Content
- What is Feline Coronavirus?
- Coronavirus symptoms in cats
- Symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis
- Dry FIP Symptoms
- Wet FIP Symptoms
- How long does the feline coronavirus last?
- How do you get feline coronavirus?
- Feline Coronavirus Treatment
O feline coronavirus it is a disease that worries many guardians, and for this reason it is so important to be adequately informed about its transmission, the symptoms it causes and the treatment indicated in the case of contagion.
The coronavirus is named for its shape, similar to a small crown. Its special characteristics make the coronavirus an especially dangerous virus, so the guardian must be very careful and be aware if the kitten has come into contact with infected animals.
Keep reading this PeritoAnimal article to know everything about feline coronavirus: symptoms and treatment.
What is Feline Coronavirus?
It is a virus that has some small projections on your outside, which gives it the characteristic shape of a crown, to which it owes its name. Enteric feline coronavirus is a low-resistance virus in the environment, so it is easily destroyed by high temperatures and by disinfectants.
It has a special predilection for the cells of the intestinal epithelium of cats, causing mild and chronic gastroenteritis. The virus is expelled through feces, the main vehicle for contagion. One of the main characteristics of this virus is its ability to mutate, originating another disease, known as the feline infectious peritonitis.
Coronavirus symptoms in cats
O feline enteric coronavirus causes a mild chronic gastroenteritis, causing the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea;
- Vomiting;
- Abdominal pain;
- Lethargy;
- Fever.
Many cats are quite resistant to the disease, not developing symptoms, becoming carriers and eliminating the virus through their feces. However, as mentioned, the danger of the coronavirus is its mutation, which can cause infectious peritonitis, a typical disease of cats under 1 year old or of frail, immunocompromised, group-living old cats.
Symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis
THE feline infectious peritonitis is a disease caused by a mutation of the feline enteric coronavirus. It can manifest itself in different ways, the dry and wet form.
Dry FIP Symptoms
In the first type, the virus can affect multiple organs, causing a variety of symptoms, such as:
- Weight loss;
- Anemia;
- Lack of appetite;
- Lethargy;
- Fever;
- Depression;
- accumulation of liquids;
- Uveitis;
- Corneal edema.
Wet FIP Symptoms
The wet form is characterized by the formation of fluids in the animal's body cavities, such as the peritoneum and pleura (abdominal and thoracic cavity, respectively). Thus, the symptoms would be:
- Inflamed abdomen;
- Diarrhea;
- Fever;
- Lethargy:
- Lack of appetite:
- constipation;
- Inflamed lymph nodes;
- Inflamed kidneys.
In both types, it is possible to observe fever, lack of appetite and lethargy (the animal is not aware of its environment, it takes a long time to react to stimuli).
Learn more about feline infectious peritonitis in this article.
How long does the feline coronavirus last?
The life expectancy of cats with feline coronavirus varies according to the severity of the disease, although in both it reduces the animal's lifespan. In wet FIP, the most severe form of coronavirus in cats, the disease can kill the animal between 5 and 7 weeks after the production of the mutation.
In the case of dry FIP, the cat's life expectancy becomes just over a year. For all these reasons, it is essential to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible.
How do you get feline coronavirus?
Suffering and overcoming the disease generates in cats a certain immunity that doesn't last too long, which means that the animal can get infected again, repeating the cycle. When the cat lives alone, the animal can infect itself through the litter box.
in case they live several cats together, the risk of contagion increases a lot, due to everyone sharing the same sandbox, passing the disease to each other.
Feline Coronavirus Treatment
As it is a viral disease, it has no treatment. Usually, one seeks to perform a symptom treatment and wait for the cat's immune response.
Preventive treatments are recommended to prevent the spread of the disease. Vaccination would be the treatment of choice, as well as offering cats several litter boxes, which reduces the chances of contagion between them.
If you are considering bringing a new cat home, it is recommended that it be previously vaccinated.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.