Pediatric Feline Upper Respiratory Disease

Feline upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in kittens, especially those held in population-dense and unhygienic conditions. Multiple bacterial and viral pathogens are involved and can cause similar clinical signs. Caution is required when interpreting the results of diagnostic tests for feline URTD pathogens because the presence of the pathogen does not always imply disease causation. Famciclovir,or topical cidofovir are emerging as effective antiviral treatments for kittens with severe URTD that is caused by feline herpesvirus-1, but these drugs are not effective for other causes of feline URTD and indiscriminate use may result in drug resistance. Reducing stress and overcrowding in combination with vaccination and proper disinfection is likely to be the most effective means to prevent feline URTD in kittens housed in population-dense environments.