FALINE PARVOVIRUS - SCI & TECH

News: Feline parvovirus affecting cats and kittens on the rise

 

What's in the news?

       Feline panleukopenia (FP) or Feline parvovirus, a highly contagious viral disease, affecting cats, particularly kittens, is on the rise in the city.

       More and more pet parents are visiting veterinary clinics with kittens with the symptoms of the viral infections.

       Though some animals survive after treatment, veterinarians reiterated that vaccination could save a lot of kittens.

 

Feline Parvovirus:

       It is a highly contagious viral disease of cats.

       It is also known as Feline Distemper, which is a life-threatening infectious disease.

       It infects and kills the rapidly growing and dividing cells in the body, including cells in the bone marrow, intestines and skin, and in a developing foetus.

 

Symptoms:

       Once infected by Feline panleukopenia virus, the intestine of the animal gets completely affected.

       They develop severe diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration, which ultimately leads to death.

       It spreads faster, and the infected animal dies within four to five days.

 

Treatment:

       There is no specific treatment for feline panleukopenia.

       Dehydration is treated with aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, while clinical signs of vomiting and diarrhoea are treated with prescription medications.

       Antibiotic therapy is often instituted to help control any secondary bacterial infections due to low white blood cell counts.