Panleukopenia in cats, or infectious gastroenteritis popularly called plague. The disease of viral etiology is spread through the saliva of the animal, feces, nasal secretions. It’s easy to catch it, you just need a healthy cat to walk where the sick animal was walking recently. And if a cat smells grass or someone else’s feces, it also instantly catches the virus.
Once in the body, the virus is immediately activated, spreading to all tissues and organs. The incubation period lasts for a week, and at the end of it the owner may notice some of the symptoms of panleukopenia.
Symptoms of panleukopenia in cats
The main sign of the disease are changes in the behavior of the pet, namely:
- The cat’s search for a secluded place, often accompanied by fever (the pet may lay down in a dark, cool place and stretch out its paws);
- the cat is constantly thirsty;
- The elderly cat has characteristic wheezing sounds, signaling pulmonary edema.
If at least one sign of infectious gastroenteritis is present, the animal should be rested and given plenty of water.
Treatment of panleukopenia in cats
Treatment is complex and gradual. The scheme is developed on a case-by-case basis. First, the animal is removed from the disturbing symptoms. The problem of dehydration is solved with saline solutions. Cats are also prescribed glucose, antibiotics, antiviral agents and vitamin preparations. A number of analgesics, antihistamines or cardiac drugs are prescribed depending on the symptoms and the general condition of the animal.