Do Kittens Get Parvo
Feline panleukopenia virus fpv pan loo ko peeneea also commonly referred to as feline distemper is a highly contagious and life threatening viral disease in the cat population.
Do kittens get parvo. Cats can get parvo directly from contact with another cat who has it. Parvo in cats is different than the parvo virus that dogs get. The parvovirus that occurs in puppies cannot jump species and infect cats or people. People who handle an infected cat or an infected cat s bedding food or water dish can carry the virus to the next cat they handle.
The parvo virus is tough. Kittens are more susceptible to parvo especially if exposed to an infected animal such as their mother. It is highly contagious and cats should be vaccinated as kittens and have booster shots every year. Highly contagious and potentially deadly parvo in cats has been on the rise in populations across the world.
Both cat s and kittens can get parvovirus. Cats get feline distemper via the parvovirus. However generally kittens are easily more susceptible to the viral infection as they do not have have the development of active immunity and they do not have a strong enough immune system to battle all the clinical signs that occur. However kittens and juvenile cats usually 3 5 months old are susceptible to a different form of parvovirus called feline panleukopenia or fp for short.
This may occur one time or it is more likely to occur most times your cat goes to evacuate his bowels. Symptoms range from fever severe dehydration diarrhea and vomiting. Lethargy abdominal pain and bloating loss of appetite vomiting fever red gums and eyes rapid heartbeat low body. Dogs who have developed parvo will exhibit certain symptoms so if you are afraid that your dog might have contracted the parvovirus look for any of these conditions in your pup.
It is actually a virus called panleukopenia but is sometimes called feline parvo because the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of canine parvo virus. How to diagnose and treat parvo in cats is rather simple with lab tests and antibiotics but you must act quickly. Parvo in cats feline infectious enteritis feline distemper panleukopenia or cat plague are all common terms used to describe the infectious disease known as parvovirus. Feline distemper is actually a misnomer as the virus is closely related to the canine parvovirus.
In the case of parvo diarrhea is oftentimes yellowish in color and may be tinged with blood. But parvo can also be transmitted by fleas that have fed off of an infected cat which is why it s very difficult to prevent your kitten from being exposed to this deadly disease. They can also get it from contact with an infected cat s urine feces and nose secretions.