Feline Distemper Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Feline distemper, also known as feline panleukopenia, is a very infectious viral disease that is easily avoided with early vaccination. Feline distemper virus (FDV) is found in all body secretions-the urine, feces, vomit and saliva of an infected cat. Because it is so contagious, distemper epidemics are common. Tragically, the death rate among infected, unvaccinated kittens is over 90%. And animals who manage to recover from distemper can shed the virus for months, so it's better to prevent the spread of the virus before it begins.

Where does FDV come from? Fleas and flies may play a role in transmitting the disease. The infection spreads through inhalation or ingestion of infective material. Once established in the body, FDV attacks all rapidly dividing cells, such as the mucous membrane of the intestine, the bone marrow, and the cells that line the surfaces of the body.

What's the course of the disease? Feline distemper has an incubation (symptomless) period of two to nine days, after which a high fever develops. Some cats may die at this early stage. If they survive, other signs of the disease are depression; vomiting of clear, and later, yellow fluid; anorexia; diarrhea; and severe dehydration. Microscopically, there is massive destruction of the FDV-infected cat's white blood cells, or leukopenia. It's interesting to note that symptoms of feline distemper are actually caused by the secondary infection that results from the destruction of white cells, not by the virus itself. The symptoms continue for about a week if the cat survives. But feline distemper has a high mortality rate, particularly in kittens, who may die within one to two days.

How is feline distemper diagnosed? Because the signs and symptoms of feline distemper resemble those of other diseases and disorders, including feline leukemia, toxoplasmosis, poisonings, and intestinal obstruction, proper diagnosis is based on blood tests that show leukopenia as well as lab tests of the affected tissues.

What's the treatment for feline distemper? Treatment consists of supportive care and the prevention of secondary bacterial infection. Conventional veterinarians generally recommend small, frequent forced feedings of raw egg yolks or cooked eggs, milk, strained baby foods, boiled chicken, water, and chicken broth. Blood transfusions, IV fluids, and antibiotics can help if initiated early enough in the course of the disease. Holistic veterinarian Dr. Richard Pitcairn suggests fasting on liquids and high doses of vitamin C. Homeopathic remedies can be used if there is a lot of vomiting. When the cat improves, she can eat solid food along with vitamin supplements. For several days after recovery, feeding raw beef liver, minimizing stress, and keeping the cat warm will help rebuild her health.

How do you prevent feline distemper? The only way to guard against feline distemper is through vaccination, which should first be given at six to nine weeks of age, and the last after twelve weeks, as part of the kitten series. Thereafter, periodic boosters are advised. Consult your vet about the frequency of boosters.

Once the disease has passed, to avoid recontamination by the virus you need to disinfect contaminated areas and wash food and water bowls along with any other contaminated items, using one cup of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water.

The good news is that feline distemper virus is not zoonotic, i.e., it cannot be transmitted to dogs or humans.