Some very important vaccines consist of:
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus Panleukopenia
(FVRCP)
FVR: Rhinotracheitis
- Highly contagious severe upper respiratory infection (caused by a feline type 1, herpes virus).
- Most severe in young kittens and older cats and is one of the most serious upper respiratory diseases seen in the feline species.
- The virus is airborne and very contagious in susceptible animals.
Signs:
- Lethargy
- Sneezing and coughing
- Discharge from the nostrils and eyes
- High temperature
- Little to no appetite
- Dehydration and weight loss
Treatment:
- Hospitalization, intravenous fluids and intensive care to help them get over the infection.
C: Calicivirus
- Can cause a range of diseases, from mild infection to life-threatening pneumonia.
- Most cases show only evidence of problems in the mouth, nasal passages and the conjunctiva (mucus membranes) of the eyes.
- The disease is transmitted by direct contact with an infected cat or object (bowl, cage, blanket etc.).
- The virus can survive eight to ten days in the environment. Carrier cats can pass the virus to the environment for up to a year.
Signs:
- Loss of appetite
- Elevated temperature and lethargy
- Sneezing
- Oral and eye ulcers and discharge from the eyes
- May cause rapid death in young kittens and older cats
Treatment:
- Treatment is based on the individual case. Mostly just symptoms are treated.
- This is a lifelong virus that will come and go throughout the cat’s life.
P: Panleukopenia
(Also known as feline distemper and infectious feline enteritis, similar to parvovirus in dogs)
- This is a highly contagious disease with a high mortality rate.
- The disease is very resistant and may remain infectious in the environment for up to a year.
Signs:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- A blood count usually shows a lowered number of white blood cells, a fact which helps in diagnosing the infection
Treatment:
- Infected cats are usually hospitalized with intensive treatments such as intravenous fluids, antibiotics and supportive care.
- Mortality rate may reach 90% in young kittens under six months, and may approach 50% in older animals.
FELUK: Leukemia
- A disease that impairs the cat’s immune system and causes certain types of cancer.
- Is responsible for the majority of deaths in household cats.
- Usually seen between the ages of 1-6 years old.
- Can be transmitted to other cats through transfer of saliva or nasal secretions.
Signs:
- Pale gums
- Weight loss and/or loss of appetite
- Poor coat condition
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Breathing difficulty
Treatment:
- There is no cure for feline leukemia.
- Secondary infections can be treated as they appear.
Rabies
- A viral disease that can infect all warm-blooded animals including humans.
- Contracted by bite or scratch from an infected animal.
- Rabies has been recognized and described since 2300 BC.
- Incubation period between a bite from an infected animal and the appearance of symptoms can vary from ten days to one year or longer.
- Death usually occurs within ten days from the first signs.
- Rabies can only be diagnosed by direct examinations of the brain.
- It is not possible to diagnose this disease in a living animal.
Signs:
- Following a bite or scratch from a rabid animal, the disease progresses in stages.
- First stage – marked change in temperament; quiet animals become agitated and can become aggressive, while extroverts become nervous or shy.
- Second stage – known as “furious rabies” – becomes increasingly nervous, irritable and vicious. Muscle spasms will often prevent swallowing and there is excessive drooling of saliva.
- Third Stage – known as “paralytic stage” – usually occurs after seven days. Ultimately the animal will become comatose and die.
Treatment:
- There is no treatment for Rabies.
- If an animal is suspected to have rabies, it has to be kept in isolation to prevent escape and injuring someone else.
- Your veterinarian is required by law to notify the animal disease regulatory authorities.
**Vaccines are very effective in preventing all of these diseases**
Written by CCR Julie
