Image - Wikimedia / Janice Waltzer
La chlamydia in cats It is a disease that, although it is not as dangerous as others, it can cause them a lot of discomfort and prevent them from leading a life as well as they should. In addition, due to its high risk of contagion, it is important to take the necessary measures so that the furry can recover as soon as possible.
And is that if we let time pass, mistakenly trusting that they will heal themselves, what we will do is run the risk that the situation worsens. Find out what you have to do to prevent this from happening to your furry ones.
What is it?
Chlamydia in cats or feline chlamydia is a disease caused by Chlamydophila cat, which is a gram-negative bacterium present mainly in hatcheries and shelters, which is where animals have the worst emotional time. Cats have a very hard time when they are abandoned and / or taken to these places, to the point that their defenses can go down, and that is when the microorganisms that cause diseases, such as chlamydia, enter their bodies.
Especially vulnerable are kittens from five weeks to three months, since they still do not have a sufficiently developed immune system to fight these pathogens. But it also affects adults.
What are the symptoms and / or damages?
The main symptom is watery discharge from the eyes. When a cat has chlamydia it will give us the feeling that it is crying almost constantly, but we must not be fooled: these animals do not cry for the same reason as humans, but because they have some pathology that affects their eyes.
In addition to the tearing, which will end up becoming increasingly viscous and greenish in color, the swelling and redness of the eyeball, as well as the visibility of the so-called third eyelid. If the situation worsens, you may have a temporary fever, sneezing, and a runny nose.
How is it treated?
If the cats have any of the symptoms mentioned above, we will take them to the vet where they will perform a complete analysis to find out what is the cause of their disease. If they are confirmed to have chlamydia, they will be given eye drops and antibiotics by mouth or intravenously.
Can it be prevented?
Yes, although not quite. A vaccine will keep the animals protected (not 100%, I insist), but also if there is someone sick it must be isolated from the others to avoid contagion. And, of course, responsible adoption would prevent cats from having a hard time in shelters and thus making them vulnerable to diseases like chlamydia.
I hope this post has been useful to you, and you know from now on what chlamydia in cats is.