#calicivirus

[followthebluebell]

What can you explain about calicivirus? We scooped a cat from outside and (amongst other things), she came out positive for calicivirus, but they didn't explain too much what it entailed since the other stuff was far more urgent. (As a note, she's our only cat, so there's no risk of infecting other animals)

ok, so for most cats, it's not a huge deal. They contract it, get over it, get on with their lives. It's an extremely common infection that typically presents similarly to the common cold. Runny nose, runny eyes, cough, sneezing, fever that sort of thing.

But it can be way, WAY worse. It's usually worse for kittens, because they've got no immune system yet, and the elderly who haven't experienced it before because, again, no immune system. Usually I see oral ulcers. These can be extremely painful and prevent a cat from eating. Typically, owners notice an incredibly foul-smelling drool and lack of appetite.

Rarely, cats may present with bloody noses, faces, or swollen limbs, which are very severe symptoms. These are symptoms of a particularly severe strain that can cause liver damage.

Since it can be easily prevented (or at least have the severity reduced) with a core vaccine (the FVRCP vaccine), it's best to vaccinate. There's no cure for calicivirus---- all you can do is manage the symptoms until the cat's immune system perks up. Typically, this includes sub-q fluids, an appetite stimulant, and pain meds to control the pain. Vaporizers can help reduce swelling and clear the passages and a good anti-mucosal drug can help as well.

It's also fairly common for cats to contract the virus and become carriers for it but not show symptoms. Other cats may present a positive test just because they've been exposed to it in the past.

[randomactsofpigeon]

A sick sleepy girl 😭

[numetaljackass]

Taking name suggestions for this cat I’m probably foster failing on

[sleepyfemme]

this sweet little guy has been in the shelter since june (at least 2 months longer than any of the other cats there) and i just can’t stop thinking about how he has no idea he gets to come home with us tomorrow :’)

[californiaquail]

new disease dropped

[cannibalspyre]

vet said my 7 m/o cat has a less than 50% chance of survival. internet & another vet friend says the condition is rarely lethal, but they aren't exactly reassuring sources. i left him at the clinic for a 7 day stay. however i'm losing my shit. if anyone has any experience with a cat recovered/died from FCV, please talk to me. i'm in desperate need of hope, or at least a solid reason to begin acceptance.

[diversegaminglists]

More cat issues.

She's a carrier of FCV (feline calicivirus) which causes respiratory and gum infections (she's had most of her teeth removed due to this).

She went to the vet on Monday cos she wasn't eating properly, and we found her gums were bleeding. Got more meds and she seemed to be getting better.

Today she won't eat at all, not even people food which she normally clamours for, so emergency vet appointment.

[kickthecan-revolution]

My little cross-eyed girl is killing it.

Peach’s labs came back negative for everything she initially tested positive for - calicivirus, mycoplasma, even herpes. All gone. To be safe, we need to test again to see if she’s a carrier of the calicivirus or shedding it, my vet is conferring with some internists. That way we can get a game plan to start actively socializing them though I’m letting her get her scent everywhere now, and Buddy keeps going into her room for sniffs.

It’s been five weeks since I brought her home. Amazing how such a short time feels so long.

In other news, my boss got short with me about something, a collaboration with our contact center that is so incredibly dysfunctional. I was in a bad mood about it all day but then I remember that this morning I started a count down - 363 days until I leave. This is my last October 16 I will experience in this company. I’m going to plan out my year where I do all sorts of fun things and just….phone it in, maybe? Maybe.

[catsofcalifornia]

Bartok from Flower’s PetAlliance Foundation in Long Beach, California

Click here for more information about adoption and other ways to help!

Click here for a link to Flower’s PetAlliance Foundation’s main website.

Meet Bartok! Bartok was found as a very sick stray kitten by a good Samaritan back in October 2021. He does have calicivirus, which he is was treated for and recovered from, but he may have flareups throughout his life. He is a SUPER happy boy that he does well with dogs and other cats but is very overzealous so he may not do well with an older or shy cat. He absolutely adores being with his people, and loves to cuddle up with you! He is super sweet and would love to complete your family!

[rabiesofficial]

I was thinking I would have 4 daughters. The eldest would be rabies lyssavirus. Then I’d have triplets named calicivirus, feline panleukopenia virus, and feline herpesvirus type-1. Lyssa, calici, penny, and herpes for short

😭

The four kittens of the meowpocalyspe

[followthebluebell]

Well the bad news is I've stabbed my finger very deeply with a needle. It's bruising up :(

The good news is that I should be safe from feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, and calicivirus for a year.

[randomactsofpigeon]

Well, Scout apparently caught calicivirus from Mabel... Cats who are vaccinated (and not super-young or old) tend to do better with it. He's just been feeling like crap the last few days. Today he has a fever and is holed up in our closet sleeping. I set up food and water stations nearby so he doesn't have to go far, but that's about all I can do. It's a virus. It kind of just has to run its course.

[puppycolakid]

This isn't my cat and I don't know if kelvins been posted to Tumblr already , I found him in a discord server , please help this cat he has less then 11hrs left if you can help share this around , please . https://fundrazr.com/52N2o8?ref=ab_3f7jW6r8Bkv3f7jW6r8Bkv

[careforcritters]

Vet Med in Warrior Cats: Whitecough, Greencough, and Yellowcough

Disclaimer

The two main respiratory infections in the warriors series are whitecough and greencough. Whitecough is less severe and can progress to greencough, which has worse symptoms and a graver prognosis. Vicky Holmes states in the 3rd Erin Hunter chat that whitecough is similar to a cough (likely an upper respiratory infection) and greencough is pneumonia (lower respiratory infection), but the specific diseases that each of these coughs represent is never mentioned. The name “greencough” comes from the green fluid that cats cough up when they are affected, whereas cats with whitecough are stated to cough up clear (serous) fluid. A third respiratory disease, yellow cough, makes an appearance in the A Vision of Shadows series. The disease presents similarly to greencough but does not respond to catmint.

There is no way to tell which pathogens each of these diseases might be caused by because the symptoms of each pathogen are very similar, so they are likely caused by several different pathogens and/or combinations. Feline respiratory disease complex (FRDC) is a major cause of upper respiratory infections in cats and is caused by any of the following pathogens, alone or in combination: feline herpes virus (FVR), feline calicivirus (FCV), mycoplasma felis, and chlamydia felis. Bartonella henselae and Bordetella bronchiseptica can also contribute to symptoms. FVR and FCV specifically cause 80-90% of the respiratory disease that is observed in cats. These pathogens are spread by respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected cats, or contact with fomites (objects that have come into contact with the pathogen). Previously infected cats can carry and spread FVR or FCV without showing clinical signs. Acute signs include fever, sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and rhinitis. “Coughing” is not a symptom of respiratory infections in cats, but it is frequently mentioned in Warriors. Cats cough when affected by a lower respiratory infection, laryngeal infection, allergies, or heartworms, but rarely cough as a result of an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms are often more severe in very old and very young cats, which is consistent with the books since kits and elders die the most often from whitecough or greencough. Cats that have respiratory infections in warriors are often shown to refuse food, which is consistent with findings that sick and/or feverish animals are often anorexic. Calicivirus causes painful lesions in the mouth, which can also contribute to cats refusing to eat. 

FRDC is generally self limiting and resolves itself in 5-10 days in mild cases, but can take up to 6 weeks to resolve completely in more severe cases. Because of this, mild to moderate respiratory infections could be treated with just supportive care. Medicine cats do this by providing food, water, and rest to infected cats, which is why most cases of whitecough or other nondescript respiratory diseases are resolved in the series. The bigger issue is when there are more severe cases or cases that have ocular involvement. 

Ocular involvement can result from almost any respiratory disease causing agent, and can range from discharge to severe conjunctivitis, ulcers, and even globe rupture. Conjunctivitis and other ocular symptoms of respiratory disease are never mentioned in Warriors besides some mild tearing. I will be talking about this issue more in an ocular section later on, as it connects to some broader issues. 

To treat more severe cases of respiratory disease, veterinarians often use antivirals, antibiotics, and/or antifungal depending on the pathogens present. Supportive care should also be provided, in addition to feeding tubes and/or treatment of corneal ulcers if necessary. Medicine cats provide supportive care to their patients by providing them with food, water, and warm, dry bedding. For many cases of respiratory disease, this should be enough to help the cat survive since disease is usually self limiting and will resolve with time. A variety of herbs are used in Warriors to treat respiratory infections, but the most notable is catmint. Catmint is also known as catnip, and it is famously known to have psychological effects on cats by acting first as a stimulant from the smell and then a sedative from ingestion. While its effects mimic pheromones, which can be calming, there is no evidence that catmint can be used to combat respiratory disease. Catnip can also be toxic in large doses, causing nausea and vomiting. Cats also become slowly more resistant to its effects with repeated use. Chickweed and Hawkweed are both less effective treatments for greencough. Chickweed has been shown to have some antimicrobial properties, though it is most effective against salmonella and E.coli, both of which are not respiratory pathogens. Hawkweed has been used in some European countries to ease respiratory disease and asthma symptoms, but there has not been research on this. In Long Shadows, tansy is introduced as a way to prevent whitecough from progressing to greencough. Though tansy has been used for various medical issues in humans, it has never been reported to be used for respiratory disease. Coltsfoot is an herb that eases breathing, so it is commonly used for respiratory distress. Coltsfoot was historically used for coughs and respiratory distress in people, and recent studies have proved its efficacy in reducing lung inflammation. Brighteye and lovage are also mentioned briefly in Mistystar’s Omen as another treatment for coughing. These two herbs have been shown to improve symptoms of respiratory disease and allergies in humans, but have not been researched sufficiently. Lungwort is the herb that is presented to Puddleshine by Starclan to treat the emergent yellowcough epidemic in Shadowclan. Lungwort has been used to ease tuberculosis and asthma in humans, but again, there is no substantial research to back this. In addition, Birchsap is briefly mentioned as another possible treatment for yellowcough, but it’s not seen being used in the books. Birchsap traditionally has various medical and cosmetic uses in some cultures, but no research has been done to prove its efficacy. 

Overall, the Warriors series gives a fairly accurate depiction of respiratory illness while leaving out some crucial details. The omittance of any ocular involvement, especially in young kittens where it is most prevalent, is a large oversight. The description of the disease process is mostly accurate, however coughing is not as common of a symptom as nasal discharge and rhinitis. Cats in feral colonies are often carrying these diseases without actively showing symptoms, which is why bouts of whitecough can appear suddenly in a clan (especially in times of stress and poor nutrition such as leafbare, which would suppress the cat’s immune responses). As far as treatment goes, medicine cats are providing adequate care to most cats but simply taking care of their basic needs. In more severe cases, medicine is needed. While none of the herbs listed can effectively mimic an antibiotic or antiviral, hawkweed, coltsfoot, brighteye, lovage, and lungwort seem like the most accurate treatments for infection used in the books. Coltsfoot specifically has the most evidence for easing respiratory symptoms, and would be beneficial for medicine cats to use in moderate to severe cases of respiratory disease.

Sources:

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/respiratory-system/respiratory-diseases-of-small-animals/feline-respiratory-disease-complex?query=feline%20respiratory%20disease

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/respiratory-infections 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/feline-fine-the-benefits-of-catnip/ 

https://botanicalinstitute.org/eyebright/

https://botanicalinstitute.org/chickweed/ 

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/hawmou08.html

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/t/tansy-05.html 

https://dsps.lib.uiowa.edu/roots/coltsfoot/ 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lobaria_pulmonaria.shtml

[mauri2530]

Experts Advise, Offer New Vaccination for Pet Rabbits

COVID-19 hasn’t been the only global pandemic arriving on our shores recently. A new variant of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), previously common in wild rabbits in Europe, Asia, and Australia, was first detected in the United States in early 2020. It has now spread to multiple states in the U.S., particularly the western states.

How to Get the Vaccine

Vaccination clinics for RHDV will be held on the following dates at Veterinary Medicine South Clinic 2100 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana. Clinic Dates: * August 18, 2023 * September 15, 2023 * October 13, 2023

Call for an appointment: 217-244-2555

On July 13, 2023, the first case of RHDV was detected in the state of Illinois in a pet rabbit. The case was in Cook County. Prior to this detection, the disease had not been diagnosed in wild or domestic rabbits. This detection raises the level of concern for the health implications of both wild and domestic rabbits within Illinois.

If RHDV is detected or suspected in wild or domestic rabbits, it must be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Dr. Michelle Borsdorf, a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, recommends that all pet rabbits be vaccinated against this new variant (RHDV2), which is more dangerous than earlier forms of the virus. This variant of RHDV has 70% to 100% mortality rates in pet rabbits.

Its presence in Illinois emphasizes the need to act now to vaccinate and protect against this disease!

What Is RHDV?

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus is a member of the calicivirus family. Other viruses in this family that do not cause rabbit health issues include norovirus, the most common cause of gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) in people, and a feline virus that causes respiratory disease.

RHDV infects wild and domestic species of rabbits and is highly contagious. It does not infect people or other animals. The virus travels through the blood stream of an infected rabbit and rapidly damages the cells of the liver. The liver makes proteins used in forming blood clots, and the classic form of RHDV causes uncontrollable bleeding in rabbits.

Clinical signs of rabbits infected with this virus will primarily include bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth, as well as jaundice (yellow discoloration of eyes and skin), which are related to severe liver dysfunction or failure. Affected rabbits may also develop respiratory or neurologic symptoms, or even present with more generalized signs of illness such as lethargy, reduced appetite, and lack of defecation or urination.

“Additionally, some rabbits do not exhibit symptoms prior to succumbing to the disease. This outcome, known as sudden death, illustrates how rapidly the disease can progress,” says Dr. Borsdorf.

How Does RHDV Spread?

Unfortunately, the virus survives well in any environment. Infected wild rabbits may shed the virus outside, and the virus can then be carried into the home on people’s clothing or shoes and introduced to pet rabbits. Any rabbit exposed to blood, urine, or feces of an infected rabbit could develop infection.  

Because RHDV is spread between rabbits, Dr. Borsdorf advises taking steps in your home to reduce the risk of RHDV infection.

Do not allow your pet rabbit to graze in outdoor areas that are frequented by wild rabbits.

Ensure that shoes worn outside are not worn in areas of the home where your pet rabbit has access.

Weeds and flowers from outdoor areas frequented by wild rabbits should not be fed to pet rabbits.

Always wash your hands before and after handling rabbits.

Vaccinate your pet rabbit.

Vaccination Against RHDV

In other countries where RHDV circulates, vaccinations against the virus are given to pet rabbits. Now that the threat to rabbit health is present in the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture has authorized emergency use of the vaccine here. Distribution of the vaccine to veterinarians began in 2021.

Although the vaccine does not yet have full FDA approval, the approval process is ongoing. Preliminary research suggests that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing infection. This is based on a challenge study performed where 100% of vaccinated rabbits survived when exposed to the virus, while 70% of the unvaccinated rabbits died from the disease.

Side effects of the vaccine have included mild swelling at the injection site and mild fever or lethargy for a few days after the vaccine is administered. To be effective, the vaccine requires two doses administered at least 3 weeks apart, and annual boosters thereafter.

Vaccination at the University of Illinois

The zoological medicine service will continue hosting vaccine clinics to administer vaccines and their boosters to pet rabbits once monthly. (See sidebar above for the current list of dates.) Veterinary interns, residents, and students as well as certified veterinary technicians will be involved in this process under supervision of faculty members. including Dr. Borsdorf, head of the zoological medicine service.

Because the clinic is focused on delivering vaccine to healthy animals, no diagnostic testing will be performed at that time.

Because of how the vaccine is packaged, vaccination will be offered only through the scheduled vaccine clinics and not through regular appointments with the zoological medicine service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

To make an appointment for your rabbit to receive the vaccine, please call the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic at (217) 244-2555.

For more information, visit:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fs-rhdv2.pdf

https://rabbit.org/faq-for-medgenes-rhdv2-vaccine/

[audible-smiles]

aerophagia, or swallowing air, is a condition which occurs secondary to any number of problems which disrupt the normal functioning of the respiratory and/or GI systems. its fun to see on rads because you get this big, dilated, empty stomach (and intestines).

this particular image is of a cat with a suspected calicivirus infection. most strains of calicivirus don't cause severe disease, and its commonly included in standard feline combo vaccines, so we don't see a lot of adult cats hospitalized for it. this particular animal also had a tracheal tear (not visible here). they could have sustained the injury when they were intubated for a previous surgery, and it could have predisposed them to having a worse time with upper respiratory infections. or, they could have caught a particularly bad strain, and the congestion/dyspnea caused by the virus could have raised their intratracheal pressure enough to cause a spontaneous tracheal rupture. either way, it was wild.