Feline Panleukopenia is a very serious disease that has serious consequences for the health of domestic and wild cats. Developing very quickly in the body, feline parvovirus causes a decrease in white blood cells (a condition called leukopenia), thus affecting the cat's entire immune system, including impairing defences against the virus itself. To take all the guesswork out of the disease, you canIf you have any doubts about the contamination and development of Feline Panleukopenia, we talked to veterinarian Fernanda Serafim, a surgeon and general practitioner with a postgraduate degree in small animal medicine. Check it out!

How does Feline Panleukopenia infection occur?

Popularly known as "distemper in cats", this is not the correct term to call Feline Panleukopenia. Distemper is actually a viral disease that only affects dogs. Feline panleukopenia is specific to cats. "It is a viral disease caused by feline parvovirus. Young cats and without previous immunity are at greater risk of developing the disease ", explains the company's director.But, how does the contamination of feline panleukopenia occur? The virus is eliminated by the feces, urine and saliva of the animals. Feline parvovirus can remain for months in an environment, even after the kitten has already been cured, and is very resistant. The specialist Fernanda points out that contamination can occur, mainly through "fights, contaminated food,direct contact with feces, urine, saliva and vomit, contact in the infected environment and shared toys and feeders".

Therefore, if you have another animal at home, the ideal is to separate it from the sick cat immediately. They must not, in any way, share any object. Even the animal that does not show signs of feline panleukopenia should be taken to the veterinarian for laboratory tests. The only way to prevent the disease is with the vaccine. "Prevention is done through the vaccination protocol, which beginswhen the animal is still a puppy and annually the vaccine must be reinforced ", clarifies the specialist. If the feline has not been immunized and contracts the disease, he needs to go through all the treatment to, only then, receive the vaccine.

How do I know if my cat is sick? See the symptoms of feline panleukopenia!

To find out if your kitten may be suffering from feline panleukopenia, you need to look out for a few symptoms. These include:

• Severe dehydration;
• Jaundice;
• Diarrhea, with or without the presence of blood;
• Anorexia;
• High fever;
• Vomiting;
• Depression.

If your kitten is not vaccinated and shows any of these signs, it is essential to take him to the vet as soon as possible. As the action of the virus is very fast and usually devastating, immediate treatment can save your feline's life.

Pregnant cats: feline panleukopenia can affect kittens

Care must be taken if you have a pregnant kitten. In case of infection by the virus, the disease can affect the kittens. "When the disease affects pregnant cats, most of the time the kittens are congenitally affected by panleukopenia, which can cause congenital cerebellar hypoplasia," says the veterinarian. Hypoplasia can lead to the kitten not being able to move properly, withhead tremors and difficulty standing.

Feline Panleukopenia is curable, learn how to treat it!

Feline panleukopenia is curable and animals that develop the disease, after being cured, become immune to the disease. But, for that, it is necessary to invest in the correct treatment of the virus. "The treatment is supportive, precisely because there is no drug that kills the virus. The treatment consists of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, use of intravenous fluid therapy and supplementation.It is important to emphasize that during the treatment of feline panleukopenia the infected cat must be quarantined. If you have had a cat with Feline Panleukopenia, it is very important to check the environment before getting another feline.