ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Veterinarians in Roanoke, including Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Services of Roanoke, say they are seeing several cases of feline panleukopenia right now, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease in cats caused by the feline panleukopenia virus, also called feline parvovirus.
Signs of feline panleukopenia
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, most cats with FPV infection show no signs at all and appear normal. Cats that do become ill — most often those younger than one year old — may show the following:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Depression or lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration, which may appear as sunken eyes or dry gums
- Painful belly
Which cats are at risk
Because FPV is widespread in the environment, nearly all cats and kittens are exposed to it at some point in their lives. Cats of any age can contract the virus, but young kittens, sick cats, and unvaccinated cats are most likely to become ill.
Vaccines
According to Dr. Maureen Noftsinger with Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Services of Roanoke, panleukopenia is easily prevented by vaccination.
“Kittens will start their vaccines between 6 and 8 weeks of age and continue their vaccines every 3-4 weeks until they are fully protected at 4 months of age. The vaccine is highly effective in preventing Panleukopenia as well as other deadly viruses, says Dr. Noftsinger.
She adds that there are many places to get vaccines in this area…