How to Recognize Panleukopenia, One of the Most Serious Diseases of Cats
You, as cat keepers, will probably be frightened when hearing “cat plague”. But precisely this phrase is sometimes used for panleukopenia which is a very dangerous cat disease. You may not only prevent it thanks to information obtained but to identify its symptoms as well.
You, as cat keepers, will probably be frightened when hearing “cat plague”. But precisely this phrase is sometimes used for panleukopenia which is a very dangerous cat disease. You may not only prevent it thanks to information obtained but to identify its symptoms as well.
Panleukopenia or parvovirosis is aggressive and highly contagious disease, affecting only cats (or feline). It is tricky because of its rapid progress the fact that it is manifested with strong and sometimes even bloody, diarrhea and vomiting. Exhausted animal then quickly gets into mortal danger. The cat is usually apathetic, loses its appetite and stops to drink even before the digestive disturbances occur.
“Panleukopenia in cats is a serious fatal disease which can be prevented by timely and proper vaccinations, preferably in a juvenile cat. When the disease outbreaks, it is necessary to start with an intensive therapy which requires patient’s hospitalisation. The diagnosis of the disease is made after the evaluation of the clinical state and the blood count. It is also possible to complement the diagnosis with a commercial test on virus identification in the faeces. But even an early therapy does not have to be successful" says MVDr. Aneta Kasanová, a vet.
The incubation period of cat plague is 2 to 10 days. The cat can be for example infected through a bowl with water contaminated with saliva etc. The insidious and very resistant parvovirus that causes the disease is transmitted by all body fluids. The infected places remain infectious for several months. Even the cat that was successfully treated is infectious for the next couple of weeks.
The parvovirus quickly replicates following the outbreak and it gradually gets into blood which is spread in the body and it attacks various organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. It also attacks white blood cells and reduces its number and it significantly decreases the immunity of the infected cat.
If you are scared panleukopenia, ask the vet for vaccination. Prevention is in this case more than desirable, there is unfortunately very often no help to the animal after the outbreak of the disease and the treatment is at least complicated.
When one says a mini breed, most of you will immediately think of a Chihuahua. And it’s not surprising, its the smallest dog breed in the world. They are popular abroad as well as in the Czech Republic and they are often picked by people whose desire...
The Ragdoll, a cat which reminds you of a dog with its behaviour, was in the top three favourite breeds among keepers in 2017. At the worldwide scale, it is on the second place, right after the Maine Coon. The Ragdoll is a very cuddly pet which is into...
Cats have always been regarded as mystical animals with many mysteries. One of them might be the question why these creatures like sitting in a circle so much.
You might be asking why should a cat learn to walk on a leash in the first place? It doesn’t mean you should go hiking with your cat. However, a short walk might be a great adventure for your cat. And you can’t do that without a leash, especially in a...
Keeping an eye on the weight no longer concerns only us, the two-legged creatures. Vets deal with overweight and obese pets more and more often. Most often, it applies to dogs and cats, but even rodents can easily suffer from obesity. How to prevent...
Toxins are accumulated in body during winter and spring is therefore the best season for detoxification. Everything awakens and people purify their bodies so why shouldn’t we involve our closest companions to it?
The fact that it’s no problem to go for a journey across the whole continent (or even the whole world) together with your pet is well-known to the owners of three cat travellers – Bengal cat Suki, courageous cat Wilow and fearless tom cat Simon. They...
One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to be more active. A dog is a great companion for an active life. What is a healthy level of exercising with a dog?
These portions seem so small, shouldn’t I give my dog more? And should the dry food be dipped or not? And how many times a day should I feed my dog? And should I supplement the food by something? When should we switch to adult dog food? This is only a...
Do you know how to properly behave with your furry friends in national parks and protected nature areas? Are you sick of all the trash in city parks? And are you considering what you should do to be a more
eco-friendly dog owner? You can also...
Siberian Husky is an amazing dog breed. It is a very active dog. Agile, strong and distinctive. That’s why many mushers use them to pull their sledges. It is said that all dogs who like pulling are suitable for a dog sled, but a Siberian Husky really...
Domestic cats don’t go outside as often as dogs and you have to prepare them for travelling. However, they won’t avoid visiting a vet or travelling to a cottage from time to time.