Calicivirus

Home » Calicivirus » Treatment, Prevention

Treatment
Except in cases of severe pneumonia, treatment is supportive and provided on an outpatient basis.

Make sure the cat eats and drinks enough. Offer foods that smell and taste good to them. If the cat has ulcers in the mouth, give soft foods. Keep the cat's eyes and nose clean and clear of discharge. Make sure the room your cat is staying in is warm, well ventilated, and well lighted.

Pneumonia should be closely monitored for the sudden development of labored, difficult breathing (dyspnea), which may require oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy is the administration of oxygen through a facemask.

It may be helpful to use a humidifier, or put the cat in a bathroom while the hot shower is running. This helps break up the mucus in the upper airway.

Medications
Antiviral medications haven't proven beneficial for cats with calicivirus. To treat secondary infections and arthritic pain, the following medications may be prescribed:

• Antibiotic eye ointments to treat secondary bacterial infections in the eye that can cause conjunctivitis
• Oral antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections
• Pain medication for arthritis
• Vaccination to prevent the progression of the disease

Prognosis
Clinical symptoms usually appear 3 to 4 days after infection. Once the cat's immune system starts producing antibodies to the virus, usually about a week after infection, recovery is quick. Unless the cat develops severe pneumonia, prognosis is excellent. Even after the cat recovers and the symptoms disappear, the infection tends to persist, and the cat may be contagious for years.

Prevention
Veterinarians recommend that all cats be vaccinated against calicivirus when they are vaccinated against FHV-1. Routine vaccination doesn't necessarily prevent infection but can prevent the development of severe disease. Kittens should be vaccinated at 8 to 10 weeks of age, then 3 to 4 weeks later. Cats should receive boosters every 1 to 3 years. Keep the cat indoors and away from other cats to prevent spreading the virus. Use a 1:32 dilution of household bleach to clean contaminated areas to prevent re-infecting the sick cat or infecting other cats.

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Calicivirus Resources

	Join Our Calicivirus Forum Do you have a question, want to share animal advice, or just need to discuss your pet situation with others? The healthchannels forum at animalhealthchannel is a place for everyone to share and discuss their pet's health and medical needs with other pet owners.	Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com Advertising Disclaimer
	Coping With Pet Issues Do you have a pet story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our, "Coping with..." sections.
	Our "Coping With..." pages are a place for pet owners to share experiences about coping with a pet issues. Many people, find comfort in knowing that other pet owners have had or are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your pet story. View stories already submitted.
	Videos
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer