Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1): Learn and Protect Your Cat's Health

March 16, 2025

A complete analysis of feline herpes virus symptoms, diagnosis and treatment!

Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) is a very common virus in cats and one of the main causes of respiratory diseases in cats. As a cat owner who cares about your cat's health, understanding the incidence, transmission routes, and how to diagnose and treat this virus is crucial to maintaining the health of your cat.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the symptoms of feline herpes virus, how it’s spread, and how it’s diagnosed and treated. In addition, we will introduce Pluslife's portable pet testing device to help you detect potential infections more quickly and ensure the health of your cat.

What is FHV-1?

FHV-1 is a DNA virus that can cause significant impacts on a cat's upper respiratory system and eye health. After infection, cats may experience a variety of symptoms, common ones include:

sneeze
Runny nose
Increased nasal discharge
Conjunctivitis
Abnormal eye discharge, or even corneal ulcers
Decreased appetite
fever

Additionally, in rare cases, cats may develop facial ulcers or chronic rhinitis. Although the virus cannot be transmitted between humans and dogs, it spreads very quickly among cats.

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How to spread?

FHV-1 is primarily spread through the following routes:

Direct contact: Contact between a healthy cat and an infected cat, such as nose touching.
Indirect contact: using a shared food bowl, water bottle, or toy.
Viral persistence: The virus survives outside the host for a limited time, usually no longer than 18 hours, especially in moist environments.

Importantly, even after symptoms disappear after infection, the virus may still remain latent and reactivate under stressful situations, leading to relapse.

Guide to Diagnosis and Prevention of Feline Herpesvirus

Symptoms of infection

Symptoms of feline herpes virus begin to appear within 2 to 5 days after infection. Common clinical manifestations include:

Respiratory symptoms: runny nose, continuous sneezing, nasal congestion, loss of appetite or fever.
Eye problems: conjunctivitis, excessive eye discharge, corneal ulcers, and even stromal keratitis.
Skin Lesions: In rare cases, facial ulcers or lesions may develop.

If not treated promptly, symptoms may worsen and further lead to chronic rhinitis, pneumonia or other complications.

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How is FHV-1 diagnosed?

Traditionally, veterinarians make an initial diagnosis based on clinical signs and medical history. However, because the symptoms of FHV-1 are similar to those of other viruses, such as calicivirus, accurate diagnosis is particularly important.

Using Pluslife Pet Health Monitor

For more efficient and accurate diagnosis of FHV-1, it is recommended to use the Pluslife MiniDock Pet Detector:

Portability: The test can be completed at home and accurate results can be obtained quickly.
High accuracy: The detection accuracy rate is as high as 99.9%.
Quick response: No need to wait for lab reports, take immediate action to protect your cat.

Use the discount code "PET2025" to purchase Pluslife testers now and enjoy 20% off!

Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment strategies of feline herpes virus (FHV-1), and purchase Pluslife testers to protect the health of your cat and enjoy a 20% discount!

Treatment and management of FHV-1

There is no specific drug to treat FHV-1, but you can help your cat recover by relieving symptoms and providing supportive care:

Antibiotics: prevent bacterial infections.
Nasal Decongestant: Relieves respiratory discomfort.
Pain relief and nutritional support: Help your cat recover.
Topical antiviral medications: These are used for eye problems, such as corneal ulcers or conjunctivitis.

Fluid therapy is also critical for infected cats who are dehydrated or have difficulty eating.

How can FHV-1 infection be prevented?

Prevention methods for feline herpes virus include:

Get vaccinated regularly: FHV-1 is part of the core vaccines and should be administered on schedule to reduce the risk of infection.
Avoid contact with sources of infection: isolate infected cats and prevent healthy cats from contacting contaminated objects.
Improve immunity: Provide a nutritionally balanced diet to enhance the cat's own resistance.