Parvovirus in cats: symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Parvovirus in cats is for many associated with a common intestinal disorder. Therefore, sometimes they don’t pay enough attention to him, believing that it’s okay, it will go away on its own, a fairly sparing diet. In fact, veterinarians are well aware of the dangers of this disease.

Description

Parvovirus in cats is a problem of the digestive tract, or rather the intestines. In this case, there is a strong inflammatory process in the small intestine with the involvement of the inner mucous layer, and in some cases even the serous membrane. As a result, we observe a violation of all functions of the gastrointestinal tract. This manifests itself in the form of diarrhea, refusal of food, severe pain.

What is parvovirus enteritis

So far we have talked in general terms about what it is. Parvovirus in cats is divided into many species and subspecies, each of which has its own distinctive features. There are several classifications:

1. The first one speaks of damage to the walls.
2. The second is about the origin of pathology.
3. The third separates putrefactive or fermentation processes intointestines.
4. The fourth talks about the course of the disease.

By the nature of inflammation, the disease can also be different. In particular, doctors divide it into catarrhal, hemorrhagic, fibrinous, necrotic, ulcerative. The extreme degree can be considered the presence of through fistulas in the abdominal cavity. Treatment in this case is accompanied by the installation of drainage tubes and takes place in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor.

Primary and secondary form

As a rule, a he althy animal, vaccinated according to age, which is properly fed with quality feed, is less likely to get sick. Parvovirus is often not a separate disease, but a symptom of the underlying pathology. Therefore, there are primary and secondary catarrhs:

1. Foodborne infections can be classified as primary. That is, conditionally pathogenic microflora, salmonella, E. coli, anaerobes, which develop when poisoned with poor feed. This also includes bacterial and mycotic infections that develop when eating moldy foods.
2. Secondary parvovirus develops against the background of infectious processes of viral origin.

One more thing is the pH of the internal environment. According to this indicator, acid and alkaline inflammation are separated. At first glance, the information is redundant. But it is very important for the doctor. The correct diagnosis and its future treatment depend on this knowledge. With the acidic nature of the inflammatory process, fermentation processes develop with the release of carbon dioxide and methane. Atalkaline, the process of decay occurs with the formation of a large amount of toxic substances. Of course, both options can hardly be called favorable. These are simply the features of the course of the disease that must be taken into account when making a diagnosis and prescribing treatment.

Reasons

It is impossible to help an animal without knowing what parvovirus is. In cats, this disease often leads to death. The percentage of death among kittens and older animals is especially high. Their mass is relatively small, and dehydration occurs within a few days.

This is a viral disease caused by parvovirus. It is characterized by extremely high infectiousness. Kittens are the most affected. She has other names - infectious enteritis and feline panleukopenia. The causative agent is extremely stable in the external environment. That is why it is a headache for nurseries and shelters for homeless animals. They are always full of pets and it is extremely difficult to carry out a complete disinfection. Once a sick animal gets into them, the pathogen, together with feces or vomit, settles in the cracks of the wooden floor, and then is transmitted from one to another.

Routes of infection

How dangerous can parvovirus in cats be? Is this disease dangerous for humans? The FPV strain is not transmitted to dogs and humans, so you don't have to worry about your safety. But the canine pathogen can be transmitted to cats. Let's look at the routes of infection:

1. The virus can persist in the environment untilyears, we have already noted above. Therefore, if your cat or dog was sick, then before taking a pet, you must definitely affix all preventive vaccinations to it.
2. In most cases, infection occurs through contact with dried feces or other secretions of sick animals. Most often if they contaminate food or water. Less often, he althy pets can become infected during the game, biting on toys and other objects that have previously been in contact with a sick animal. It should be noted that parvovirus in cats develops so rapidly that the owner does not always have time to deliver the pet to a specialist.
3. From other cats through direct contact, the disease is transmitted less frequently, but this possibility cannot be ruled out. If the animals are constantly nearby and come into close contact (play, lick each other), then the possibility of an epidemic cannot be ruled out.

When a cat becomes contagious

Important question, because usually we start to think about it only when we see an obvious ailment of a pet. Symptoms of parvovirus in cats appear on the 4-6th day, but already on the second day after infection, the pathogen begins to be excreted in the feces. Kittens are most susceptible at 12 weeks of age. At this time, the amount of antibodies that were received from the mother decreases sharply in the blood. And new ones do not have time to develop. But unvaccinated adult cats are no less susceptible to this disease.

First symptoms

Parvovirus in cats may not appear at all during life. Thatthe animal is a carrier but has no he alth problems. It doesn't happen that often. In other cases, we can observe the following picture:

1. Severe vomiting. The attacks are very serious, the animal simply turns inside out. If you are sure that he had nothing to poison, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Signs of parvovirus in cats are rapidly increasing. Sometimes in the morning the owner sees that the pet is sick, and when he comes home from work in the evening, he finds him in a puddle of vomiting and bloody diarrhea, half dead and exhausted.
2. Fever. In the most severe cases, the temperature begins to drop. This indicates that death is approaching.
3. The animal may become very thirsty and hungry, but weakens so that it is unable to eat or drink. Therefore it is necessary to put system with glucose and physical. solution.
4. Diarrhea with and without blood. Diagnosis of parvovirus in cats can be difficult with a mixed clinical picture. But diarrhea should not be ignored. Be sure to contact your veterinarian if you see black, tar-like stools. This happens when the upper intestines are affected.

Unfortunately, the owners do not always have time to respond. The animal dies in just a few hours. Sometimes kittens that are born to a cat are carriers of the FPV virus. This leads to serious damage to the nervous system, developmental problems.

Diagnosis

The veterinarian takes animal feces or intestinal scrapings for analysis. Today, there are methods that allow you to find in this material not only the virus, but also antibodies that are secreted by the body in response to its introduction. If the litter of kittens is affected, then an autopsy and sowing of materials is performed. This is not only a diagnosis, but also a chance to develop a suitable diagnostic technique.

Before mating, it is necessary to take blood tests for both the cat and the cat. If specific antibodies are found in it, then the animal is a carrier of the virus. He is excluded from breeding.

What is important for a doctor to know

Treatment of symptoms of parvovirus in cats is difficult because they can be similar to acute poisoning. It is important to take a history. Tell your doctor:

1. When you noticed the first change.
2. When was the last vaccine given. Ideally, you should be treated by the same doctor who handled the immunizations.
3. Character of bowel movements.
4. How long ago was the last treatment for worms.
5. What have we been fed for the past two days.

If a friend in the nursery has taken all the livestock, most likely there is poisoning. If we are talking about infection, then the incubation period will be different for all cats. When making a diagnosis, it does not hurt to conduct a study. But the laboratory is not always available, so the doctor has to act by the method of exclusion. That is, they carry out symptomatic treatment and, by how the condition of the animal changes, they conclude what exactly caused the disease.

Unlike the plague, it is difficult to say in which area parvovirus is more common. Atcats, it often appears if the animal roams freely, and does not live in an apartment, if it does not have preventive vaccinations. In shelters, the number of cats is usually very large, so the likelihood of a sick animal and infection of the rest is quite high.

Treatment

The worst thing is when the animal is brought in already in serious condition. Then the doctor faces a difficult question, how to treat parvovirus in a cat, if there is practically no time for diagnosis. Most often, they put a dropper, which allows you to level dehydration and restore strength to the pet's body. Depending on the condition of the animal, vitamins, hemostatic and other drugs are added to it.

In parallel, the veterinarian selects antibiotics that are designed to stop the development of pathogenic microflora. Do not forget that the antimicrobial drug itself and its dosage should be chosen by the doctor. Traditional medicine can help, but you need to coordinate the scheme with your doctor, and also do not stop traditional therapy.

If the cat's condition is satisfactory

Let's consider another situation. The owner noticed that the pet was sad, plus there was diarrhea, and immediately went to the doctor. At the same time, the specialist diagnosed parvovirus. In this case, a starvation diet is prescribed. At least for a day, it is completely deprived of food, but access to water is not limited. "Rehydron" can be used instead.

To begin with, it is recommended to clean the intestines. Glauber's s alt is used for this.acid catarrh, or castor oil for alkaline. Depending on the pH of the internal environment, weak alkaline or acid solutions can be used orally, through the mouth. For severe diarrhea, astringents are used, such as a decoction of oak bark.

After a couple of days, you can offer a slimy decoction of oatmeal in meat broth. It envelops the walls of the intestine and promotes rapid healing and restoration of its functions. By a tiny piece, you can start giving minced meat. In the absence of improvement, if the diarrhea does not stop in the first 2-3 days, you will have to resort to more serious drugs.

Prevention measures

They are quite simple. Considering how difficult and costly it can be to diagnose and treat parvovirus in cats, it becomes clear that these measures need to be followed throughout the life of a furry pet. Prevention boils down to the following points:

1. Timely vaccination against viral and bacterial infections.
2. Prophylactic deworming, the timing should be set by a veterinarian.
3. Feed only quality feed and fresh produce.
4. There should always be clean water in the bowl.

In closing

Any cat disease is a disaster for a loving owner. And the more severe the condition of the pet, the stronger the feeling of guilt. What I didn’t save, I didn’t finish watching. Unfortunately, there are diseases that develop at lightning speed. In some cases, between the appearance of the first symptom of parvovirus and deaththe animal passes no more than a few hours. Clinics do not always work on weekends and at night, so if you wish, you may not be in time. Just in case, you need to have at home a number of drugs that will help and "reach out" to the appointment of a specialist. This is "Cerukal" against vomiting, "No-Shpa" for relieving pain and spasms. Both drugs are best used in the form of injections. To stop dehydration, normal saline is suitable. With a large syringe, inject 10-20 cubes subcutaneously into the withers, this will last for several hours. You can add an ampoule of ascorbic acid to it. If there is a temperature, you can put a baby antipyretic candle. Other appointments must be made by a doctor.