SNEEZING CATS: HERPES VIRUS INFECTIONS

I am back from Kanas City to see the son of a Kernersville friend win with his horse at the American Royal Horse Show. In addition, I saw a parade horse class similar to that seen in the Tournament of Roses Parade, traveled to see President Harry Truman’s home place & library,

witnessed a Sicilian donkey race,

and had a private tour of one-hundred-year old mansion decorated by the same group out of NYC that did the Vanderbilt mansions. As a side trip I went to see a Museum of Natural History touring exhibit on the horse at the Prairie Fire Museum in Overland Park, Kansas

and visit a coffee roaster that had a DC-3 as their symbol on the top of the building.

All were very cool stuff!


My only complaint was the dry air caused a lot of sinus irritation and nose bleeds. It took several days to return to normal. Unfortunately, many of my kitty patients do not have such short courses of sinus discharge and sneezing.

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT IN NEWLY OBTAINED CATS OR KITTENS FROM RESCUE GROUPS, HUMANE SOCIETIES, FERAL COLONIES, OR OTHER FACILITIES INHABITED BY LARGE NUMBERS OF CATS?

Discomfort associated with crusty/snotty noses and weepy/red eyes. These problems are commonly ASSOCIATED with viral Herpes upper respiratory infections(URI). Often they develop secondary opportunistic bacterial infections. Herpes viruses are mainly life threatening in weak kittens that stop eating or develop secondary pneumonia. Other signs may include any combination of the following.

• Sneezing “attacks”

• Eye ulcers

• Fever (NORMAL IS 101 TO 102.8F)

• Loss of appetite (loss of sense of smell)

• Drooling

• Squinting

HOW DOES HERPES VIRUS INFECT CATS?

The virus invades the nose, eyes, sinus, throat, mouth and tonsils of a cat which causes inflammation and fever. This is life threatening in kittens.


ARE FELINE HERPES VIRUS CONTAGIOUS TO OTHER CATS? PEOPLE? DOGS?

Yes, they are highly contagious (shared litter boxes, grooming), so it is always wise to isolate a cat under treatment, and to feed and water your sick kitty separately in multi-cat households. Even with careful isolation, because the stress factor (ex. Neutering), relapses are common. These problems usually resolve within a few weeks of good care but some cases linger and continue to shed for months.

It is not contagious to humans and dogs.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

Most commonly by signs as viral isolation is reserved for more persistent cases.

DO VACCINES PREVENT THE VIRAL HERPES INFECTION?

There are vaccines, however, most kittens are already infected with the herpes (rhinotracheitis) before they leave their mothers. Immunizations do not prevent infection, rather they lower the severity of the infection.

ARE SOME CATS PERMANENTLY INFECTED AND PERSISTENT SHEDDERS OF THE HERPES VIRUS?

Yes, once infected, the virus remains in a cat’s body for the rest of their life.


WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TREATMENTS?

Supportive care as there are no cures for viruses, only the secondary bacterial infections. Some will remain infected the remainder of their lives. Treatment of the eye infections with topical medications is critical, especially if painful corneal eye ulcers (herpetic ulcers). Flare ups of herpes virus can return with the stress of boarding, changes in the house routine, and other illnesses. Here are some additional approaches to care:


• Keeping the nostrils and eyes clear of discharges. Use cotton balls dipped in warm water to wipe away any discharge.

• Antibiotics may be prescribed, but these are ineffective against the herpes virus, but may be used to treat secondary infections that can occur.

• Antiviral drugs: Famcyclovir, anti-nausea drugs: Cerenia

• Ensuring the cat is receiving food and liquid intake. Force feeding, IV fluids or sub cutaneous fluids if necessary.

• L-Lysine is an essential amino acid which has been shown to suppress viral replication.

• Intranasal vaccine 2 to 3 times a year

• Human alpha 2b interferon

• Probiotics

• Zyrtec once a day as an anti-histamine




Dr. Betsy T. Sigmon, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Canine & Feline

Creature Comforts Animal Hospital

Cary, NC



Many thanks for the kind works, and many purchases of the new children’s book, CHA CHA Chacobelle and the Canine Conga. Let me know if you would like me to do a reading at your elementary school or library.

I have learned in the presentation last Thursday at West Lake Elementary School that when you imply that every child has a gift, do not be surprised if the ask “where is our present” at the end of the reading. I think next time I will substitute the word “talent” for gift.



Here is the link to an electronic version of the article
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/community/cary-news/article42609009.html



Fall night at dusk over Dutchman Down Lake area

RETINAL DETACHMENT, RETINAL TEARS: WHEN THE DOCTOR BECOMES THE PATIENT

Last Thursday started no different from any other day. With my slightly “frizzy’ hairdo, I commonly removed stray, out-of-control hairs from my face and eyes. In this case, however,  I noted that even with my eyes closed, the hair remained. I called the ophthalmologist for an afternoon examination. As the day progressed, my outlook morphed into that spectrum similar to looking through a lava lamp. I reflected on the knowledge that I had two sisters with spontaneous retinal detachments, both needing surgery in the past 5 years. 

Fortunately, Wake County citizens are blessed with talented medical care. By 4p.m., my ophthalmologist, Dr. Christopher Rusinek, had diagnosed a retinal tear and referred me five minutes down the road to Dr. John Denny at North Carolina Retina. Thirty minutes later, after a minor laser procedure, my condition was treated, and hopefully, I can avoid more major surgery for retinal detachment. I was back at work the next day with limited restrictions on reading, lifting, and bending for a few days. 

This event made me revisit retinal conditions in pets. I consulted with Dr. Jennifer Fontenelle at Animal Eye Care in Cary and Dr. Cynthia Cook at Veterinary Vision in San Francisco. Below are some of the questions and the specialists' responses.

Do you ever see early/ partial detachment in dogs or almost always complete detachments?

Yes, partial detachments occur and can progress. When partial, they are amenable to barrier laser retinopexy (laser assisted tacking) to prevent progression. See web page referenced below.

What is difference between human detachments and those seen in dogs? 

The causes and the duration. The causes in dogs are more related to congenital retinal dysplasia; where humans experience cystoid degeneration and multiple other aging changes). As for  duration, people present earlier for obvious reasons (i.e. early & sudden changes in vision).

In cats with detached retinas, is the cause almost always due to high blood pressure?

Yes, systemic hypertension is the most common cause of retinal detachment in cats.

For retinal detachments in dogs is it normally one eye or both?

It depends on cause.  Once again, the web reference below is an excellent source.

In dogs, if the retina is detached, what are treatment options?

It depends on cause, duration, and prognosis for vision.

Is it most commonly associated with glaucoma or cataract surgery in dogs?

It could be a complication of any intraocular surgery. Glaucoma surgical techniques are both intraocular (ECP) and extra ocular (TSCP). Cataract surgery is a more common intraocular procedure and is thus associated with an overall greater number of post-op detachments.

For more detailed information as to the causes and  treatment, visit the following web page.http://veterinaryvision.com/for-veterinarians/clinical-forum/specific-disease-topics/retinal-detachment/

Dr. Betsy T. Sigmon, DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Canine & Feline

Hospital Director, Creature Comforts Animal Hospital PLLC

Cary, NC

This is a normal back of the eye ( fundus) with a round optic nerve in a canine

This is a normal fundus with a triangular shaped optic nerve head in a canine

This is a husky with retinal hemorrhages, small

This is a detached retina in a dog.

Here is another patient with a detached retina.

Below  is a  photo of a cat with retinal bleeding due to high blood pressure (hypertensive retinopathy.

This is a laser.

Here is Dr Cook operating on a patients's eye.

Once again, many thanks to Drs. Cynthia Cook and Jennifer Fontenelle for sharing their photos.