Feline panleukopenia

Every pet owner wants their cat to grow up healthy and protected from harmful environmental factors, such as viruses. Even if your pet never leaves the house, many viruses can be brought in from the outdoors simply on your clothes, posing a threat to an unvaccinated pet. Today, we are discussing one such dangerous virus: feline panleukopenia.

Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the feline parvovirus. The virus is extremely dangerous and often fatal for unvaccinated kittens under one year of age; adult cats with weakened immune systems can also fall ill. It is very easy to contract the virus through contact with an infected animal or contaminated objects. Once infected, severe gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and small intestines) occurs; the animal vomits, suffers from diarrhea (often bloody), runs a fever, and becomes dehydrated. Sudden death can occur. If a pregnant cat becomes infected, she may suffer a miscarriage or pass the virus to the fetuses through the placenta.

An effective vaccine has been developed for the prevention of this virus. Kittens are vaccinated (comprehensively along with vaccines for calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, and rabies) at 8 weeks of age and again one month later. This vaccination must be repeated annually, even for indoor-only cats, as the virus can easily be brought in from outside on clothing.

For your convenience, at “Siaurio Šnauceris” veterinary clinics, we have implemented a reminder system that will not let you miss this important visit to the veterinarian!