Feline Panleukopenia (FP)

General Information Feline panleukopenia (FP), also known as feline
distemper, is a highly contagious viral disease that occurs wherever
there are cats. Cats at any age may be stricken. Young kittens, sick
cats, and cats that have not been adequately immunized are most
susceptible; older cats are more likely to have acquired an immunity
and, therefore, are infected less frequently.

Urban areas are most likely to see outbreaks of feline panleukopenia during
the warmer months. The virus has appeared in all parts of the United States
and most countries of the world.

Kennels, pet shops, humane shelters, and other areas where groups of cats
are quartered appear to be the main reservoirs of feline panleukopenia
today.

Dogs are not susceptible to feline panleukopenia. Canine distemper is a
different disease caused by another virus. Neither disease is transmissible to
humans.

What Does Panleukopenia Do?

The feline panleukopenia virus is passed from cat to cat by direct contact.
The source of infection is most commonly fecal waste from infected cats,
but the virus may be present in other body secretions.

A healthy cat can also become infected without coming in direct contact
with an infected cat. Bedding, cages, food dishes, and the hands or clothing
of handlers that contact infected secretions may harbor and transmit the
virus.

The feline panleukopenia virus is very stable. It is resistant to many
chemicals and may remain infectious at room temperature for as long as one
year. Short of raising a cat in total isolation, it is nearly impossible to prevent
exposure.

Feline panleukopenia is a complex disease. It can vary in severity from very
mild to extreme. The many signs are not always typical and many owners
may even believe that their cat has been poisoned or has swallowed a
foreign object. Because of this fact, treatment may be delayed or neglected.

After exposure to the virus, many of the cat's cells are destroyed. This cell
loss makes the cat more susceptible to other complications and bacterial
infections.

How Can You Tell If a Cat Has Panleukopenia?

The first signs a owner might notice are generalized depression, loss of
appetite, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, dehydration, and hanging over the
water dish. The course of the disease may be short and explosive.
Advanced cases, when discovered, may cause death within hours.
Normally, the sickness may go on for three or four days after the first
elevation of body temperature.

Fever will fluctuate during the illness and abruptly fall to subnormal levels
shortly before death. Other signs in later stages may be diarrhea, anemia,
and persistent vomiting.

Feline panleukopenia virus is so prevalent and the signs of disease are so
varied that any sick cat should be taken to a veterinarian for a definite
diagnosis.

How is Panleukopenia Treated?

The prognosis for very young kittens is poor. Older cats have greater
chance of survival if adequate treatment is provided early in the course of
the disease. Treatment is limited to supportive therapy to help the patient
gain and retain sufficient strength to combat the virus with its own immune
system. There are no antibiotics that can kill the virus.

The veterinarian will attempt to combat extreme dehydration, provide
nutrients, and prevent secondary infection with antibiotics. Pregnant females
that contract the disease, even in its mildest form, may give birth to kittens
with severe brain damage.

Strict isolation is essential. The area where the cat is kept should be warm,
free of drafts and very clean. Plenty of "tender loving care" even after
hospital discharge is very important. Cats may lose the will to live; so
frequent petting, hand feeding, the cautious use of heating pads, and good
nursing care by the owner is essential.

Other cats that may have been in close association with the infected animal
should be carefully examined.

Prevention and Protection

Feline panleukopenia is controlled in several ways. Cats that survive a
natural infection usually develop sufficient, active immunity to protect them
for the rest of their lives. Mild cases may go unnoticed and also produce
immunity.

It is also possible for kittens to receive immunity from their mother through
the transfer of antibody. This passive immunity from the mother is
temporary and its effectiveness varies in proportion to the level of antibody
in the mother's body.

Vaccines offer the safest protection. They stimulate the cat's body to
produce protective antibodies against the virus to prevent infection by
natural, disease causing viruses. The vaccines are very effective but are
preventive, not curative. They must be administered before the cat is
exposed and infected to be effective.

Specific vaccination schedules vary dependent on many factors, such as the
disease incidence in the area, and age and health of the cat.

The pet owner should consult a veterinarian for advice on the correct
schedule for each cat.






Hairballs Can Jeopardize Your Cat's Health
By: Jane R. Bicks, D.V.M.

Cats spend up to 1/3 of their waking hours self-grooming. The tiny barbs
on a cat's tongue pull loose hair from it's coat and those hairs are
swallowed. Because hair is very difficult to digest, it compacts with
undigested food in the intestines.

The accumulation becomes a source of irritation if it is not eliminated in the
litter box or coughed up. The result is messy fur-like, cigar-shaped forms on
the floor or furniture. Some surgically removed hairballs are almost 3 inches
in diameter.

Although you may not see hairballs, there may be a significant accumulation
in your cat's stomach and intestines!


Signs of hairball problems:

Fur-like, cigar-shaped clumps of fur on floor or furniture.
Dry, hacking cough.
Vomiting after meals.
Preoccupation with eating plants or grass.
Hair entwined with the feces.
Dry dull coat and/or excessive shedding.
Poor appetite and/or weight loss.
Constipation or diarrhea.


Common Treatments:

Single focus products do not address a cat's entire system.

Mineral oil or petroleum lubricants are petrochemical products

Large amount of fiber can decrease intestinal absorption of nutrients
and may result in malnourished animal

Enemas for constipation requires tranquilization and can be
dangerous.

What Really Does Work?

A much better alternative for hairballs is HealthyPetNet's Purr-fectly
Natural, .... Gourmet Cat Treats.

Formulated for finicky feline palates.

No corn, wheat, by-products or dyes.

No chemical preservatives.

Suggested feeding is 5 to 8 between meals daily, depending upon your cat's
weight. This is not a substitute for your cat's daily diet.


To find out more about how HealthyPetNet's Gourmet Cat Treats can help your cat....


     Check out Alfred's Favorite Feline Treats Here

The Gourmet Cat Treats were scientifically formulated by Dr. Jane Bicks
with the health, well fare, and safety of your precious cat in mind.


See Also:

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