Feline panleukopenia, also known as parvovirus or panleukopenia, is an acute, serious infectious disease that is particularly dangerous and even life-threatening for young, unvaccinated cats. Thanks to an effective vaccine, this disease can now be easily prevented.
Feline panleukopenia is caused by the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), which is very similar to the canine parvovirus (CPV). Cats can therefore also become infected with CPV. In young cats, the disease is severe, with mortality rates of up to 75%. Cats older than four months usually show mild to no symptoms. Both viruses are harmless to humans.
The virus is very resistant and can remain infectious in the environment for several months or even years. Only special disinfectants can kill the virus.
The virus is mostly excreted in feces and transmitted through direct contact between animals or indirectly via contaminated objects, other animals, or humans. The virus can also be passed on to kittens in the womb. The entry point is the cat's nose and throat. This is where the virus initially multiplies before spreading throughout the body via the bloodstream. To continue multiplying, the virus needs cells with a particularly high division rate, such as those found in the small intestine, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. The incubation period (the time from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms) is three to twelve days, although infected animals excrete the virus after just four days and can therefore infect other cats.
Depending on the severity and progression of the disease, the first symptoms may appear gradually or very suddenly. In young, unvaccinated animals, the first symptoms are often rather unspecific, such as apathy (= listlessness), loss of appetite, emaciation, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. The diarrhea, which can be severe, may become watery or bloody and lead to severe dehydration due to extreme fluid loss. Sudden death without recognizable symptoms is not uncommon. Due to the destruction of white blood cells and the associated weakening of the body's defenses, there is an increased risk of secondary bacterial infections.
Older animals usually show a milder course, but the weakened immune system can make them more susceptible to other diseases. Chronic diarrhea can develop as a result of the destruction of the intestinal mucosa in combination with possible secondary infections.
Kittens that have already been infected in the womb often show coordination and movement disorders in the form of a clumsy gait after birth. These neurological symptoms are due to a developmental disorder of the cerebellum and represent a special form of feline panleukopenia. If these animals survive the disease, the coordination disorder usually persists for life.
In addition to the clinical examination, the preliminary report is particularly important for the veterinarian. Age, vaccination status, origin, and the associated clinical symptoms provide them with important initial information about the possible diagnosis. Additional tests should always include a blood test and virus detection in the feces. Certain characteristic changes in blood values already provide clear indications of an FPV infection. For example, the white blood cell count is always significantly reduced, which is why the disease is also known as panleukopenia (meaning "lack of white blood cells"). Direct detection of the virus in the feces, which can be carried out in most veterinary practices using a rapid test, provides further reliable evidence of feline panleukopenia.
Since there is still no effective medication to kill the pathogen directly, the top priority should be to prevent or at least reduce the spread of the disease. Sick animals must therefore be separated from healthy animals immediately and treated under the strictest hygiene measures.
The aim of treatment is to stabilize the patient, with fluid replacement being the top priority. In addition, drugs to prevent vomiting and diarrhea and to treat any secondary infections are often used, including antibiotics. Special drugs are administered to protect the damaged intestinal mucosa.
The chances of recovery depend greatly on the course and severity of the disease, the age of the animal, its vaccination status, the presence of secondary infections, and, in particular, the type of treatment given to the sick animal. With intensive medical treatment as soon as possible and strict adherence to all hygiene measures, the survival rate can be increased to up to 90%. Without treatment, only about 10% of infected animals survive the infection.
The most effective protection against this serious disease is regular vaccination. Thanks to decades of vaccination, the disease has already been significantly reduced. However, it is strongly recommended to continue vaccinating, as the virus is still widespread worldwide and can survive in the environment for long periods of time. The Standing Vaccination Commission for Veterinary Medicine (StiKo Vet), a committee of veterinary experts, therefore recommends vaccination against panleukopenia as a "core component," which means that every cat should be protected against this disease at all times. Cats can be vaccinated from eight weeks of age. Three consecutive vaccinations at eight, twelve, and 16 weeks of age and another at 15 months of age are recommended as a complete basic immunization. Booster vaccinations are then necessary every three years. Combination vaccines are usually used. Your vet can send you a personalized vaccination schedule for your cat via petsXL, and you will automatically receive notifications when it is time to make another appointment.
Just like us humans, our pets may also require surgical or diagnostic procedures that cannot be performed on an awake animal. Most operations and some diagnostic procedures, such as endoscopies or dental treatment, require anesthesia (a medically induced state of sleep), which carries certain risks even in healthy animals and during routine procedures. We will explain what you need to bear in mind before and after such a procedure in order to minimize these risks and what complications can arise during anesthesia.
Lens dislocation, medically known as luxatio lentis, is an eye condition in which the lens becomes detached and displaced from its natural position. By obstructing the flow of aqueous humor, this condition can quickly lead to a dangerous increase in intraocular pressure. If not treated in time, it can result in blindness.
The weather is beautiful this weekend and you are going for a long ride on your horse. But right at the start of the first gallop, the horse suddenly becomes very stiff and starts sweating unusually heavily. It hardly wants to move and is pressing its back down. However, these signs seem too severe for simple muscle soreness, especially since you haven't done anything with the horse in the last few days. Avoid any further movement of the horse and always contact a veterinarian immediately in such cases, as the symptoms described above are very painful and may be the first signs of a cross-ties. As this muscle disease occurs frequently after horses have not been worked for one or more days with the same feed ration, it is also known as "holiday sickness" or "Monday morning disease." However, horses that are worked regularly can also fall ill. Young horses of heavy breeds are particularly at risk. This disease was greatly feared in the days when carriage and work horses were heavily used. Today, it only occurs sporadically, mostly in easy-to-feed horses with good nutritional status.
This condition, which has been known since the Middle Ages, is a movement disorder that exclusively affects the hind legs of horses. When the horse is being presented, one or both hind legs are bent excessively and jerkily so that the fetlock almost touches the belly and is then brought down again just as abruptly. The staccato gait is reminiscent of a rooster strutting, which is where the name comes from.
Tumors of the urinary bladder or urethra are relatively rare in dogs, but are often malignant. In most cases, they are transitional cell carcinomas. Older female dogs are primarily affected. A higher incidence has been observed in Scottish Terriers, Airedale Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, and Beagles.
This tumor, which originates in the spleen, is one of the most malignant cancers in dogs. The spleen tumor grows very quickly and spreads metastases to all other organs, often before the actual primary tumor is discovered. Older dogs between the ages of eight and ten are most commonly affected.
Skin fungal infections are also common in chinchillas. The most common are ringworm and bald patch, which cause changes to the fur and skin of chinchillas. Skin fungal infections are not life-threatening, but can lead to persistent problems due to their contagious nature. Skin fungi can also be transmitted to or from humans to animals, which is referred to as a zoonosis.
Surgery describes the treatment of diseases and injuries through mechanical intervention on the body. This usually takes place under various forms of anesthesia (numbing). During the procedure, bodily functions and the depth of anesthesia are monitored using modern equipment.
Gynecology and andrology are separate fields of medicine. Gynecology deals with the female reproductive organs, while andrology deals with the male reproductive organs. Both fields cover diseases of the reproductive organs and reproductive medicine. Obstetrics is a branch of gynecology.
With increasing mobility, open borders, and a wide range of travel options, this insidious infectious disease has also become more prevalent in our part of the world. Many dog owners want to have their four-legged friends with them on vacation and therefore travel south with their dogs. More and more rescue dogs are also being brought to Germany from southern Europe and rehomed here, with the result that diseases can also be imported.
Like many other pets, our dogs can also suffer from skin fungus. Skin fungal infections occur mainly in young animals, those with weakened immune systems, or those that have been affected by parasites or other diseases. However, the disease is not only a danger to your dog, as many skin fungi are also transmissible to humans and are therefore zoonoses. Elderly and weakened people are particularly at risk of developing a dangerous fungal infection.
It's wonderful that you're thinking about adopting a dog from abroad, because you want to save a life, and that's great! But please be prepared that your new dog may not immediately show you love and gratitude. You should also ask yourself whether you might want to give one of the many dogs in a US animal shelter a chance. Rescuing a dog from abroad also involves risks and problems.
