Feline Distemper (or Feline Panleukopenia Virus)

What is Feline Distemper / FPV in Cats?

FPV / Feline Panleukopenia Virus, otherwise known as Feline Distemper, is a highly contagious, life-threatening infectious disease in cats. It mostly affects kittens and unvaccinated cats, and it can be fatal if not appropriately diagnosed and treated. It is closely related to canine parvovirus (often confused as it is not related to the canine distemper virus).

The feline panleukopenia virus infects and kills the rapidly growing and dividing cells in the body, including cells in the bone marrow, intestines, and skin, and in a developing fetus.

The virus suppresses the production of all white blood cells in the bone marrow. These cells are important to the immune system and are used to fight infection. Without them, the cat is vulnerable to spreading the virus.

Infected cells in the intestines eventually lead to diarrhea, decreased appetite and vomiting. Severe dehydration ensues and the safety barrier between the intestines and the rest of the body breaks down, leading to secondary bacterial infections. The virus spreads quickly and is fatal, if left untreated.

Feline distemper virus is found everywhere in the environment; it is strong and can live for years. The virus can survive in the environment it was shed into or be carried on shoes, paws, bedding, bowls, litter boxes, etc. It can survive at freezing temperatures and room temperatures, and it can also survive the use of certain disinfectants, including iodine and alcohol.

The virus enters the body through the nose or mouth; the specific cat’s immune system determines the number of viral particles that enter the body. Usually, the virus invades the bone marrow and intestines within two to seven days of the cat coming into contact with the virus.

Panleukopenia is considered one of the deadliest cat diseases in the unvaccinated cat population. Kittens, cats with depressed immune systems and pregnant cats are at the highest risk to develop severe clinical signs of this disease.

Symptoms of Feline Distemper / FPV

Symptoms of feline distemper can range from mild to severe and may include the following:

• Lethargy

• Depression

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Painful abdomen (when touched or may appear tense and distended without touching)

• Dehydration

• Weight loss

• Rough or unkempt hair coat

• Fever

• Decreased to absent appetite

• Collapse (in severe cases)

• Bruising of the skin or gums (in severe cases)

Kittens infected in the womb during the late stages of pregnancy may develop cerebellar hypoplasia once born, a condition where the virus affects the formation of a part of the brain called the cerebellum. This is the part that coordinates balance and movement.

Affected kittens will have mild to severe intention tremors and a wide-based stance. They may fall frequently or seem uncoordinated. Luckily, this is not considered a painful condition, and these special-need kittens, if kept in safe environments, can live long happy lives.

Causes of Feline Distemper / FPV

Cats become infected with this virus in utero due to their mother becoming infected while pregnant or being exposed to it in their environment. Kittens can also be infected in utero or via breast milk when feeding from their mother.

A cat carrying feline distemper virus will shed viral particles into the environment through feces, urine, saliva and vomit. Infection occurs when susceptible cats are in contact with these secretions.

Luckily, an infected cat only sheds the virus for a day or two, but since the virus is very stable in the environment, it can live for years. That is why it is common for cats to become infected due to their environment.

Diagnosing Feline Distemper / FPV

Feline panleukopenia can look like many other conditions, such as feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus. Any kitten showing signs of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and a decreased appetite is a feline panleukopenia suspect. A thorough medical history can be helpful with diagnosis, especially if your cat was recently adopted, has been outdoors frequently, is unvaccinated, and/or has been around other cats.

Your veterinarian will likely do bloodwork to help with the diagnosis. Feline panleukopenia is suspected when exposure history is correlated with very low white blood cells and possibly low red blood cells (anemia).

Fecal testing for feline panleukopenia virus can be performed . If the cat received a panleukopenia vaccine 5-12 days prior to testing, this form of test is often falsely positive. Virus isolation (a test to find the virus in different tissue samples), antibody levels and PCR testing are also available to help confirm suspicions of feline panleukopenia.

Treatment of Feline Distemper / FPV

There is no specific treatment for feline panleukopenia. Dehydration is treated with aggressive intravenous fluid therapy while clinical signs of vomiting and diarrhea are treated with prescription medications.

Antibiotic therapy is often instituted to help control any secondary bacterial infections due to low white blood cell counts. However, antibiotics are not used to treat and clear the actual virus. For kittens and cats who appear in shock, or with severe infections, aggressive therapy and nursing care is necessary for resuscitation, using plasma/blood transfusions and anti-coagulant therapies.

Luckily, cats who do receive and respond well to aggressive therapy during the first few days of feline panleukopenia tend to have a good prognosis for a complete recovery. Kittens infected in utero during the early to middle stages of pregnancy typically do not survive. Those infected in the later stages of pregnancy tend to develop cerebellar hypoplasia but can live happy lives with normal survival times, depending on the severity of the neurological signs.

Prognosis decreases for cats with low protein levels, low temperatures, thin body conditions, and/or severely low white blood cells on bloodwork. These extremely ill cats have a poor prognosis and, on average, will pass away within 12-24 hours.

If a cat recovers from feline panleukopenia, there is usually no permanent damage to their organs, and they develop lifelong immunity to the virus.

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Cat Health

What is Feline Asthma? Clinical Signs, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis

Asthma is a disease of the lower airways of the lungs that affects between 1 and 5% of cats.

Although there is some debate about the definition, most clinicians and researchers agree that feline asthma is caused by an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens— particles that stimulate a cat’s immune system.

When a susceptible cat first inhales an allergen, their system creates specific antibodies to target that antigen. When the cat is exposed to that antigen again, these antibodies recognize the allergen and start a cascade of events that bring many different types of immune cells to the airways. These immune cells then trigger the production of substances that promote inflammation, a condition that results in irritation, swelling, and reactive constriction of the airways. As a result, the diameter of the airways may decrease and mucus may accumulate within the passages. All these processes limit the ability of air to move through the airways and cause the cat to experience difficulty breathing.

The average age of cats diagnosed with asthma is between 4 and 5 years. It doesn’t appear that one sex is more susceptible to asthma, and although some studies suggest that Siamese cats may be predisposed to asthma, this has not been definitively proven.

Clinical Signs of Feline Asthma

Cats suffering from asthma may show signs of:

• difficulty breathing

• wheezing

• rapid breathing

• coughing or hacking

• open-mouthed breathing

• vomiting

These signs can vary in intensity, ranging from acute respiratory crises to chronic, low-grade coughing, elevated respiratory rate, or increased respiratory effort. These signs may happen spontaneously or they may be elicited by pressing lightly on the cat’s throat area. During an asthma attack, many cats hunch their body close to the ground and extend their necks forward in a characteristic posture

Diagnosis of Feline Asthma

There is no single, specific test that can definitively diagnose feline asthma. Instead, veterinarians rely on information gathering and testing to arrive at a diagnosis. If a veterinarian suspects your cat may have asthma, he or she will take into account the cat’s health history as well as the results of imaging studies, microscopic evaluation of the cells in the cat’s airway secretions (cytology), and in some cases, blood and allergy testing.

When it comes to diagnosing feline asthma, a picture is worth a thousand words, so veterinarians employ radiographs (X-rays), computed tomography (CT), and bronchoscopy to see inside a cat’s lungs and evaluate their condition. In cats with asthma, radiographs often – but not always – reveal a characteristic bright branching pattern along the airways that is created by the accumulation of inflammatory cells. Air trapped in the constricted airways may also cause the lungs to become overinflated and appear larger than normal in a radiograph. CT, which uses X-rays to generate three-dimensional reconstructions of the body, may also be useful in diagnosing asthma and distinguishing this condition from other causes of airway disease in cats, but this application of CT is still somewhat experimental.

Bronchoscopy is a technique in which a flexible camera (a bronchoscope) is passed through the mouth and down into the airways of the lungs. This technique, which requires either heavy sedation or general anesthesia, can be used to visualize the inside of the airways and to collect samples of cells that line the airways. Cats with asthma often have distinctive changes in the appearance of the lining of their airways, although some of these changes may also be seen with other respiratory diseases of cats. Analysis of cells from the airways of cats with asthma may reveal the presence of high numbers of inflammatory cells, although these cells may also be found in cats suffering from other respiratory diseases.

When diagnosing feline asthma, it’s crucial to rule out other conditions that can cause similar signs and give similar test results. Chronic bronchitis, infestation with lungworms, migration of other parasites into the lungs, as well as other infectious diseases that result in pneumonia can all result in signs and test results similar to those found in a case of feline asthma. Drugs used to treat these other conditions may not be appropriate for a cat with asthma, and may do more harm than good.

Treatment of Feline Asthma

To treat feline asthma, veterinarians will usually prescribe corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the lungs, with or without bronchodilators to dilate the airways. Both of these types of drugs come in oral, inhaled, and injectable forms. Although corticosteroids may be used alone, bronchodilators are usually not used on their own as they don’t treat the airway inflammation that brings on asthma.

Other drugs and treatments for feline asthma have not yet been conclusively proven to work. Experimental therapies, including desensitization to specific allergens (like allergy shots in people), the use of omega-3 fatty acids, and drugs intended to disrupt the metabolic pathways that lead to inflammation show some promise for treating feline asthma, but further research is necessary to refine them and prove their safety and effectiveness. Other approaches are sometimes recommended because they are beneficial in human asthma patients, including purifying indoor air and avoiding allergens, but they have not been rigorously tested or proven to work in feline asthma patients.

Prognosis of Feline Asthma

Feline asthma is often a progressive condition that fails to improve significantly over time, and affected cats may experience occasional asthmatic flare-ups that vary in intensity from mild to life threatening. Although cats can never be truly “cured” of asthma, by carefully monitoring their respiratory effort, keeping an eye out for coughing, and intervening with medication when they need help, owners can help their asthmatic cats live happily for years.

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Cat Health

Cat Vomiting, Diarrhea, Bloody Stool - Irritable Bowel Disease in Cats

Overview and Risk

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition that results when your cat’s immune system turns against the lining of their gastrointestinal (GI) tract, resulting in impaired absorption of nutrients and the ability to digest food properly. This wreaks havoc on your cat’s entire GI tract resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. IBD is one of the most common causes of persistent vomiting and diarrhea in cats. Unfortunately, the cause of this debilitating disease is unknown. It is seen most often is a problem in middle-aged or older cats though younger cats may be affected as well.

Symptoms

Any cat owner knows that vomiting and diarrhea occasionally happen. After all, what fun would owning a cat be without a few hairballs? With IBD, however, the vomiting and/or diarrhea become chronic, occurring regularly rather than occasionally. Cats with IBD don’t necessarily act sick, other than displaying GI symptoms.

If your pet has IBD, you may notice the following:

• Diarrhea

• Blood or mucus in stool

• Black, tarry stool (melena)

• Gas

• Straining to defecate

• Weight loss

• Increased or decreased appetite

• Lethargy

• Vomiting

• Accidents outside the litter pan

Diagnosis

Diagnosing IBD begins with a thorough physical examination and tests to rule out other possible causes of the diarrhea and/or vomiting. These tests may include the following:

• Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver, and pancreatic function as well as sugar levels

• A complete blood count (CBC) to assess for infection, anemia, and other problems

• Electrolyte tests to ensure your cat is neither dehydrated nor suffering from an electrolyte imbalance

• X-rays of the abdomen to rule out GI obstruction, foreign body or masses

• An ultrasound to evaluate the integrity of your cat’s digestive tract, pancreas, and other organs

• Specific tests to rule out viral infections such as feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus

• Fecal tests to identify potential fecal parasites

• Special fecal tests, such as cultures and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing

• Intestinal biopsy using endoscopy, laparoscopy, or surgery to allow definitive diagnosis

Treatment

Upon diagnosing IBD in your cat, your veterinarian may recommend medications that will treat your pet's symptoms. These may include:

• Dietary modification to decrease antigenic stimulation of the GI tract

• Deworming to treat undetected intestinal parasite

• Antibiotics to treat overgrowth of bacteria

• Corticosteroids to minimize inflammation

• Others – probiotics, vitamin B12, antiemetic’s, additional medication to suppress the immune system

When treating IBD, it is very important to administer all medications prescribed by your veterinarian, as well as to follow any dietary guidelines he or she suggests.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there are no preventive measures that will protect your cat from inflammatory bowel disease.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

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Cat Health

4 Rainy Season Dangers You Might Not Know Of

Each year, certain parts of North America are bombarded with rain. While this may be good for the garden, high rainfall can potentially pose some real threats to your dog.

1. Mushrooms

During the rainy season, mushrooms may pop up in your yard with more frequency. There are thousands of species of mushrooms, but thankfully only about 100 are poisonous. That said, mushroom identification is very difficult, so it's hard to tell which are poisonous versus which are benign. As a result, whenever you see mushrooms growing in your yard, make sure to remove them immediately and throw them away to prevent accidental ingestion by your dog. If your dog does get into a mushroom, contact your veterinarian immediately about inducing vomiting to get any potential toxin out.

Certain types of mushrooms may cause organ injury including:

• Gastrointestinal injury (signs include drooling, not eating, vomiting, diarrhea)

• Liver linjury (signs include vomiting, black tarry stool, yellow skin)

• Kidney injury (signs include abnormal urination and thirst)

• Cardiovascular injury (signs include a very slow or rapid heart rate)

• Neurologic injury (signs include hallucinations, tremors, seizures)

When in doubt, get to your veterinarian immediately as it's easier - and less expensive - to treat early on versus once clinical signs have developed.

2. Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis, a bacteria-like spirochete, is carried naturally by wildlife, like rodents and raccoons. In high rainfall situations, it’s prevalent in the environment. In dogs that have exposure to water sources, contaminated by wildlife urine (puddles, streams, ponds, etc.), transmission can occur. Canine leptospirosis can result in liver injury and acute kidney injury.

Signs of leptospirosis include:

• Vomiting

• Not eating

• Malaise

• Yellow skin

• Excessive thirst

• Urination

As leptospirosis can accidentally be transmitted to humans, it's important to talk to your veterinarian about prevention, including vaccines.

3. Mosquitoes

While mosquitoes may seem like just a pesky insect to you, they can be life-threatening to your dog. That's because mosquitoes can carry Dirofilaria, which transmits heartworm infection to your dog. Thankfully, there is a very effective preventative in either a topical or oral form. When in doubt, use year-round control to prevent problems from mosquitoes. If your dog has thin fur or skin and is more predisposed to getting bitten, use Skin So Soft or a topical insect repellent that repels mosquitoes. Talk to your veterinarian to be safe before applying anything.

Click here to learn more about heartworm disease in dogs.

4. Toads and frogs

Depending on where you live in the United States, certain types of toads - specifically the Bufo marinus or Bufo alvarius - can be poisonous to dogs. In fact, a dog drinking water from an outside dog bowl, that had a poisonous toad sitting in it, can result in clinical signs of:

• drooling

• panting

• walking drunk

• a racing heart rate

• a very slow heart rate

• even seizures

Frogs are not toxic, but can cause gastrointestinal upset when ingested.

To be safe, supervise your dog outside to prevent accidental ingestion of dangers like toads and frogs. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 if you think your dog is ill or could have ingested something poisonous.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

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dog health

Flatulence in Dogs

Flatulence occurs when gas builds up in your dog’s intestinal tract and colon. This is commonly caused by the dog eating something new – either a change in diet, or a food that they weren’t meant to eat. If your dog is eating food they can’t digest like dairy, soybeans, peas, or foods high in fat, they can experience chronic flatulence. Dog farts are typically not concerning, but if your dog’s gas becomes unbearable it may be time to make a change.

What Are Some Causes of Flatulence in Dogs?

Hard-to-digest foods like table scraps or spicy foods can give your dog an upset stomach, which can result in excessive gas or excessively smelly gas. Feeding them food or snacks with low-quality ingredients, fillers, or artificial preservatives can also give your dog gas.

If your dog is fed a high-quality diet and still has excessive gas, your veterinarian can test to see if they have poor digestion. They can also try to identify an intolerance or allergy your dog may have by eliminating ingredients from their diet and reintroducing them again.

Dogs who eat quickly will swallow more air while eating, which also leads to more flatulence.

Which Dogs Are Most at Risk?

If your dog is overweight, obese, or sedentary they are at a higher risk for chronic flatulence, regardless of diet. Short-nosed breeds like Pugs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, and Lhasa Apsos tend to swallow a lot of air when they eat or drink, which causes excessive farting.

Could Flatulence Be a Symptom of Another Health Issue?

Once you’ve ruled out a food intolerance or digestive issue as the cause of your dog’s flatulence, you may need to visit your vet to identify a more serious cause. Persistent dog farts may be a side effect of the following health issues:

• Inflammation of the large intestine or colon (canine colitis)

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Stomach infection

• Intestinal parasites such as worms

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Inflammation of the pancreas

• Cancer

What Can I Do to Reduce My Dog’s Flatulence?

A healthy and consistent diet is the best way to reduce your dog’s farts.

You can also try the following:

• Don’t give your dog table scraps. Dogs can’t easily digest scraps, including foods high in fats and sugars, which can cause bloating and discomfort.

• Don’t give your dog dairy products. Most dogs are lactose intolerant, which means that milk, cream, or cheese can upset their stomachs.

• Keep your dog out of the trash in your home and outside. Practice the command “leave it” when taking your curious dog on walks.

• Avoid giving your dog fart-inducing foods. Steamed vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts can be healthy for your dog, but also produce more gas.

• Slow down your speed-eater. Divide your dog’s food into smaller portions throughout the day or try a slow-feeding dish to make them slow down.

• Keep your dog active. Make sure they get plenty of exercise and playtime.

• Change your dog’s diet. If you switch your dog to a new food, gradually introduce the food with their current kibble over the course of a week or two.

If those tips don’t work, you may want to feed your dog a mix of dry and wet foods. Make sure they are getting the right amount of protein. You generally want to give your dog more protein than carbohydrates, but too much red meat can also be the cause of especially stinky farts. Introducing a probiotic diet or supplement will aid in healthy digestion. Ask your veterinarian first if you’re considering giving your dog over-the-counter anti-gas medication.

What Are Some General Tips for Choosing a Healthy Dog Food?

Foods with low-quality ingredients can cause gas in dogs, so make sure to look at the ingredients that are used in your dog’s food. Avoid feeding your dog food that contains fermentable fibers such as chicory, inulin, pectins, psyllium, plant gums, oats, barley, beet pulp, fruit, or legumes. High-quality foods will consist of the following:

• One or more animal-based protein sources at the top of the ingredient list

• The words “highly digestible” or “low residue” on the label

• Minimal to no chemical preservatives

When Is It Time to See the Vet?

If your dog still has excessive gas after you’ve changed their diet, it may be time to visit your vet. Not only is your dog’s gas uncomfortable for you, but flatulence can also cause your dog physical discomfort. If your dog has a medical problem or food sensitivity, their gas may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Weight loss

• Change in appetite

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

Schedule a visit to your veterinarian if your dog shows any of those symptoms.

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