symptoms of feline herpesvirus

After a cat is infected with herpesvirus, symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, increased secretions from the eyes, nose, and mouth, which are often pus-like, fever, ulcers, and others may appear. At the same time, the cat may also experience difficulty opening their eyes, clinically known as "big and small eyes," frequent sneezing, and some cats may have coughing, runny nose, and other symptoms. Because the symptoms of a cat infected with herpesvirus are similar to a cold, many pet owners may overlook them. It is recommended to take the cat to a pet hospital for a nucleic acid test as soon as possible, and start treatment promptly after confirmation.

After a cat is infected with herpesvirus, the symptoms vary in each stage of the disease.

1. In the early stage, the cat may show obvious upper respiratory infection symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, lacrimation, fever, and increased nasal secretions. The secretions may start as serous and later become purulent, which can easily be confused with common upper respiratory infections.

2. In the middle stage, the cat may experience symptoms such as red and swollen conjunctiva, purulent secretions, fever, decreased appetite, increased nasal secretions, rapid breathing, and even respiratory distress.

3. In the late stage, the cat may develop oral ulcers, congested nasal mucosa, bloody nasal discharge, weight loss, loss of appetite, and emaciation. In severe cases, it can lead to corneal perforation, blindness, dehydration, and even death. When these symptoms appear, the owner should take the cat to the pet hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.