One of the most heartbreaking experiences for any veterinarian is being presented with a beautiful puppy that is infected with Parvovirus (Cat flu or ‘katgriep’) – a killer disease easily prevented by vaccination.
A puppy’s chances of surviving Parvo are 50/50, if he or she gets premium and urgent veterinary care immediately after diagnosis. The pup will need intensive care, total isolation and expensive medication. Even then the outcome is not guaranteed.
What is Parvo?
- A viral disease of dogs causing two different sets of clinical problems: ‘intestinal’ which is manifested by diarrhoea, often bloody vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, fever, and sometimes death; and ‘cardiac’ which occurs in very young pups and is manifested by an acute inflammation of the heart muscle
- Any age, breed or sex of dog can be affected by Parvo though infection does not automatically mean illness. Age, environment, stress, parasites and general health status of each infected dog could affect the severity of illness, which may range from very mild to unapparent to very severe, often resulting in death.
- The disease is usually more severe in young dogs (less than 6 months of age) or old dogs.
- Humans can’t get it.
- It is resistant to extremes of temperature (i.e., it survives freezing and extreme heat) and is unharmed by detergents, alcohols and common disinfectants.
- Direct transmission occurs when an infected dog comes in contact with a healthy dog. The virus is found in heavy concentration in the infected dog’s stool. The virus particles can be easily spread on shoes, clothing and other inanimate objects. Fleas, as well as people, can therefore act as indirect sources of infection. Once it gets a foothold in a kennel, it is difficult to eliminate.
What is distemper?
Distemper is very widespread, and nearly every dog will be exposed to distemper within the first year of life. Signs include coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, fever, and discharges from the eyes and/or nose. ‘Squinting’ of the eyes is often the first sign observed. Once the virus enters the nervous system, convulsions, twitches, or partial paralysis become evident. It is spread through all body secretions and is highly contagious. It is usually fatal.
And what about cats?
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is in the same family as the Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) and is similar to HIV in humans but is not transmissible to humans. FIV is present in an infected cat’s saliva, and the most common mode of transmission is via bite wounds, putting unneutered male cats at greater risk as they are more likely to get into fights. Veterinarians in South Africa are seeing more and more FIV and FeLV. There is no cure for FeLV.
Vaccinations by your vet will begin at 6-8 weeks
Testing, vaccination, good food and love will make for a healthy kitten
How do I protect my pets against these diseases?
Vaccinate! Vaccines are most effective in a healthy animal so before your pet is vaccinated, the vet will give him or her a thorough examination, checking temperature , listening to their chest and palpating their abdomen and make sure that he or she is free of parasites like ticks and fleas and worms.
Most vets recommend starting puppy and kitten vaccinations at six to eight weeks (depending on the mother’s vaccination status) but chat with your vet first. The first vaccination usually involves what is called a 5-in-1, a vaccination that covers five core diseases, including Parvo. A second round of vaccinations is required at 10-12 weeks, a third at 12-16 weeks and then once a year thereafter.
Your pets will also be vaccinated against rabies. If your pet contracts rabies – and yes, even in the city rabies occurs – it will have to be put down if it has not been vaccinated. The law says so. A second rabies vaccination is needed before the animal is a year old. We recommend annual rabies vaccinations for all pets, due to the rapid increase in rabies cases in the Western Cape.
Always make sure your pet is vaccinated by a qualified veterinarian at a veterinary surgery as vaccines are very volatile and a strict cold chain protocol must be adhered to in order for the vaccine to be effective. If your pet is not vaccinated by a vet but by someone else and still contracts Parvo you will not be covered by the vaccine manufacturer’s guarantee. Similarly, if your pet is exposed to rabies and it was not vaccinated by a vet, it will be euthanased.
What else can I do?
Feeding your pup or kitten quality food from the day he or she moves in with you also greatly improves your pet’s immune status making the vaccine’s work a lot simpler.
If you’re still not convinced about the need for vaccination, consider your next holiday: will you need to put your pet in a boarding kennel? If so, get those vaccinations done because boarding kennels won’t accept animals that haven’t had their vaccinations, including a kennel cough vaccine for dogs.
For more advice on vaccines or to book an appointment contact us at EberVet Pet Clinic in Strand at 021 854 3275.
