According to starbreezes.com, herpes is common in cats and can occur at any age. The website says symptoms typically last up to 10 days when treated. However, feline herpes never truly goes away; symptoms can resurface, just like herpes in humans. But there are ways to treat symptoms and help prevent infection. Look for symptoms like a loss of appetite and a redness or discharge in the eyes.
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Treatment
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The feline herpes virus can cause a respiratory infection that affects the sense of smell. As a result, your cat might lose her appetite. Ask your veterinarian about a nasal spray for this symptom. If your cat doesn't eat for three days, call the vet immediately. At this point, the vet might prescribe special food that is easy to swallow, along with a syringe so you can help feed it. If she still won't eat, the veterinarian will administer fluids intravenously.
Severe herpes outbreaks can cause an upper respiratory infection. Call your veterinarian for an antibiotic.
Feline herpes can cause ulcers in the eyes. A common symptom is a brown discharge in the eyes. These infections require prescription eye drops from your veterinarian. Untreated eyes can rupture.
Prevention
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Your cat should get an initial feline herpes vaccination from your veterinarian. Make sure he also receive booster shots. According to cat-health-guide.org, he should get a booster shot every year if he goes outdoors, and every three years if he stays indoors.
If you have more than one cat, keep the infected one separate from the others until treatment. Wash your hands after handling him, and disinfect common surfaces to keep the virus from spreading. If you don't think this is enough to protect your uninfected cats, ask your veterinarian about Lysine, which is administered to keep the feline herpes virus from spreading.
Try not to put your cats in stressful situations, especially if one has feline herpes. Stress can cause a flare-up of symptoms and cause the virus to spread, according to starbreezes.com.
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