Today's Veterinary Practice

JUL-AUG 2012

Today's Veterinary Practice provides comprehensive information to keep every small animal practitioner up to date on companion animal medicine and surgery as well as practice building and management.

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PEER REVIEWED FELINE RHINITIS & UPPER RESPIRATORY DISEASE Claire R. Sharp, BSc, BVMS (Hons), MS, CMAVA, Diplomate ACVECC Feline Friendly Article A 5-year-old cat with nasal discharge and sneezing is presented at your practice. r 8IBU BSF ZPVS EJGGFSFOUJBM EJBHOPTFT r 8IBU EJBHOPTUJDT EP ZPV QVSTVF r %FQFOEJOH PO UIF EJBHOPTJT XIBU USFBUNFOU PQUJPOT DBO ZPV JOJUJBUF Upper respiratory tract (URT) diseases are remark- ably common in cats and can be both challenging in the acute state and frustrating in the chronic state. The objective of this review article is to discuss the approach to evaluating a cat with clinical signs attrib- utable to the URT. CAUSES A variety of disorders can affect the URT of cats. UÊ nviVÌioÕÃÊ1,/Ê`iÃi>ÃiÊ ÕÃÕ>llÞÊÛiÀ>lÊ ÀhinoÃinÕÃ- itis) is by far the most common cause of URT signs. UÊ iÃÃÊVommonÊV>ÕÃiÃÊovÊ1,/ÊÃi}nÃÊinVlÕ`i\1 » Chronic idiopathic rhinosinusitis (noninfec- tious, inflammatory) » Nasopharyngeal polyps, stenosis, foreign bodies, and neoplasia » >ÀÞn}i>lÊ`iÃi>Ãi » Tooth root disease. Any of these can cause acute or chronic URT signs. UÊ hÀoniVÊ ÀhiniÌiÃÊ ÀiviÀÃÊ ÌoÊ ÀhiniÌiÃÉÀhinoÃinÕÃiÌiÃÊ that persists for longer than 1 month, particularly without signs of systemic disease. These cats are ovÌinÊÀiviÀÀi`ÊÌoÊ>ÃÊVhÀoniVʺÃnÕvvliÀÃÉÃnivviÀð»Ê UÊ/hiÊmoÃÌÊVommonÊ`i>}noÃiÃp>VÕÌiÉVhÀoniVÊ1,/Ê inviVÌionÊ >n`Ê VhÀoniVÊ i`io«>ÌhiVÊ ÀhinoÃinÕÃiÌiÃp are typically considered diagnoses of exclusion. UÊ/hiÀivoÀi]ÊiÌÊiÃÊim«oÀÌ>nÌÊÌoÊÌhoÀoÕ}hlÞÊiÛ>lÕ>ÌiÊ cats (especially adults) with URT signs (particular- ly chronic), because another, more treatable dis- ease may be identified as the source of the signs. 14 Today's Veterinary Practice July/August 2012 Transmission UÊ*>Ìho}inÃÊinÌiÀÊÌhÀoÕ}hÊÌhiÊoÀ>lÊ>n`Ên>Ã>lÊVon- junctiva; FHV and FCV replication occurs in the mucosa of the nasal septum, nasal turbinates, nasopharynx, and tonsils. UÊ6iÀ>lÊÃhi``in}Ê«oÃÃiLiliÌÞÊovÊÌÀ>nÃmiÃÃionÊÌoÊoÌhiÀÊ cats) occurs for at least the duration of clinical signs. UÊ >nÞÊ V>ÌÃÊ VonÌinÕiÊ Ãhi``in}Ê >vÌiÀÊ ÀiÃolÕÌionÊovÊ VliniV>lÊÃi}nÃ°Ê nÊmost, clinical signs resolve with- in 2 weeks but shedding can continue for another 2 weeks or even lifelong. ETIOLOGY & EPIDEMIOLOGY When considering differential diagnoses for URT signs in cats, it is important to consider the etiopathogen- esis and epidemiology of these diseases. INFECTIOUS DISEASE Feline Herpes Virus & Calicivirus The pathogens that most commonly cause URT infec- tions in cats are viral.2,3 Feline herpes virus (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) account for approximately 90% of all feline URT disease.1 Risk Factors UÊ6iÀ>lÊ1,/Ê`iÃi>ÃiÊiÃÊiëiVi>llÞÊVommonÊinÊkiÌÌinÃÊ and stressed or immunocompromised adults. oÃÌÊ V>ÌÃÊ ÜiÌhÊ i`io«>ÌhiVÊ VhÀoniVÊ ÀhiniÌiÃÊ >ÀiÊ UÊ thought to have had viral (FHV or FCV) URT infections in early life, although they may not manifest active viral infection as adults.4

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