Thank You! 4/1/2013



Thank you Gene Winters for the play cube!
Thank you Skelloton Queen for the privacy tents!
Thank you Beatriz Cotias for the food, toys and tent!




Thank you Thomas Powers for the food!
Thank you unnamed for the Freshstep!
Thank you unnamed for the privacy tent, foods and kickeroo!
Thank you unnamed for the foods!





Thank you unnamed for the toys, crystal litter, food and rainbow toy!
Thank you Christine Robbins for the cat litter!
Thank you Reia Barber for the kitty cubes and spring toys!
Thank you Kathy Davis for the foods!


Joey jumping for joy for boxes


Thank you John Lawrence for the food!
Thank you Jaclyn Horrod for the food!
Thank you Dawn Stewart-Owens for the food!
Thank you Monica for the beds and foods!


We will be opening boxes Wed and Thursday 
right after noon tour.



WE WILL JUMP FOR YOU! Please BUY A TICKET!    http://dareme4charity.com/campaign/630 You Do NOT have to be there or jump! If you are out of state, out of country, scared of heights, YOU can still help the cats win!! 
Please email me that you bought ticket: alana@blindcatrescue.com Please consider helping team Raleigh Rock the money! Please LIKE & Share



Vaccinations for Your Cat
Feline Calicivirus

By Jill Anne Sparapany

Vaccinations can be confusing! We’ve all heard of parents who do not believe in vaccinations for their children. What about your pets? How important is it to have your pets vaccinated? What vaccinations do they need to stay healthy?

First, vaccinations, especially in kittens, are extremely important! Many of the cats at Blind Cat Rescue became blind due to untreated Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) when they were kittens. If they would have been vaccinated, they would not have lost their vision.
Second, vaccinations can prevent premature death in your pet cat should he/she come in contact with an infected cat and, subsequently, become ill themselves.

We will review the vaccinations needed for your pet cat to stay healthy.


Paul as a baby with a bad upper respiratory infection when he arrived

Feline vaccinations are divided into two groups: Core Vaccines and Non-Core Vaccines.
Core vaccines are the Herpesvirus 1, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia Virus and Rabies Virus vaccines.
Non-Core vaccines are the optional vaccines for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Virulent Calicivirus Vaccine, Feline Chlamydia felis Vaccine and Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica Vaccine.

“Other” feline vaccines category includes the Feline Infectious Peritonitis Vaccine (FIP). This is given as an intranasal modified live virus.
Modified live virus vaccines have the target viral agent altered into a form that is incapable of causing severe infection. Sometimes it may be a portion of the viral agent’s structure attached to a weaker pathogenic agent to stimulate an immune response. When the immune system reacts to the weaker pathogenic agent, it also “sees” the attached portion of the viral agent and produces
antibodies to it.
The efficacy of the FIP vaccine remains controversial. The vaccine appears to be safe, but the duration and immunity may be short.

We will limit this series of articles to the core vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

Feline Calicivirus
This is another cause of URI’s and oral disease in cats. Depending upon the strain of the calicivirus and its virulence, the severity of illness will vary greatly. There are 40 different strains of FCV. It can affect cats of all ages, but cats at boarding facilities and cats with weak immune systems are more susceptible. Kittens and cats over 10 years of age are at greater risk of contracting viral infections.

Mickey the day he arrived sick with an upper respiratory




Symptoms
·        Nasal and eye discharge, clear or purulent
·        Ulcers of the mouth, tongue, gums, lips or palate and nose, which may cause drooling
·        Anorexia
·        Periodontal disease, i.e. gingivitis
·        Inflammation of the nasal passages
·        Painful lameness in the joints, occurring more frequently in kittens
·        Fever
·        Lethargy
·        Squinting
·        Enlarged lymph nodes
Symptoms tend to be more severe in young kittens. One strain, VS-FCV, affects adult cats more severely.

Transmission. This is very contagious and transmitted in saliva, secretions from the nose or eyes, and airborne particles from sneezes. Airborne viral particles can be sprayed several meters through the air.
Direct contact with nasal and eye discharge of infected cats is the most common form of transmission of the calicivirus, but pets within close proximity to cats with the eye discharge are also likely to become infected.
The virus can also be transmitted on carrier surfaces such as food and water bowls. Cats at boarding facilities should be kept at a safe distance between individual units and have separate food and water bowls.
The virus may survive for up to one week in contaminated environments, longer in cool damp areas. People who have touched contaminated objects or an infected cat can transmit the virus to susceptible cats.
Actively sick cats should be kept away from healthy pets and prevented from roaming outdoors.
When a cat is exposed to calicivirus, there is an incubation period of 2-6 days before symptoms develop. If the infection is uncomplicated, it will usually last for 14-21 days, depending on the particular virus. During this time, the cat will be infectious to other cats.
Infected cats will shed virus in body secretions for 2-3 weeks.
After recovery, about half of all infected cats may become carriers. They will shed the virus particles intermittently or constantly. Sometimes, the carrier state may last a few months, but for a small percentage of cats the carrier state may persist for their lifetime. Carriers may or may not show symptoms of infection when actively shedding the virus particles and they are an important source of infection to susceptible cats. Carrier cats may shed the virus during stressful times.

Female cats that are carriers can pass the viral infection on to their newborn kittens.
It is wise to isolate a new cat from other cats in the house for at least 1-2 weeks to minimize transmission risk of calicivirus or any other infectious diseases.

Hand washing is a key measure to prevent transmission of the virus. Contaminated objects can be disinfected by soaking for 10-15 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach to 32 parts water.

Diagnosis is done by health history, physical exam and determining risk of exposure. The gold standard lab test is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that detects DNA of certain strains of viruses and it yields quick results.
Oral ulcers are a strong clinical indication of the calicivirus.
A sample from the conjunctiva will be collected to look for secondary bacterial infection. If the calicivirus is not found, a fluroscein stain test will be done to diagnose corneal ulcers associated with feline rhinotracheitis.
X-rays may be done to rule out injury or other causes of lameness.
Other diagnostic tests may include testing for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).

Treatment. Uncomplicated infections can be treated at home with eye medications for purulent discharge. Broad spectrum antibiotics may be given to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
Prescription eye medications will be used for purulent eye discharge.
Nasal and airway congestion can be helped by humidification – a steamy bathroom for 10-15 minutes several times a day.
To minimize irritation from nasal and eye discharges, gently wipe the face and eye area with moist tissues.
Anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed to relieve symptoms of lameness and joint discomfort.
Since it is difficult to smell food with respiratory infections, your pet may have a decreased appetite. Feeding a highly palatable canned food may help stimulate their appetite. Also appetite stimulants may be prescribed.
Some pets may become depressed or be unable to eat or drink, due to the oral ulceration discomfort caused by the virus. Persistent ulcers may benefit from treatments that support the immune system.
If the cat becomes dehydrated, depressed or has severe illness, the vet may recommend intensive care, including IV fluids, oxygen tent or intermittent humidification and other supportive treatments.
If an infected cat is not treated promptly, it can lead to pneumonia and chronic gingivitis.
Pets with persistent symptoms after treatment need to be further evaluated for possible underlying health conditions.

Prognosis is poor if the cat is not treated with medication and may be fatal.

Vaccination Schedule:
The standard feline core vaccines include immunization against the calicivirus and will help reduce the severity of the disease and shorten the duration of illness if your cat is exposed.
Initial vaccination should be given as early as 6 weeks of age. It is usually combined with the other core vaccines for herpesvirus 1 and panleukopenia virus. Kittens require several boosters between ages 6 and 16 weeks.
One booster vaccination is given at one year and revaccination is recommended every 1 to 3 years.
If your cat will be in a high risk situation, such as boarding, grooming or to a cat show, or any exposure to cats that could be potential carriers, it is important to ensure your cat is current on vaccinations. Your vet may recommend an additional booster if your cat will be in any of these higher risk situations.
All cats should receive the core vaccines to protect them from fatal infections.





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