- What is feline panleukopenia?
- Infection with feline panleukopenia
- Panleukopenia in kittens: symptoms
- Treatment and prevention of panleukopenia
Feline panleukopenia is also known as feline distemper. This is very dangerous and, unfortunately, a common disease that affects adult cats and kittens. Without timely treatment, it inevitably leads to death. And if the symptoms in adult cats can develop rather slowly, it infected kittens under one year of age can die in just a few days. So, what is panleukopenia, how to recognize it and whether you can protect Pets from this dangerous disease?
What is feline panleukopenia?
The panleukopenia virus of cats is a serologically homogeneous virus is extremely resistant in the external environment (from several months to several years). The virus infects the gastrointestinal tract, disturbs the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, leading to dehydration and poisoning. The incubation period of the disease is on average 4-5 days, but may vary from 2 to 10 days.
Infection with feline panleukopenia
Panleukopenia is transmitted from an infected cat healthy through direct contact, contact with blood, urine, feces, and also through the bites of infected insects. Most often, the infection occurs by the fecal-oral route. The virus can be released along with faeces and urine for 6 weeks after recovery.
If the animal is ill with panleukopenia or was a carrier of the virus, it must be quarantined for 1 year as a place of detention. Even if the cat died in the room where she was held, during the year, you cannot have other cats. Such measures are necessary because the panleukopenia virus is very stable and does not give even the kvartsevanie.
In addition, pet can be infected by the fault of the owner, because of lack of hygiene in the house. For example, if the owner had contact with the infected animal, he can bring the panleukopenia virus into the house on clothing, footwear or hands. In this case, if the pet has not been vaccinated, gets infected.
Some kittens (mainly stray animals) are born already infected with feline panleukopenia. This happens when the virus struck their mother during pregnancy. Therefore, the analysis of panleukopenia (and other dangerous diseases) is the first thing to do, taking the kitten from the street.
A huge number of homeless cats and kittens die every day from panleukopenia. However, this disease is absolutely not dangerous to other animals and humans.
Panleukopenia in kittens: symptoms
When infected with panleukopenia in kittens observed:
– General weakness,
– shiver,
– refusal of food and water,
– the deterioration of the coat (the coat fades and becomes sticky),
– fever,
– foamy vomit
– diarrhea, possibly with blood.
Over time without proper treatment, the symptoms become more aggressive. The animal is experiencing extreme thirst, but can not touch the water, vomiting, becoming bloody, the defeat of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems increases.
In General, it is accepted to separate three forms of the flow in dogs: fulminant, acute and subacute. Unfortunately, cats are often prone to a fulminant form of the disease, because their bodies are still fragile and can not withstand the deadly virus. Therefore, panleukopenia them proceeds very quickly and without timely intervention, the kitten dies just a few days. Especially, the virus affects infants and kittens.
Treatment and prevention of panleukopenia
The panleukopenia virus is very stable and difficult to treat. But if it fails to detect the disease and take action, thanks to integrated therapy to eliminate the disease without serious health consequences.
Treatment for panleukopenia only appoints a veterinarian. Typically, in the course are antivirals, antibiotics, glucose, vitamins, pain killers, cardiac and other drugs. A single cure for the virus does not exist, and treatment can vary depending on the stage of the disease and condition of the animal.
In any case, do not try to treat the pet yourself. The treatment for panleukopenia is assigned exclusively to the veterinarian!
How to protect Pets from dogs? The most reliable way is timely vaccinations. Of course, you can regularly disinfect their clothing, and to limit the contact of your cat with other animals, but the risk of infection still remains. While vaccinations “teach” the body of a cat fight the virus, and he will not represent her danger. Read more about this in our article “When to vaccinate a kitten?”.
Take care of their wards and do not forget that the disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Moreover, in our century, when such blessings of civilization as quality vaccines available in almost every veterinary clinic.
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