Can Cats Get Parvo Disease

FPV in essence kills the bodys protective cells.

Can cats get parvo disease. Parvovirus is highly contagious and a mutated strain of canine parvovirus has been suspected of infecting felines. You have to do strict isolation provide a healthy diet and keep an eye on your cats urine or stool so it doesnt spread everywhere. Cats do not get or carry the canine parvovirus.

An interesting and frankly somewhat scary report in an upcoming issue of Veterinary Microbiology Clegg et al 2012 provides further information suggesting that cats might be a source of canine parvovirus infectionThis potentially fatal infection which typically affects young unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated puppies is a major problem and outbreaks occur. This vicious virus targets the bodys blood cells mainly those in the bone marrow skin and intestines. Feline parvovirus is the virus that causes feline panleukopenia.

As cats can catch certain strains of canine parvovirus any cats in this dogs household should be isolated and brought to the veterinarian for parvo testing. Parvovirus is a common virus that affects cats causing a highly deadly disease known by the term of Feline distemper or Feline panleukopenia. Cats are most susceptible as kittens from 4 to 12 weeks of age or even as unvaccinated adults.

Make sure the puppy has had at least one set of shots at least 2 weeks before bringing it home and that you keep its vaccines current. For many years it was assumed that dogs got canine parvovirus and cats got a closely related and similar disease called feline panleukopenia virus FPV. You might just be anxious that your dog could pick something up and spread the virus to your feline friend.

FPV is perceived as a universal disease threat in any cat and feline-loving community. Cats can develop parvo when they ingest bodily fluids blood feces urine saliva of an infected cat. While dogs cannot catch feline parvovirus the virus can mutate and be spread to cats.

People who handle an infected cat or an infected cats bedding food or water dish can carry the virus to the next cat. Brought to you by Pet Insurer Wag. It is uncommon and unlikely but it can still happen.