Cats Cat Health & Wellness Cat Diseases & Disorders

Feline Panleukopenia: Treatment and Prevention

Kitten

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Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks a cat's immune system and causes symptoms like vomiting, dehydration, and depression. Treatment and prognosis depend heavily on the severity of the cat's disease but are usually focused on managing symptoms. Fortunately, vaccines are incredibly effective and the surest way to prevent the otherwise likely fatal virus. Read on to learn the symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention of feline panleukopenia.

What Is Feline Panleukopenia?

Feline panleukopenia is a viral disease that causes a decrease in a cat's white blood cell count in bone marrow, intestine, and skin and diminishes the ability to fight infection. It's highly contagious and can be fatal if untreated. The virus can survive for up to one year in various environments and is resistant to many disinfectants.

Also known as feline distemper, panleukopenia is caused by feline parvovirus. However, this disease is unrelated to parvo in dogs and canine distemper.

Symptoms of Feline Panleukopenia

Feline panleukopenia can cause a wide range of symptoms, many of which are shared by other illnesses. If you suspect your cat is sick or exhibiting abnormal behavior, contact your veterinarian.

Symptoms of lethargy and depression can be challenging to detect in cats, as some cats' normal behavior includes a lot of sleeping. You may notice your otherwise social or playful cat loses interest in toys or avoids contact with humans. Feline panleukopenia can also cause diarrhea and vomiting, as the virus affects the intestine. Reluctance to drink water and subsequent dehydration is also a telltale sign. A fever may come and go throughout your cat's illness but will suddenly plummet shortly before death.

What Causes Feline Panleukopenia?

Feline panleukopenia can occur when cats or kittens are exposed to feline parvovirus. The virus can be spread through direct contact with infected cats and indirectly by contact with contaminated items. Kittens and unvaccinated cats are most susceptible to FPV, and outbreaks are more common in shelters, urban stray environments, and farms.

Excretions

Cats can develop feline panleukopenia when they come into contact with contaminated feces, vomit, nasal discharge, and other bodily fluids. Direct contact with excretions isn't necessary for transmission. A human with the virus on their hands can infect a cat through touch.

Other Animals 

Feline panleukopenia can be spread between cats exposed to each other's infected bodily excretions. Infected insects like fleas are also able to transmit the virus.

Infected Objects 

Objects such as bedding, toys, clothing, and cages, can transmit the virus if it's living on their surfaces. The feline panleukopenia virus is highly resistant to disinfectants, making it difficult to stop its spread.

Fetal Exposure 

Pregnant cats can pass feline panleukopenia to their offspring, and their kittens may be stillborn or suffer other developmental abnormalities. Some kittens infected in the later stage of pregnancy or neonatal phase can survive, but the virus may affect their brain development. This may cause cerebellar hypoplasia, which impacts a cat's motor control.

Fortunately, if a vaccinated cat comes into contact with the virus while pregnant, the kittens will not become infected.

How Vets Diagnose Panleukopenia in Cats

Veterinarians diagnose feline panleukopenia based on the cat's medical history, exposure, symptoms, and laboratory tests. After the physical examination, the vet will likely conduct a blood analysis to measure your cat's white blood cell count. Stool testing is an option, but it will often present a false negative as this test is only accurate for a short period after infection.

How to Treat Feline Panleukopenia

There is no cure for feline panleukopenia, so treatment is directed at managing symptoms. Hospitalization is usually required, and intensive intravenous fluid therapy is necessary to stave off dehydration. Your veterinarian will likely prescribe anti-diuretic and anti-nausea medications. Antibiotics will not treat the virus, but the vet may administer them to treat secondary bacterial infections. In severe cases, blood transfusions may be necessary.

Prognosis for Cats With Panleukopenia

The prognosis for cats with feline panleukopenia is guarded but significantly better if the cat is otherwise healthy and receives swift treatment. If a cat with the disease survives for more than five days, their prognosis improves significantly. Cats with severe panleukopenia that have received in-hospital treatment have a 20 to 51 percent chance of survival, while an untreated cat has a 10% chance. Sadly, infected kittens have a poor chance of recovery.

How to Prevent Panleukopenia

Vaccination against feline panleukopenia is the best prevention method. The vaccine is very effective and is part of routine vaccinations given to domestic cats, typically starting at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Feline panleukopenia is a component of the FVRCP vaccine combination, which also protects cats against feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus. Visit your veterinarian to discuss the best vaccination plan for your cat.

Besides vaccination, the only way to prevent transmission of feline panleukopenia is to keep healthy cats away from infected cats and contaminated items. Keeping your cat indoors will greatly reduce the risk of them coming into contact with unknown cats who may carry diseases.

If you have a cat with feline panleukopenia, you can prevent the spread to other cats:

  • Isolate the infected cat from other cats in the home
  • Dispose of any potentially contaminated materials
  • Closely monitor all cats in the home

Because the virus is incredibly contagious, there is no guarantee that the spread will be contained even if preventative measures are taken. After symptoms resolve, infected cats can still spread the virus for several weeks. Since feline panleukopenia can survive on surfaces for long periods, talk to your vet about taking precautions before introducing a new or unvaccinated cat into your home.

FAQ
  • Can humans get FPV?

    No, humans cannot get FPV, but they can transmit it through excrement they may be carrying on their hands on clothing.

  • If my pregnant cat has FPV, will the kittens be born with it?

    If the pregnant cat has been vaccinated for FPV, the kittens won't be affected. If the cat hasn't been vaccinated, the kittens will be born with FPV as well as possible health complications.

  • What should I do if my cat has been exposed to FPV?

    If your cat has been exposed to FPV, immediately isolate it from other cats and visit your vet.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.
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  1. Feline panleukopenia. American Veterinary Medical Association

  2. Sherding, Robert G. Intestinal Viruses. Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice (Third Edition), chapter 14, p. 158-167, Saunders. doi:2006.10.1016/B0-72-160422-6/50016-4.

  3. Feline Panleukopenia. Merck Veterinary Manual.