis:In most adult cats with normal immunity, the symptoms are usuallyself-limiting, meaning that the body can clear the virus on its own (but the virus will remain latent in the body for life). However, the virus will not be completely eliminated, it will remain dormant in the cat's nerve ganglia, and when the catencounters stress(such as changes in the environment, the arrival of a new pet, illness, etc.), the virus may bereactivated and recur. Forkittens, unvaccinated cats, elderly cats, or cats with immune deficiencies, the symptoms may bemore seriousand may even be life-threatening.

Worrying FIP: Symptoms may be vague and complex

Somenon-specificearly symptoms that FIP may present (Please note: these symptoms may also be caused by many other diseases!):

  • Repeated or persistent fever:Poor response to routine antibiotic treatment.
  • Depression, loss of appetite, gradual weight loss:The cat is getting thinner and more listless.
  • Jaundice:The skin, inside of the ears, oral mucosa, or whites of the eyes may be yellow (but not all FIP cases will show this).
  • Eye abnormalities:Such as uveitis (inflammation inside the eye), hypopyon/hyphema, etc. (but it may also be other eye diseases).
  • Nervous system symptoms:Such as unsteady walking (ataxia), convulsions, abnormal behavior, etc. (usually a manifestation of dry FIP developing to a certain stage).
  • Gradual enlargement of the abdomen (wet FIP):This is due to the accumulation of a large amount of yellow, viscous fluid (ascites) in the abdominal cavity.
  • Difficulty breathing (wet FIP):If fluid accumulates in the chest cavity (pleural effusion), it will compress the lungs, leading to rapid or difficult breathing.

Possible differences from rhinotracheitis (for information only, the final judgment rests with the veterinarian):

Although FIP may have some seemingly mild symptoms in the early stages, it is usually aprogressively worseningofsystemic disease, affecting multiple organ systems. Simple feline infectious rhinotracheitis is mainly limited to theupper respiratory tractAlthough it may recur, it usually does not continue to worsen and lead to multiple organ failure like FIP. Veterinarians will look for characteristic indicators of FIP through a series of tests, such as a significant decrease in the albumin to globulin ratio (A:G ratio) in blood tests, abnormally elevated globulin levels, elevated serum amyloid A (SAA), and changes in the morphology of abdominal lymph nodes and organs through B-ultrasound, or extract and analyze the characteristics of ascites/pleural effusion, etc.

Why must you see a veterinarian?

As pet owners, we all want our cats to be healthy. But when a cat is sick, it is very dangerous to rely on internet searches or personal experience to judge the condition. Here are the reasons why you must take your cat to a veterinarian:

  • Similar symptoms, very different causes:Cat sneezing, runny nose, and eye discomfort, in addition to feline herpesvirus, may also be caused by feline calicivirus, mycoplasma, chlamydia, bacterial infections, fungal infections, allergies, nasal foreign bodies, and even tumors. Different causes require completely different treatments.
  • The extreme complexity of FIP diagnosis:As repeatedly emphasized above, the diagnosis of FIP requires professional medical knowledge and a series of complex examination methods, which cannot be judged by ordinary owners.
  • The serious consequences of delaying treatment:Whether it is a serious secondary infection caused by improper handling of rhinotracheitis, or other more serious diseases (including FIP), once the best treatment time is delayed, it may lead to deterioration of the condition, increase the difficulty of treatment, and even endanger the cat's life.
  • Get correct and effective treatment:Only after a professional diagnosis by a veterinarian can the true cause be determined, and the most appropriate and effective treatment plan can be formulated for your beloved cat, such as whether antiviral drugs, antibiotics, antifungals, antiallergic drugs, or other supportive treatments (such as intravenous infusion, nutritional support, etc.) are needed.

How do veterinarians diagnose cat diseases? (Take upper respiratory symptoms as an example)

When you take your cat to the veterinarian, they will follow a scientific and rigorous process to find out the problem. Understanding this process will help you better cooperate with the veterinarian and understand the complexity of the diagnosis:

  1. Detailed medical history (anamnesis):The veterinarian will carefully ask about the cat's age, breed, vaccination status, living environment (indoor/outdoor), diet, when the symptoms started, how long they lasted, how severe they are, whether they have been in contact with other sick cats, and whether their mental state, appetite, bowel movements, and urination are normal. The more detailed the information you provide, the better.
  2. Comprehensive physical examination:The veterinarian will carefully examine the cat's eyes, nose, mouth (to see if there are any ulcers), ears, listen to the heartbeat and breathing sounds, measure body temperature, touch and check whether the lymph nodes in the neck and jaw are enlarged, and assess the cat's overall mental state and hydration status.
  3. Necessary laboratory tests:Based on the initial judgment, the veterinarian may recommend some tests:
    • Pathogen detection:For example, collect eye or nasal secretions for PCR testing to determine whether specific pathogens such as feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma are present.
    • Cytological examination:Examine the secretion smear to see if there are a large number of bacteria, inflammatory cells, or abnormal cells.
    • Complete blood count (CBC):Evaluate the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to help determine whether there is an infection, inflammation, or anemia.
    • Blood biochemical examination:Evaluate the function of major organs such as the liver and kidneys, and check indicators such as blood sugar, protein (especially the albumin to globulin ratio A:G ratio), and electrolytes, which is very important for assessing overall health and screening for systemic diseases such as FIP.
    • Serum amyloid A (SAA) test:SAA is an important acute inflammatory marker in cats, and it is usually significantly elevated in severe inflammatory diseases such as FIP.
  4. Imaging examination:If pneumonia, pleural effusion, or abdominal problems are suspected (such as suspected wet FIP), the veterinarian may recommend X-ray or B-ultrasound examination.
  5. Comprehensive analysis and diagnosis:Finally, the veterinarian will combine the detailed medical history, comprehensive physical examination, and all relevant laboratory and imaging examination results for comprehensive analysis to arrive at the most likely diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan based on it.

Diagnostic tools that veterinarians may use

To help confirm the diagnosis, your veterinarian may use some rapid test strips or send samples to a laboratory for testing. Tashikin offers a range of veterinary diagnostic products designed to help veterinarians quickly and accurately identify the cause.Please note that these are tools for professional veterinarians, and the results need to be interpreted by the veterinarian in conjunction with the clinical situation.Here are some potentially relevant tests:

Tashikin Feline Herpesvirus 1 Antigen Test Strip (FHV-1 Ag)

Helps veterinarians quickly detect whether a cat is shedding feline herpesvirus.

Tashikin Feline Calicivirus Antigen Test Strip (FCV Ag)

Helps veterinarians quickly detect whether a cat is infected with feline calicivirus, another common virus that causes upper respiratory symptoms.

Tashikin Feline Rhinotracheitis/Calicivirus Antigen Combo Test Strip (FCV FHV-1 Ag)

Can simultaneously detect feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus, providing veterinarians with more comprehensive information.

Tashikin Feline Serum Amyloid A Test Strip (F. SAA)

SAA is an important inflammatory marker in cats. Veterinarians may use it to assess the degree of inflammation, help determine the severity of the condition, or monitor treatment response. (Note: Elevated SAA can be seen in a variety of inflammations, not unique to FIP).

Tashikin Feline Coronavirus Antigen Test Strip (FCOV Ag)

Used to detect whether feline coronavirus is present in cat feces. A positive result indicates that the cat is shedding coronavirus, but thisdoes not meanthat the cat has FIP. (Note: Healthy cats may also carry and shed coronavirus).

To learn more about Tashikin's diagnostic products for veterinarians, please visit ourProduct Center.

Take action immediately if you find your cat is unwell!

As a responsible pet owner, when you find that your cat has any worrying symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, eye abnormalities, coughing, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, lethargy, unexplained fever, or weight loss, please do not hesitate, let alone try to self-medicate or wait and see.The safest and most correct approach is:Contact your trusted veterinarian immediately, or take it to a professional animal hospital for examination as soon as possible.Getting timely professional diagnosis and treatment is the best guarantee for the health and happiness of your beloved cat. Tashikin always cares about animal health, and we hope that every pet can receive timely and effective care.

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