Snuffles in cats

It’s quite often said that a sneezy kitty has the snuffles, but what exactly does this entail?

The herpes virus is the most important of the viruses making up the feline ”snuffles” complex. It causes an infection of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes of both domestic and exotic cats. It is caused by feline Herpes Virus Type 1 and does not affect people, dogs and other animals. It is extremely contagious between cats and may cause severe disease in kittens, occasionally even resulting in death.

This virus has been reported to have caused a fatal encephalitis in three lion in a German zoo, as well as problems in captive-cheetah breeding centres, due to corneal ulceration and respiratory tract infections.

Transmission occurs via direct contact with a lot of virus, usually shed in saliva and nasal or eye secretions. Sneezing then propels the virus as it is attached to droplets of water. The source of infection is either sick cats or recovered cats that shed the virus during periods of stress for a few days or long periods at a time.

Why is the disease so common among kittens?

As any breeder knows, one of the most important aspects of kitten survival is that it takes in milk from the nursing queen in the first few hours after birth. That first milk is called colostrum and is high in antibodies that are absorbed in the new-born kitten without being digested

A miracle of nature is that the antibodies are absorbed intact and reach the kitten’s blood directly. That is why vaccination is important for breeding queens. At about six weeks of age, the level of antibodies from the queen starts declining and the kitten, which has yet to make its own antibodies, succumbs to infection.

The course of the viral disease

In general, the feline herpes infection runs its course in a week, but secondary bacterial infections can cause clinical disease to persist for months. The common signs are sneezing, and sneezing with discharge from the eyes.

Depending on the immune status, more severe signs may be seen. A nasal discharge that starts off clear, becomes more pus-like, and in some cases, the eyelids become stuck together.

An eye discharge in a kitten at around 14 days old resulting in the eyes not opening naturally, will often cause permanent eye disease if not treated promptly.

Opthalmia neonarium can cause permanent vision loss and eventual eyeball loss.

Many fading kittens dying two to three weeks after birth, have herpes virus infection. It can be confirmed relatively easily and cheaply by post mortem examination and histopathology. Feline herpes virus can cause ulcerations in the eye and your vet may stain the eye with special stains to confirm the presence of ulcers.

Diagnosis

Feline viral respiratory disease is usually diagnosed as a syndrome and treatment is similar in most cases. Clinically, differentiating herpes viruses from the other commonly encountered respiratory virus, called feline calcivirus, is not always easy or necessary. A sudden outbreak or respiratory infection with extensive sneezing and conjunctivitis is usually caused by herpes virus.

However, corneal ulceration is almost invariably associated with the herpes virus. Cells from the nose and eye obtained by swabbing can be stained for the presence of herpes virus inclusions. Although both viruses are easily isolated in the laboratory, it requires appropriate transport media and is time consuming and relatively expensive.

Treatment

• Intensive loving care. Remove nasal and ocular secretions as they build up.

• Keep the patient in a dry, warm and humidified environment. Sheepskin is excellent.

• Cater to the animal’s psychological needs. Companionship, body warmth, fussy food whims.

• Then it is appropriate to use drugs. Broad-spectrum antibiotics usually given twice a day.

• Nasal drops to loosen thick secretions, as antibacterials, decongestants.

• Eye drops applied 4 to 6 times a day – there are specific anti-viral eye drops that can be used.

• Human anti-viral drugs – still in their infancy – have no proven efficacy in cats.

• In severe cases with a kitten not eating, it may be necessary to get a stomach tube inserted – to meet nutritional demands.