This infection is common among domestic and wild cats all over the world. The disease is transmitted by prolonged contact of a healthy animal with the patient. The latent incubation period takes 6-15 days. 75% of cats tolerate the disease in asymptomatic form. In 5 percent of animals, infectious peritonitis is diagnosed, which is a second-rate fatal disease. The age of cats exposed to risk ranges from six months to five years.
Coronavirus in cats - symptoms
The disease has a wide range of different clinical manifestations - from exudate peritonitis to classical diarrhea. Coronavirus infection in cats is diagnosed by the following symptoms:
- weight loss;
- episodic hyperthermia;
- depression;
- paralysis;
- impaired coordination.
These signs of coronavirus in cats are easily determined, but it is difficult to diagnose a highly pathogenic strain of infectious peritonitis, which is the most dangerous form of coronavirus infection. At risk are cats that live in the same house and use one toilet . The virus is in the intestines of the carriers and is excreted with feces. Animals swallow the virus when licking wool or objects.
The most effective method of diagnosis is a test for coronavirus cats. This is a serological analysis conducted in the laboratory for the diagnosis of coronavirus. However, this test can give double results, so it needs to be done 2 times in a few days.
How to treat coronavirus in cats?
The disease has three forms, and if the first two are easily transferred and pass in a latent form, the third open form of FIP is incurable. The main symptom of the third form is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites). In this case, the medications that were prescribed at the stage of carriage become deadly. Wet form of the disease, observed in kittens for up to a year, is very difficult and the only way to stop suffering is to put the animal to sleep.