Thank You! 4/2/2014

Thank you so much for all the wonderful gifts you have sent to the cats!!

http://amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/14VUTQST8F5XH

Thank you Stacy Hall for the Amazon gift card!

Thank you Don for the Amazon Gift card in honor of Mouser!

Thank you Brittany and Michael for the Amazon Gift Card!

Thank you Jean James for the Amazon Gift Card!

Izzy is smiling over your kindness!

Thank you Marcia Current for the bird feeder and rain baffle!

Thank you unnamed for the scratch and rest, floor cleaner, 

boxes of trash bags, toys, foods, play cube,

Thank you Hollie Clover Henderson for the toys and food!

Holly is smiling over your generosity!

Thank you Gail M. and fur babies for the foods and cleaner!

Thank you Cassandra Chandler for the food!

Thank you Wayne Chang and Dawn Cavalieri for the catnip and toys!

Thank you Edward Wood for the toys and bird feeder!

Sterling is chilling on his petfusion scratcher!

Thank you Jane Peikert for the toys, food and scratch and rest!

Thank you Gina Harvey for the red sports car bed!

Thank you Robert Warnock for the food!

Thank you Sandi Wolfe for the foods!

Thank you Gina Ciofani for the toy!

Thank you Charlene Shaver for the tent!

Thank you Carol McCrellias for the trashbags and bird feeder!

Thank you Kimberly Ferguson for the foods and toys!

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! 

Jumpers needed for :
Team Tampa http://dareme4charity.com/campaign/633
Team Sacramento http://dareme4charity.com/campaign/774

Congratulations on winning $1,000 for the cats in the:

http://www.shopforyourcause.com/voting-challenge 

They will announce the winner of the shelter challenge on Friday.

Tour at Noon today!

Boxes at 12:30 today!

Tour today LIVE on http://ustream.tv/blindcatrescue  at NOON (EST) 

and 3 pm  BOXES today after noon tour,  hope you stick around and watch :)   

 Please Like and share

Vaccinations for Your Cat

Feline Panleukopenia Virus

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.

Poppy would not have lost her sight if she had her shots and URI was treated in time.

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.

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 Panleukopenia Virus

This is an extremely dangerous, life-threatening virus to cats! It is a highly contagious viral disease in the parvovirus group and has a very high mortality rate. After exposure, within 24 hours, the virus is in the cat’s bloodstream. Within 48 hours, the cat’s body tissue is infected. Between 2 to 4 days, the white blood cell count begins to fall. This is known as feline distemper and lesser known as cat typhoid or cat fever. Frequently, diarrhea is present and this disease is also called Feline “Infectious Enteritis.”

**  This is NOT the same virus as the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)!! Totally different virus and totally different disease!

**  This is NOT the same disease as Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Enteritis refers to a gastro-intestinal illness, inside the GI tract. Peritonitis is an infection in the abdomen and may affect other organs.

**  The feline parvovirus is related to the canine parvovirus only by genus, Parvoviridae, but it is not the same viral species; therefore, it is not communicable to dogs and feline distemper is NOT related to canine distemper.

The virus affects the rapidly dividing cells in the body – the blood cells in the bone marrow, the intestinal tract and the stem cells of the developing fetus. With decreased white blood cells, the cat is at high risk for infections from other viruses or bacteria. The lower red blood cell count, resulting from bone marrow infection, leads to anemia. Lower WBC’s and RBC’s compromise the health of the cat, making recovery very difficult, contributing to the high mortality rate.

Symptoms 

·        Diarrhea, which may have blood

·        Vomiting

·        Loss of appetite, complete loss of interest in food

·        Dehydration

·        Anemia and weakness

·        Fever

·        Nasal or eye discharge

·        Rough hair coat

·        Skin elasticity is decreased with dehydration

·        Depression, hiding for a day or two

·        Hanging their head over water or food bowl, but does not drink or eat

·        Feet tucked under body or chin resting on floor for long periods

·        Neurological symptoms with viral infection in the brain (i.e. lack of coordination)

·        Sudden death, in kittens with severe infection

Transmission

The best way to prevent transmission of this deadly virus is by vaccination. Incubation time from infection to clinical signs is usually 3 to 5 days.

It is passed by contact with an infected cat’s saliva, urine, feces, fleas, blood, nasal discharge, food and water dishes, bedding and cages. Since diarrhea is a major symptom, the most common transmission vehicle is through the feces. The parvovirus is resistant to disinfectants and can remain in the environment for one year.

If your cat has been diagnosed with panleukopenia disease, clean and disinfect all the areas the cat has been using bleach or disinfectant recommended by your vet since this virus is very resilient. Wear gloves when caring for an infected cat. Dispose of all litter boxes and food and water bowls safely.

Shelters and boarding facilities may harbor the virus, increasing your pet’s risk when you board them while you are on vacation.

Pregnant cats transmit the disease to kittens in utero. When this occurs, kittens can be born with severe birth defects which include still births, brain damage, blindness and muscle or nerve damage. Infected kittens usually do not show signs of being ill but the disease is fatal within the first five days of infection.

Kittens can also acquire this deadly disease via breast milk.

Unvaccinated kittens and feral cats are the most common victims of the disease. All cat breeds are susceptible.

Diagnosis

Medical and exposure risk history will be taken. Feline Panleukopenia disease mimics many other disease conditions – poisoning, feline leukemia disease (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency disease (FIV) and pancreatitis – are just a few. The importance of a very detailed history cannot be stressed enough so appropriate treatment can be initiated ASAP.

Lab work includes a CBC, biochemistry panel and urinalysis. Typically, there will be decreased white and red blood cells. A fecal specimen may show microscopic remnants of the parvovirus. The SNAP parvo test is not as reliable for diagnosis in cats as it is in other pets.

Treatment

Dehydration and shock are life-threatening and require intensive care and IV fluid therapy. Restoration of fluid and electrolyte balance is critical.

If your cat is treated promptly and effectively and survives the first 48 hours, it is likely your cat will recover. Once a cat has had FP disease, it has lifetime immunity.

There is no specific treatment for FPV. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses but may be prescribed prophylactically to prevent secondary opportunistic bacterial infections that are common with low WBC’s and lower immunity.

With aggressive supportive care, if the cat survives the acute illness phase, prognosis for full recovery is good.

Your cat will still need good supportive care at home. Provide a quiet, warm place for your pet to recover, away from active areas in the home, other animals and active children. Place food and water dishes close by to reduce unnecessary exertion. Also have the litter box close. Your cat will need to be isolated from other cats during the acute illness phase.

Your cat will need extra attention from you during recovery. This infection has a depressing effect on a cat’s physical and mental health so affection and comfort will help your pet during the recovery time.

After contact with your sick cat, practice strict hygiene and hand washing. Make sure to clean surfaces that your sick cat comes in contact with.

It may take several weeks for your cat to feel completely back to normal.

Once your cat has been exposed to this virus and had the immune response to it, your cat will be immune from acquiring it again. Also, your cat will not pass the virus after the initial episode.

If your other cats have not been vaccinated, you will need to have them vaccinated to prevent them from becoming ill.

Unvaccinated pregnant cats are at highest risk for fatal complications due to pregnancy related immune compromise. The developing fetuses are very like to be born with severe developmental dysfunctions.

Vaccination Schedule

Kittens need to be vaccinated when they receive the other core vaccines. The first vaccine should be given at 8-10 weeks of age. The first booster is given four weeks later. The second booster vaccination is recommended around 16 weeks of age.

Vaccinations every one to three years is strongly recommended.