Dr. Lark's Pet Blog                                                                                                                                 June 2008

Rhinotracheitis in cats

Does your cat always seem to have a cold? Do they sneeze globs of nasal discharge on you and every surface of your home? Have they been treated with antibiotics, yet the symptoms returned shortly after treatment? If so, then your cat probably has a chronic upper respiratory viral infection known collectively as "Rhinotracheitis". Although several different viruses are associated with this disease, Herpes is often the culprit.

Rhino, as it is called, is very infectious and is readily passed from cat to cat. It is often found in barn and feral cats. Rhino is not usually fatal, except to the very young or old. However, it is a nuisance to the owners of indoor cats.

Viruses are notoriously difficult to eradicate. Antibiotics are only effective short term, and repeated dosing may promote other problems. There are some things you can do to reduce the symptoms, but be aware that total eradication may not be possible.

Prevention of the spread of rhino to other cats

The daily feeding of MSE Natural Defense (1 teaspoon/cat) protects asymptomatic cats in the same household with affected animals under normal conditions. If the unaffected cat experiences something stressful, such as a vet visit, they may still become susceptible. Under these conditions, the asymptomatic cat should be pretreated with MSE Liquid Rescue or Paste if possible. Otherwise, treat as soon as possible after the stressful event. More than one treatment is recommended.

Treatment

There is a way to reduce the symptoms of rhino in affected cats that does not require repeated treatment with antibiotics. It employs a combination of MSE Natural Defense and the clay bentonite in the food, and bentonite in the water. Bentonite is a finely ground clay that had the ability to trap virus particles. These are then safely excreted with the clay. Bentonite is not digested.

Why feed something if the problem is obviously in the nose?

Owners of cats with rhino may have noticed that their cats lick the discharge after they have sneezed. This is how the cat is continually re-infected, and how unaffected cats get infected.

Mixing bentonite in food is not enough to reduce symptoms. The clay should also be added to their water at about the rate of 1 cup/gallon. It will eventually settle to the bottom, so occasional stirring helps keep it in solution long enough to get into the cat. Water can be added periodically. Note: the water will look muddy. This will not harm cats, either affected or other wise.

WARNING: Minimize availability to alternative water. Cats will drink out of the toilet, dishes in the sink, even after a shower, to avoid drinking the treated stuff.

Food may be coated with the Natural Defense and bentonite by tumbling it in a closed plastic container of bag.

An alternative is to treat affected cats daily or every other day with MSE Liquid Rescue or Paste. The problem with this is that cats resent manhandling, which becomes necessary with these products. Both MSE Liquid Rescue and Paste contain vitamins, which give them a bitter taste. Cats do not like the taste and will resist treatment. This can be very stressful on both cat and owner.

Sometimes MSE Liquid Rescue or Paste are necessary. One of my affected cats gets very congested sometimes. At these times, she usually stops eating and may actually hide. This may happen every few months. Treatment with Liquid Rescue twice a day for several days clears the congestion and returns her to normal. She regains her appetite and becomes very affectionate again, usually within a day or two. The episodes are probably triggered by some change in routine.

Otherwise, I have bentonite in the water and on the food, which also contains MSE Natural Defense.

This can be a very frustrating disease. An affected cat may seem normal in all other respects, but leaves globs of snot all over the home. I am hoping that the continual treatment with bentonite will eventually break the re-infection cycle. I have not been using it long enough to know if this will actually happen. I assume it will take several months, at the very least.

Scour-aid, which is mostly bentonite, along with MSE Natural Defense, Liquid Rescue, and Paste are available online at http://naturs-way.com/petstore//catalog/index.php.

Please contact nutritionist Lark Burnham if you have any questions at lark@naturs-way.com.