Feline Distemper

You love your cats and would probably do anything to help them once they get sick. But by far the best
thing you can do for your pet is to protect them against disease before they ever get sick. One of the
extremely important things to vaccinate cats against is feline distemper or Panleukopenia.

Feline distemper is a deadly virus which is very similar in structure to the virus which causes Parvo
in canines. It is transmitted through feces and urine for the first 6 weeks after infection. The virus
is extremely contagious and cats can be infected through water and food bowls, clothing, bedding material,
human hands and litter boxes which have been contaminated.

Symptoms of Feline Distemper

Once symptoms of feline distemper appear, your cat is most likely already severely sick. Symptoms appear
earlier in young cats and kittens, but older cats may seem completely normal until they become severely
ill all of a sudden. Serious symptoms include:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Severe dehydration-dehydration in cats can be detected when cats hang their heads over water bowls as if they desperately want to drink, but do not.

The resulting dehydration caused by feline distemper can lead to hypothermia and cats may become weak
and comatose.

Contact Us

Vaccinating your pets can keep this horrifying disease at bay. The second you take a new family member
home, contact your local veterinarian and make an appointment to get the necessary shots. To find out
more about feline distemper, contact your Austin Veterinary Clinic today.