Bordetella
Bordetella (Kennel Cough) in Cats Guide: Here you'll find in-depth information on Bordetella (Kennel Cough)in cats including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
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Bordetellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease of cats that causes mild to severe respiratory symptoms, especially in kittens and other cats with underdeveloped or weakened immune systems. The causative organism, Bordetella bronchiseptica, is a small, aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus microorganism that targets the upper respiratory tract of cats, dogs and even people.Cats exposed to Bordetella bronchiseptica are much less commonly affected clinically than are dogs. Some cats are chronic carriers of the bacteria and periodically
Cats become infected with bordetella when they come into contact with the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica. Cats can become infected with this disease from other cats and dogs that are infected with the bacteria.Bordetella is not diagnosed often in cats, but when it does occur it seems to strike most often in cats living in crowded conditions. Bordetella is a highly infectious disease, and the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria are easily spread through airborne particles. In catteries,
Bordetellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease of cats that causes respiratory symptoms, especially in kittens and other cats with underdeveloped or weakened immune systems. Cats exposed to Bordetella bronchiseptica are much less commonly affected clinically than are dogs. Some cats are carriers of the bacteria and periodically shed it without showing any clinical signs. Other cats may show only mild symptoms, while some - especially very young kittens – will develop severe and life-threatening
Bordetellosis in cats is somewhat difficult to diagnose because the causative bacteria, Bordetella bronchiseptica, causes clinical signs that mimic those caused by other infectious agents. Definitive diagnosis requires identification of the particular bacterial culprit.When a cat comes into a clinic with signs that suggest possible Bordetella infection, the veterinarian will take a swab sample of secretions from the cat’s nasal passage and/or from its throat. The sample will be placed into a sterile glass tube
Feline bordetellosis typically can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Treatment of affected cats coming from multi-cat households should include treating all cats for the disease and using proper disinfecting measures.Uncomplicated cases of feline bordetellosis are best treated on an outpatient basis, both for the welfare of the affected animal and equally importantly to prevent cross-infection of other hospitalized cats. A number of oral antibiotics are available to treat this disease in cats and kittens, normally