How to treat distemper in cats

In the external environment feline distemper virus is able to get through the feces, urine or saliva of a sick animal. Infection occurs Through contact of a healthy cat with infected objects Or contact directly with a cat that is a carrier of the disease. The intrauterine method of infection with the virus or through bites of blood-drinking insects is questionable.

Feline distemper – routes of transmission and incubation period, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and disinfection

There are legends that cats have 9 lives, in addition, many believe that these animals land on their paws when they fall. This kind of assertion is justified, because the pets are distinguished by endurance, vitality. It is worth noting that even these animals are not able to endure some diseases – one of the most dangerous is feline distemper or panleukopenia.

It is a highly contagious viral disease, also known as infectious parvovirus enteritis or panleukopenia. When infected, the number of all types of leukocytes in the bloodstream is sharply reduced, the intestinal epithelium is affected, and the generalized infection affects the lymphatic system. Panleukopenia occurs more often in kittens – the immature body is more susceptible to the virus. The most dangerous time is spring and summer, when the animals are breeding. Chumka in cats shows a high mortality rate, so it is important to start treatment in time – when the first signs appear.

Panleukopenia virus in animals

Feline distemper is caused by the lesion of the animal's body by parvovirus, whose name in Latin sounds like this – Virus panleukopenia feline (FPV). The virus retains its virulence in the environment for up to one year, does not decompose if heated to 60° C for one hour, does not react to changes in acidity between pH 3.0 and 9.0, is not afraid of frost and withstands pepsin, trypsin, diethyl ether and chloroform – because of such remarkable resistance the pathogen can easily infect new victims.

Sick cats and virus carriers are sources of the deadly disease. The parvovirus is excreted with feces (faeces, urine) or saliva. There are several ways of contracting panleukopenia:

• By oral contact. The virus can enter the oral cavity with the saliva. Most often, this occurs while drinking water or eating food infected with viral particles from a virus-carrying or diseased animal.
• The airborne pathway. A healthy animal gets panleukopenia by being in close proximity to a sick animal.
• The contact way. Infection occurs through the personal belongings, clothing or shoes of the owner of the furry pet who has been in contact with a carrier cat. In addition, the parvovirus persists for a year on toilet trays, harnesses, bowls and toys.
• Intrauterine. The virus passes unimpeded through the placental barrier and enters the fetus. Kittens infected at an early stage of pregnancy die (decompose inside, mummified) before birth or die 1 to 2 days after birth. Babies infected at a later stage often have a congenital underdevelopment of the cerebellum.
• Vector-borne Pathogen of Panleukopenia is transmitted by blood-sucking parasites such as ticks, fleas or bedbugs.

Almost all members of the feline family can be infected with parvovirus: tigers, leopards, cheetahs. Distemper is a widespread disease among pets, susceptible to which unvaccinated kittens up to one year old and cats older than 6-8 years: young animals are susceptible to the disease due to underdeveloped immunity, and older pets with age lose the ability to resist various viruses, because the immune properties of the body become weaker.

Diagnosis

It is important to constantly monitor the pet's condition, and if even the slightest suspicious signs occur, it is necessary to take the pet's temperature. If it suddenly turns out that its values are higher than normal, you should immediately take your pet to the veterinarian.

In order to establish the diagnosis, the doctor must not only examine the symptoms that bother the cat or cat. In addition, he is sure to conduct blood, fecal matter and nasal secretion tests and examine the readings he receives from the results of the test.

The viral organism in the feces usually reaches maximum levels as early as the third day after infection of the cat. It is obligatory to take into account that during distemper in the blood there is a sharp decrease in the leukocyte count. All the data obtained in the subsequent period will help to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Treatment

It is imperative to remember that the consequences of distemper for a cat can be pitiable and lead to the death of the animal. For this reason, it is worth carefully monitoring his condition, if you identify suspicious symptoms, you should not delay the examination, in these situations it is worth immediately taking the pet to a veterinary clinic.

Important! The viral organism that provokes distemper in animals is highly resistant. In this regard, no drug has yet been developed that can quickly suppress the activity and development of this disease.

After examination and diagnosis, the veterinarian will establish the most appropriate treatment regimen. Treatment depends on various factors – the condition of the animal, symptoms, complications, stage of distemper.

1. It is recommended to use saline solutions. These preparations actively fight poisoning and dehydration of the body, and they also restore cellular balance;
2. Vitamin and mineral complexes;
3. Means containing glucose;
4. The drug Fosprenil with antiviral action;
5. Antibiotic medicines.

This is a general list that is considered mandatory. Additionally, depending on the stage and course of the pathological process, other groups of drugs may be prescribed – with analgesic, antihistamine, anti-edema action, as well as means for the heart and to increase the immune system.

Treatment of distemper is quite a long process. Even if the animal gets better, treatment should last at least two weeks. It is worth remembering that this pathology is considered recurrent, and it may occur again.

During treatment, cats and cats should be regularly examined by a veterinary specialist. The fact is that in almost all cases, the treatment of distemper is subjected to some changes and additions.

How to treat distemper in cats?

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no single universal drug, an injection or a pill of which would save the life of a whiskered animal. Therefore, in treatment practice, veterinary specialists use complex methods, which are aimed at:

To combat the virus, antiviral drugs are used, which are applied according to the treatment regimen prescribed by the doctor.

For symptomatic treatment, they mainly use drugs that restore the water-electronic balance and acid balance of the body. The distemper virus always causes severe dehydration and intoxication. To restore the balance of water, salts and minerals, a solution of sodium chloride is used, which is administered intravenously. Diuretics are often prescribed to help remove toxins from the animal's body more quickly. To remove pain in the gastrointestinal tract, antispasmodic drugs such as No-Spa are prescribed.

To eliminate secondary infection, a veterinary clinic doctor will prescribe your pet an antibacterial agent.

To restore and strengthen the immune system, immunomodulatory drugs and vitamin complexes will be prescribed for your pet.

Typically, the entire course of treatment is 2 weeks (7 to 14 days).

After the doctor prescribes the entire course of treatment and medicine, you will need to treat your pet at home and periodically bring it to the veterinary clinic for check-ups. Treatment of feline distemper in the home requires constant time and attention of the pet owner, as well as the strict fulfillment of all instructions prescribed by the doctor. Remember that cats get distemper very severely, they often have severe photophobia and a complete lack of appetite. Therefore the animal at home should create a comfortable environment – the cat should be in a dark and warm place. The room should be cleaned wet 3 times a day and ventilated (make sure that the animal is not in a draught). It is desirable to quartz the room twice a day. Remove all feces immediately, because they contain huge amounts of the virus, and disinfect bowls and toilets thoroughly (it is good to put them in boiling water – the virus dies at a temperature of 75 C). Your doctor may prescribe enemas for your cat, with certain antiseptic preparations. It is not recommended to bathe your cat during the illness. But the bedding on which your pet lies should be changed and washed daily. Kitten's eyes should be wiped every day with a gauze tampon soaked in warm boiled water. Under no circumstances should you allow contact with other animals – in 99% of cases they will be infected. Remember, a cat within 4-5 months after recovery is a carrier of this terrible virus, which means it can infect other animals of the feline family. To nurse the pet it is necessary to feed your pet with either plain (boiled) water, you can add ascorbic acid or give it decoctions of herbs, which you must first coordinate with your veterinarian. During a day a sick animal should drink fluids at the rate of 50 ml/kg. The animal's nutrition should also be monitored as much as possible – from the beginning of the disease until it is fully recovered. Initially, the animal should be given only chicken broth, then you can add porridges (rice, buckwheat) with boiled vegetables, sour milk, kefir and cottage cheese and only then well ground meat (completely excluding fatty meats from the cat's diet). You need to start with only 1 teaspoon of complementary food. Then you should feed your fluffy pet in small portions, but 5-6 times a day. You can also give special ready-made foods that are designed for cats with digestive disorders. The list of prohibited foods includes any raw food, including vegetables, herbs and fruits. After recovery, these foods should also not appear in the cat's diet for at least two months.

Prevention of panleukopenia in cats.

Now you already know the correct answer to the question, "Does feline distemper occur?" And you know how dangerous this disease is and how easily it can be contracted by an animal. It's time to talk about what depends on you, the owner of the furry wonder, and what actions you should take to keep your pet alive and healthy.

1. Vaccination. So, by far, the most effective preventive measure against feline distemper is vaccination. Now there are a large number of vaccines on the market and the doctor will offer you the one that is most affordable for you and well suited for your pet. Weakened, sick, pregnant and lactating cats should not be vaccinated. But kittens can and should be vaccinated, since they are most susceptible to the disease. The first vaccination of kittens is prescribed at 1.5 – 2 months. Revaccination (revaccination) is done after 20 days (3-4 weeks after the first vaccination). Thereafter the vaccination should be given once a year, with prior deworming (about 14 days before vaccination). If you vaccinate your cat annually, according to the schedule prescribed by a veterinarian, your cat will develop a strong and stable immunity to this disease.
2. Strengthen the immune system of your cat. Provide a proper diet for your cat, enriching his nutrition with vitamin complexes twice a year (in winter and in spring), paying particular attention to vitamins A and C, which are excellent antioxidants and help your cat to be healthy and active.
3. Make sure your pet does not come in contact with stray cats or sick animals. Wipe well or, even better, wash the soles of your shoes when you enter the house. Remember, you can bring the virus into your home and thus put your pet's life in great danger.
4. Have your pet checked regularly at the vet.

Treatment

Treatment for feline distemper should be under the close supervision of a veterinarian. If at all possible, see a doctor who can properly design a treatment program for your pet. There is no cure for this disease, so treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms, preventing the virus from penetrating tissue, stimulating the immune system and directing it to fight the virus.

Cats have a much stronger immune system than humans, so in half of cases it is possible to defeat the infection. The virus still lives in the body for some time, but it does not do any more harm.

But it often happens that there is no opportunity to go to the vet. Not all localities have clinics and not all have the right drugs. Then we have to help the pet on their own, to apply the treatment of feline distemper at home.

Vodka as a remedy for distemper at home

There is no cure for cat distemper, so often go for any means, which in theory may work. This method of treatment does not seem to be the most reliable and will raise doubts among skeptics, but practice shows that the method is effective. Often it even happened that vodka helped to cure a pet even in hopeless cases.

If the owner noticed the beginning of the disease in time, then you can try to treat it at home. The following mixture is usually prepared: 20 grams of ordinary vodka is mixed with one fresh egg yolk. The resulting medicine is given to the sick animal 2 times a day. Treatment of distemper with vodka usually has a positive effect after one day of use.

This method is applicable at home only if the disease has not moved to an acute stage and has not had time to spread throughout the body. During treatment as prevention of dehydration the cat should be given plenty of saline solutions. In severe cases, to save your pet's life and relieve intoxication, the veterinarian prescribes IV fluids.

Scenarios for the development of the disease

The feline distemper virus behaves aggressively and affects several vital systems at once. However, the speed of development of the disease and the severity of symptoms depends on several factors. According to experts, the scenario of the development of the disease depends on the age of the animal, the state of its immune system, the presence of vaccination and the degree of pathogenicity of the pathogen.

Feline distemper is characterized by three forms: supraacute, acute and subacute.

The ultra-acute form of distemper is typical for kittens in the first three months of life and older cats with weak immunity. The disease develops within 2-3 days and almost always ends in death.

The pet's condition worsens from hour to hour. In the beginning, the animal begins to hide in dark corners and shudders at loud noises. The body temperature rises rapidly to 40-41 degrees.

Breastfed kittens lose their sucking reflex and lie almost motionless. The mucosa of the mouth becomes dry and blue. The animal begins to walk under itself, even if accustomed to the litter tray, and spews yellowish vomit.

As the disease progresses, the body begins to shudder in small shakes. Transparent mucus is secreted from the eyes and nose.

If the animal is not taken to a veterinarian within 2-3 hours of the onset of the first symptoms, no matter how healthy the animal seemed at birth, death will occur within the first two days.

The acute form of distemper is characteristic of adult unvaccinated cats. The disease develops within 5-7 days and leads to chronic failure of the respiratory organs, heart and central nervous system, even after successful treatment.

The first indicator of the disease is lethargy and deterioration of coat quality. The animal stops licking and behaves apathetically. The body temperature rises. The cat experiences painful sensations when swallowing.

Later on, the pet is plagued by vomiting yellow or white foam and liquid stools with an admixture of blood. There are spots and pustules on the body. In blood tests, there is a severe decrease in white blood cells. Body temperature may drop to 37 degrees or lower during this period. Breathing will become labored.

Treatment methods for feline distemper

Due to the fact that feline distemper is too resistant, there are almost no effective drugs against it, and treatment is carried out by a complex method, with a treatment regimen prescribed individually each time.

To treat the disease are used etiotropic drugswhich should destroy the virus itself and carry out the therapy, which is designed to relieve the animal from the symptoms of distemper.

In order to kill the virus, such a drug as Vitafel globulin is used, which kills not only distemper viruses, but also Kalitsivirosis and rhinotracheitis.

Also in the treatment of this disease is used such an antiviral drug as Fosprenil. It should be given to the animal according to the following scheme of administration:

For animals with a body weight of less than one kilogram, the optimal dose is 0.2 mg Fosprenil, and for larger cats – 0.5 ml, respectively.

You can also prescribe taking Enterostat for a week at 20 mg per kilogram once a day.

Relieving symptoms of the disease

Symptomatic therapy consists of reducing the manifestation of key symptoms of the disease. It consists in correcting the acid-base balance and water-electrolyte balance of the cat's body. This relieves intoxication and reduces dehydration. Sometimes sodium chloride is used to reduce symptoms.

When the animal stops vomiting, he may be given a solution of Regehr or Rehydron, mixing each with glucose at 5% and adding to the mixture a quarter teaspoon of soda. Such a solution should be taken in any doses at the rate that the daily dose should be 50 mg of agents per kilogram of weight.

It is very important in the treatment of distemper that the animal gets rid of toxic substances in time. To this end Should increase the outflow of urine With the use of all kinds of renal gatherings and decoctions based on field horsetail, lingonberry leaf or bearberry.

Tips for treating the disease

To ensure that your pet recovers faster and does not suffer from the pain of the disease, take into account the following tips:

• If the cat vomits a lot and has diarrhea do not scold it, be understanding. Clean up the excrement and vomit in time so that the cat has no contact with it;
• If the eyes are affected by conjunctivitis, it may be necessary to clean the pus out of the eyes as well as remove infectious secretions from the nose and muzzle;
• ventilate the room where the cat is;
• Do not lower the temperature of the room;
• limit the cat's contact with sunlight and keep the room wet;
• make sure there is no drafts in the room;
• Do not force-feed the animal. When she recovers, her appetite will return to her.

As for the pet's diet after recovery A special diet should be observed.The food should be light, and the cat should be fed more often, but in smaller portions. Until a complete recovery, it is necessary to postpone such foods as:

Such a diet should be adhered to about three months, then you can introduce into the diet of the animal his usual before the disease dishes.

And remember, no matter how well you know about the treatment of animals for certain diseases, Do not prescribe any medication yourself.. Everything should be consulted with a veterinarian so as not to put your pet's life in danger.

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment of feline distemper should be comprehensive with the use of etiotropic agents to kill the virus and drugs that relieve the main symptoms. Usually to cure panleukopenia, animals are prescribed the following drugs:

1. Fosprenil. The antiviral drug is used to destroy pathogens and is administered intramuscularly for 14 days. In the early stages of the disease it is used daily for 4 times a day in a dosage of 0.2 ml of solution for kittens weighing up to 1 kg and 0.5 ml for cats weighing 1-5 kg. Gradually the number of injections is reduced to 1 time per day.
2. Ringer, Rehydron. Rehydrating preparations to eliminate signs of dehydration of the body and normalize electrolyte balance. They are diluted with glucose and given to cats at the rate of 50 ml per 1 kg of weight.
3. No-shpa, Dibasol. Analgesic drugs that effectively relieve pain syndrome and spasms. Used in the form of injections in strict accordance with the veterinarian's instructions.
4. Ticarcillin, Cephalosporin, Ampicillin. Antibiotics that kill secondary bacterial infections. Used in injections strictly as prescribed by the doctor.
5. Metaclopromide, Ondanceron, Maropitant are antiemetics. They are used in the form of injections strictly as prescribed by the veterinarian.
6. Catosal. A metabolic stimulant normalizes the metabolism and is used only on the recommendation of a specialist.

In addition to drugs, treatment of a cat at home should include the use of iron-containing drugs and vitamin complexes, which include folic acid.

Important: Although experts do not recommend the practice of treating cats with vodka, there are known cases where animals have survived after such therapy. True, it is impossible to say that the reason for the recovery was the use of alcohol, and not the strong immunity of the pets.

Prevention of the disease

The only effective method of preventing distemper in cats is timely vaccination with preparations such as Nobivac or Multifel. The first vaccination of kittens is given at the age of 1.5-2 months, with mandatory repetition after 3 weeks. Subsequently, cats are vaccinated once a year.

Also, to prevent distemper, you must not let unvaccinated pets outdoors and avoid contact with other people's animals.

Feline distemper is a very dangerous and contagious disease, often leading to death. And even if an animal can be saved, it may suffer serious consequences in the form of chronic pathologies of the nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

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Cat care during illness

Proper care for an ill cat promotes speedy recovery:

1. A cat needs to be surrounded by love and care.
2. The cat should be placed in a warm, dry, darkened, but regularly ventilated place.
3. Disinfecting the cat's sleeping area every 2 days is recommended.
4. Do not force feed or water the pet. This will only worsen the course of the disease.
5. It is best to give the cat only warm boiled water to drink.
6. All animal feces should be removed immediately, and the litter tray should be treated with disinfectants.
7. The eyes, nose and face of the cat should be cleaned regularly from accumulated dirt.
8. The room should be cleaned with regular wet cleaning.
9. It is strictly forbidden to let the pet outdoors.
10. It is important to stick to the treatment plan. Do not arbitrarily use folk remedies and alcohol.
11. In the first days after the start of treatment, it is recommended to feed the pet with dairy products and meat broths. Then introduce into the diet thoroughly ground boiled beef and cleaned of bones sea fish. Such a diet should be followed for 3-4 weeks. If the animal eats ready-made food, during the treatment period it is necessary to transfer it to a special food for cats with digestive problems.

Prevention of the disease

Preventive measures are a number of rules that must be followed:

1. Annual vaccination. This preventive measure is considered the most effective. The vaccine develops in cats a persistent immunity to the disease. The first vaccination is given to kittens at 6-8 weeks, revaccination after 3-4 weeks. Vaccinate the cat annually with a comprehensive vaccine against distemper and other viral diseases.
2. Regular examinations of the cat by a veterinarian.
3. Buying a new pet only from proven breeders.
4. Observance of hygiene rules. Regular cleaning of the cats' living quarters and treatment of their litter trays, bowls and bedding with disinfectants will prevent the spread of the virus.
5. Obligatory isolation of an infected individual from other cats.
6. Restricting pets' access to outdoor shoes.
7. Minimizing contact between domestic cats and stray animals.
8. Regular treatment for external parasites.

Important: Vaccinating immunocompromised cats is strictly forbidden. It may cause infection.

Panleukopenia is one of the most contagious diseases of cats. Most cases of the disease ends with death. Careful observation of the health of the pet will allow you to notice the first signs of the disease and possibly save the cat's life. And following feline distemper prevention guidelines will help you avoid infection.

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