by: Richard Delgado



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In this issue:



1) "What You Should Know About Cat Distemper (Feline Panleukopenia)"



2) "All About Vaccinating Your Pets"



3) "Tell Us What You Think!"





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1) "What You Should Know About Cat Distemper (Feline Panleukopenia)"



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None of us likes to think about the possibility of our beloved pets

getting sick, but it's something we need to keep in mind and do our

best to prevent.



I was recently reminded of that when I tried to adopt two kittens. I

picked out two adorable 9-week-old kittens, but they both came down

with Feline Panleukopenia (FP), also known as cat or feline distemper.

Even though they were already vaccinated against the disease, they had

to be put down. Needless to say, I was very distraught.



Because of that unfortunate event, I wanted to learn more about the

disease and share that information with you.



Feline Panleukopenia (FP) is a highly contagious virus that is very

deadly to kittens. A very high percentage of kittens less than 16

weeks of age that catch the disease will die from it. On the other

hand, an adult cat may have FP but show no symptoms.



"Panleukopenia" means a reduction of white blood cells. The word

refers to how the virus blocks the creation of the white blood cells

whose function is to fight infections. The virus first attacks the

cat's lymph nodes, then goes onto the bone marrow, where it stops

white blood cell production. When it reaches the intestine, it will

attack those cells, which will lead to diarrhea and dehydration. This

can lead to secondary bacterial infections and other complications.

The virus can also affect the nervous system by attacking the cells of

the brain.



Symptoms of FP include: diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and

thirst, lethargy and depression, lack of grooming, fever, loss of skin

elasticity, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are similar to those

associated with other ailments, so a visit to the vet as quickly as

possible is a must.



The vet can diagnose FP with by checking the white blood cell count of

the cat, which will be very low, and by the discovery of antibodies to

the virus in the cat's blood.



Since the virus is so prevalent in the environment, some cats may have

been exposed to the virus and survived because they were able to

combat it with their natural immunity. And although they may show no

signs of having the disease, they may still spread the virus. It can

be transmitted from cat to cat and also from human to cat.



Cats can give each other the virus through their bodily fluids and

feces. They can transmit it through mutual grooming, and by sharing

water and food bowls, bedding and litter boxes. They can also get the

virus from fleas. Unfortunately, humans can also transmit the disease

to our cats by handling them, and also through our clothing and shoes.



This particular virus (which is not related to canine distemper), is

very stable and hardy. It can survive in room temperature for many

months and even years.



It is possible for adult cats to be treated for, and recover from this

disease, but as I said before, it is extremely deadly to kittens. A

pregnant cat that is exposed to FP is likely to give birth to kittens

with severe brain damage.



Cats can be treated to lessen the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea,

and be given antibiotics to help prevent infections. There is no way

to kill the virus. The treatment helps the cat regain its strength so

that its own immune system can fight off the disease.



An important part of a cat's recovery is your support and care. Give

it lots of affection and attention. Keep it in a clean, warm, dry,

draft-free area. I believe our animal companions have emotions and

will need and appreciate the extra love you give them during times of

illness.



Again, it is essential that you catch the disease as early as possible

to start treatment. Unlike kittens, adult cats have a good chance for

recovery if the disease is caught in its early stages.



An established way to prevent FP is to vaccinate kittens after eight

weeks of age. Although kittens may have a natural immunity to FP if

the antibodies are transferred from mom cat to kitten, that immunity

is only temporary and will not last beyond 12 weeks of age. Vaccines

for kittens younger than 8 weeks is not recommended.



Vaccinations for FP are usually given in combination with two other

vaccines - one for feline viral rhinotracheitis, and the other for

feline calicivirus. (All three together are abbreviated as FVRCP.)

Vets will give kittens a series of follow-up shots over several weeks.

Adult cats usually receive additional vaccines every one to three

years, depending on the type of vaccine. Be sure to consult your

veterinarian about vaccinating your kitten or adult cat to ensure the

best course of action.



If you've had an outbreak of FP in your household, you will have to

thoroughly disinfect the items that the infected cat used and any

areas it had contact with. In fact, it's best if you dispose of any

food and water bowls and litter boxes that the cat used. The FP virus

is tough to kill and currently, the only disinfectant that is believed

to be effective is a water and bleach solution of three parts water to

one part bleach (3:1).



Clean the contacted areas with soap and water, then let dry. Then

spray the areas with the bleach/water solution and let that dry.



The safest course of action to keep any unexposed cats away from those

areas the infected came into contact with for at least a month. Also,

do your best to keep a clean, sanitary environment for your pets.



Keep in mind that places such as animal shelters, pet stores, and

kennels where any number of cats live together can be a source for the

virus. Make sure to have new cats tested and vaccinated before

exposing them to cats that have already been vaccinated.



Of course it's not possible to be 100 percent safe when it comes to

this tough virus, but being aware of its contagious nature and taking

precautions will go a long way in keeping your cats healthy and happy.



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2) "All About Vaccinating Your Pets"



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In our quest to keep our pets safe from deadly diseases, we routinely

deliver them to our veterinarians for vaccinations every year or every

three years. Most of us probably think nothing of it, assuming

everything that is done is necessary and safe for our pets.



Opposition to vaccines in general has existed since its discovery and

use, and in the last few years, more and more vets and pet owners have

raised concerns about pet vaccinations and how necessary they are.

Some even question their safety, claiming they might actually cause

illnesses.



I wanted to look into this a bit and present information about this

controversial topic to keep you up-to-date. For this article, I will

deal with vaccination information regarding dogs and cats.



First of all, it's nothing new or unusual to us to think of vaccines

as part of pet ownership. When you adopt a pet, the routine

information given to you is that you should take your new pet to a vet

for a full checkup and for their shots. Most of us do that without a

second thought.



It's most likely that your vet will examine your pet and give it

vaccination shots for diseases such as rabies and distemper. Puppies

and kittens are given shots when they are several weeks old and then

get "booster" or additional follow up shots later on. Even after our

pets reach adulthood, we take them to the vet to get shots annually or

every three years.



The word vaccine is from "vacca," or "cow" in Latin. Edward Jenner of

England is credited with successfully using the cowpox virus to

immunize people against smallpox in 1796, a feared deadly disease

during that age. Vaccines are actually very small doses of the

diseases in question, which is supposed to force the recipient's

natural immune system to kick in and fight off the viruses, thus

making them stronger and better able to fight off diseases if they are

exposed to them in the future. It may even make them immune to the

disease altogether.



-VACCINES FOR DOGS-

The vaccinations available for dogs that are considered "core" include

canine rabies virus, canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus

(CDV), and canine adinovirus-2 (CAV-2).



The rabies vaccination is recommended for dogs when they are about 16

weeks of age. They should receive a "booster" shot after 1 year, and

then every three years after that with a vaccine that has been

approved for administration every three years. Adult dogs with an

unknown history should get one shot of rabies vaccination, then

another after 1 year, then every three years after that.



For the parvovirus, distemper, and adinovirus-2 vaccines, it is

recommended that puppies receive the shots at  6 to 8 weeks of age,

again at 9 to 11 weeks of age, and one more at 12 to 16 weeks of age.

For dogs older than 16 weeks of age, one dose of these vaccines, as

well as a "booster" or follow-up shots are recommended at 1 year.

After that, shots should be administered every 3 years.



The vaccines that are considered "non-core" include canine

parainfluenza virus (CPiV) and bordetella bronchiseptica (both

connected with kennel cough), distemper-measles combination vaccine,

leptospira, and borrelia burgdorferi. These vaccines are optional and

you should consider the pet's risk of exposure due to geography and

lifestyle when deciding whether or not to administer the shots.



Both the parainfluenza and bordetella bronchiseptica vaccinations

should be given if you are going to board your dog in a kennel. In

fact, most boarding facilities will require you to do so. The

vaccination can be given within 6 months of the anticipated boarding

date, but 1 week prior to boarding for the best protection.



The distemper-measles combination vaccine is usually administered to

pups 4 to 12 weeks of age. A booster is given about 2 to 4 weeks

later. This vaccine is not used in dogs older than 12 weeks of age and

only in environments where distemper-measles is a known problem.



The borrelia burgdorferi or Lyme borreliosis vaccine should be

administered at 9 or 12 weeks of age, then again 2 to 4 weeks later.

Since risk of exposure to lyme disease in California is considered to

be extremely low, this vaccine is probably not one that we would

consider here.



The leptospira vaccine should be considered for dogs that have

exposure to wildlife or livestock. One dose of the vaccine is given in

dogs 12 weeks of age or older, then again 2 to 4 weeks later. This

vaccination is not recommended for dogs not exposed to wildlife or

livestock because there is a high incidence of negative reactions to

this vaccine. Puppies younger than 12 weeks of age and smaller breed

dogs have the highest incidence of negative reactions, so extreme care

and consideration should be taken when dealing with this vaccine.



Other vaccines that are available on the market include canine

coronavirus, giardia spp., canine adenovirus-1, and rattlesnake

envenomation. These are generally not recommended because there is

either minimal evidence of their effectiveness, and/or there is a high

incidence of negative reactions.



-VACCINES FOR CATS-

The "core" vaccinations available for cats include feline rabies

virus, feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV), and

feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1).



Kittens 12 to16 weeks of age should receive their first feline rabies

vaccination. Adult cats with an unknown  history should get one dose

of the vaccination. Like the canine rabies vaccination, depending on

the type of  vaccine, boosters can be given at 1 or 3 years.



The feline viral rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus 1), feline calicivirus

and feline panleukopenia virus (distemper)  vaccines are usually given

in combination (called FVRCP) to kittens at 6 to 8 weeks, then at 9 to

11 weeks, and a third dose at 12 to 16 weeks of age. After that, a

booster is given at one year, and then every three years after that.

The panleukopenia vaccine should not be given to pregnant cats.



The optional or "non-core" vaccines for cats include feline leukemia

virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV, sometimes called

feline AIDS virus), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), chlamydophila

felis, bordetella bronchiseptica, and giardia spp.



The feline leukemia virus vaccine is reasonably effective and is

recommended for outdoor cats that have direct contact with other cats.

Keep in mind, however, that kittens are the most susceptible to this

disease and vaccination is recommended for kittens younger than 16

weeks of age. After an initial dose, another is given after a 2 to 4

week interval. After that, a booster is given every year, or every

three years. Vaccination is not recommended for older cats that have

little risk of exposure.



The feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine is controversial and there

are doubts about its ability to protect cats against all strains of

FIV. It is not recommended for indoor cats and you should discuss

administering this vaccine with your vet.



The feline infectious peritonitis vaccine is another controversial

vaccine because of questions about its efficacy and duration. This

vaccine should be considered for cats around 16 weeks of age that will

be entering an environment where FIP is a known problem.



The feline chlamydophila felis vaccine also should only be considered

for cats that will be introduced into an environment where infection

is a known problem. This vaccine's negative points include short

duration of protection and incomplete protection.



The feline bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine is not recommended as

routine, only for younger cats that are at risk for exposure in an

environment with multiple cats. This disease usually hits young

kittens most often.



As with the canine giardia vaccine, the feline giardia vaccine can

cause negative reactions, such as sarcoma (cancer), and is not

recommended.



-VACCINATION CONTROVERSY-

Although vaccines are the conventional and accepted way to prevent

diseases in us as well as our pets since its discovery, there is an

increasing number of vocal critics of vaccinations.



Some vets and pet owners have claimed that vaccines are the source of

immediate negative side effects as well as long-term health issues. A

number of illnesses are connected to vaccinations, such as asthma,

allergies, anemia, digestive problems, cancer, diabetes, arthritis,

autoimmune disorders, organ failure, seizures, neurological disorders,

and tumors.



There is evidence of sarcoma (cancerous tumors) at the site of

injections. All these frequent shots may also be compromising our

pets' health by overloading their immune systems.



Not only do people object to these regular vaccinations as a source of

a variety of problems, but some also claim that some vaccinations are

unnecessary because of the rarity of some of the disease in question.

There are vets who now offer tests to determine the level of

antibodies (proteins that in immune system that identify and fight off

viruses and bacteria) in animals so that they can decide on the needed

vaccinations for  individual pets.



-CONSIDER EACH PET INDIVIDUALLY-

In the end, I believe it's best to educate yourself as much as

possible about all the vaccines out there, those being given to your

pets, and to talk to your veterinarian about the best course of action

for your pet.



Vaccinations have proven to be effective over many years of use and I

think it's important to prevent diseases, but keep in mind that each

pet is unique and it's best to determine with your vet the best course

of  action. A barn cat's vaccination needs will differ greatly from

the pampered lone kitty living in a condo. The  working sheep herding

dog will probably need additional vaccines compared to the lap dog

that goes outside only for walks and potty breaks.



Of course, vaccinations are not 100 percent effective all the time, as

I found out with the kittens I tried to adopt. They had been

vaccinated, but were not protected from the distemper virus.



You don't want to vaccinate when it's not necessary and you should

keep close tabs on what your pet is receiving and how often to ensure

maximum benefit and safety. When combination shots are given, ask what

is contained in the shots and get an explanation of each component.

When vaccination shots are given, talk to your vet about where the

shots are administered and why. After vaccinations, observe your pet

to catch any signs of negative side effects.



I've tried to give an overview of a very large topic here, and I'm

sure there are many facets to this story that I haven't touched upon,

so be sure to do some additional fact-gathering about vaccinations.

It's your pet's health at stake, so don't be afraid to ask questions

and give input on what might be best for our furry friends!





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3) "Tell Us What You Think!"



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We'd love to hear what you think of this issue! This is

just one issue, with much more important information

coming in future months.



Please send your comments, questions, and ideas for

upcoming issues to us at:



rdelgado@thewoofpack.com



Your feedback matters to us!





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Copyright 2007 by The Woof Pack.

All rights reserved.



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