Calicivirus red gums

[Misspollyf92]

Hello everyone, I got a British shorthair from a friends mum who was also a breeder. She offered him to me at 4 months old and I took him and got his first vaccinations done, at the time he had red gums but the vet said it’s most likely gingivitis and to just keep an eye on it. Anyway a few months later he was still suffering with the red gums and smelly breath so I took him to the vets who gave him meta cam to try and ease the swelling and see if it went away. Also I changed his diet as advised to something that is now hypoallergenic and contains natural ingredients. Neither of these things helped so I took him back today and the vet said it may be a virus like calicivirus and to find out from the breeder if there was any issues in the home before I took him. So I came home and gave him his first antibiotic and then messaged the breeder to ask about history. She then confirmed that his sister now has it and she’s thinking of putting her to sleep as she doesn’t want it to spread to the other cats in her home. My poor cat ludo has been suffering all this time and she didn’t think to tell me about her issues even though I told her 2\3 times that he had red gums. So now I’m almost certain it is calicivirus and I just want to know where I go from here really and advice from people who have cats living with the virus. I don’t think my insurance will cover as she never got him vaccinated when he should of been. I need to know the ongoing costs of calicivirus and also if ludo can still live a happy life with it. His only symptoms are his red gums and smelly breath and he also has a sensitive tummy (he’s had diarrhoea around 6 times since we got him) he is now coming up to 9 months old and I’m just in a dilema! I am going to carry on the antibiotics and pray that they make a difference! Thanks for reading.

[booktigger]

I'm sorry you have been messed about by the breeder, calici is quite common and can be easy to manage. I'm surprised by putting them on antibiotics though. What food have you tried? I have had success with Butchers classic (in tins). It can be pricey, but I've heard great results with interferon. I've had a few with calici, most of them haven't had any major effects. It can affect their stomach too, so that could be why he gets diarrhoea. I would however report the breeder, they really aren't doing things right.

[Ruth B]

I believe my lad, Saturn, has it.

I got him from a rescue when he was 6 months old along with another cat, unrelated but also about 6 months old. He suffered on and off with an upset stomach, never really bad or bothering him, I just noticed that what was in the litter tray was closer to cow pats than what a cat normally produces. He also suffered bad breath and room emptying farts. He had a variety of worming tablets and powders, and a special diet, but nothing seemed to make a difference, and in the end he seemed to grow out of it for the most part.

A year later when I took him to our vets for his boosters i mentioned that i had noticed he had bad breath. I wasn't sure if this might be related to the previous stomach problem or a dental problem. The vet had a look and told me he had gingivitis and given his age and that his teeth were fine and clean it was probably a viral gingivitis. It wasn't until the following year that Calcivirus was mentioned. The vet also mentioned that it might mean he would have to have his teeth out at some point, but until it gave him problem then just let it be. When I asked the vet did recommend that I didn't attempt to clean his teeth, they were already clean and it could give problems to already sore gums.

He is now coming up to 4 years old. He still has bad breath and one of his canines is overhanging his lower lip giving him a sabre tooth look (but only on one side). The vet has checked that tooth a couple of times this year since I noticed it, and said while it isn't giving him a problem to leave it be. We know he is likely to have problems with his teeth so are just more aware of that type of thing with him than the others.

We have three other cats, one is about 15 years old and has just had her dental work done earlier this year, not due to anything like Calcivirus, just due to age meaning that she had a few that needed to come out and the rest to be cleaned. Freyja, who we got at the same time from the same rescue doesn't appear to have any problem, but I do know the rescue did have one cat that seemed to be developing teeth problems when we got them and subsequently has had to have them all out.

A cat with out teeth can cope surprisingly well. Before we got the two youngsters we had a old Ragdoll cat, he had had to have all his back teeth removed when he was about 13 years old due to problems developing. He lived until he was 16 before old age took him, once the problem teeth were gone he never had a problem eating even though he had always preferred dried food to wet.

I don't know enough about Calcivirus to know how infectious it is and for how long, but I would feel it would be a real shame if the breeder decided to put the other cat to sleep just because they have it, they could still live a full live else where, although I could understand them not wanting them around their queens , studs or kittens.

There is additional expense involved in having a cat with Calcivirus as they will likely need more dental work than healthy cats and subsequently more vet checks to make sure problems aren't developing, but they can live a full, happy life. Saturn gives no indication that his teeth give him problems, even being quite an accomplished hunter including bringing home a couple of dead rats last year.

To my knowledge most insurance policies don't include general dental work anyway (it was mentioned when Tiggy needed hers doing, she wasn't insured anyway so it didn't matter), so if yours does need teeth extracting then you would probably have to pay for it regardless. Saturn, so far, has never required any treatment for his gums, while they may look sore to us, they obviously don't bother him. I would also question whether the antibiotic given to your boy was really necessary, Calcivirus, as it name says, is a virus, antibiotics don't work against virus so any antibiotics given would only be effective against secondary infections or possibly even to make you, the owner, feel they were getting their money's worth at the consultation.

If Ludo's gums don't bother him and he doesn't have problems eating then I wouldn't worry too much. Keep a close eye on him and watch for any sign of them giving him trouble, then go with the vets advice.

[booktigger]

Calici is an ever present virus, but they normally only shed it when stressed. One of my neighbours cats has it, one of her others has just had red gums so was swabbed prior to a dental (he also has a sensitive stomach) but his was negative. Having all teeth removed didn't stop mine getting ulcers but we only knew about them when they had a checkup, so we rarely treated

[Lilith]

This is shameful. I'm lucky to have no knowledge of calici, but is the breeder registered with the GCCF (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.)? As a registered breeder myself (though I haven't bred for decades) I do know that they're very particular about this sort of thing. That breeder should have been honest with you.

There are other associations these days, don't know about them, but he should have come with paperwork and those documents will tell you where his breeder is affiliated.

Bottom line is, she should never have sold him on in that state.

All the very best with him and good luck.