Treatment of acute viral feline upper respiratory tract infections

Abstract

The main causative agents of feline upper respiratory tract disease (FURTD) are feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV). These viral infections are common, especially in multiple cat households. Severely affected cats often need to be hospitalized. Intensive symptomatic therapy is important in the management of cats with FURTD. The use of antiviral drugs is limited in cats, as they are often ineffective or toxic when given systemically. Antiviral drugs are, therefore, mainly used locally for the treatment of FHV-1-associated eye changes. Famciclovir, however, is an effective drug for systemic therapy in cats with FHV-1-related clinical signs. For FCV, only few antiviral drugs are available. In a controlled study, the use of immunoglobulins in cats with FHV-1 and/or FCV infection reduced clinical signs of FURTD significantly faster.