Cat Flu
Hi Alex, I am hoping you can help me. A little over 2 weeks ago my children were staying with their father. While they were there they had 2 kittens that started hanging around and appeared to have been abandoned by their owner. We have since taken them into care and they seem to be doing well accept they have had weepy eyes with a yellow discharge.
I have being trying to keep the eye area clean with water and wiping it with a clean cloth. This morning I awoke to my adult cat with weepy eyes and sneezing! I am concerned that she might have cat flu or a cold. Xena has only recently had her yearly injections but I guess that does not safeguard her 100%.I am not sure if these things can clear up on their own or not? Can you please tell me what this possibly could be and how I could fix it? Ruth.
Hi Ruth, good on you for rescuing these little kittens. As you suspect they have unfortunately transmitted a respiratory disease to your previously healthy adult cat. The recent vaccinations that she has received will still be of great benefit.
Kitten respiratory infections usually involve multiple different bacteria and viruses. Xena will be much better off, her antibodies being all primed up ready to fight off the worst threats. Namely cat Calici, and Herpes viruses. These pathogens cause severe damage to sinuses, corneas and tonsilar tissues and can imbed themselves to break out at times of stress for the remainder of a cat’s life.
There are a host of other nasty invaders that get involved in attacking feline respiratory systems and are often shed by kittens, being especially vulnerable while their immune systems are not fully developed. Definitely bring Xena and the little kittens in for us to assess and assist. The good news is that because she is full vaccinated she is likely to suffer only mild cold-like symptoms for a brief period.
Feline AIDS (FIV)
Hi Alex, Yesterday I was talking to my neighbour about the nasty death of her cat “Rufus”, a big red Persian. A sad tale unfolded of prolonged illness that she informed me was finally diagnosed as Cat AIDS. Has she got this right, is there such a thing and could my moggie “Fat Louis” be in danger from catching it off Rufus during their many years of socialising? If so what can I do to make sure he doesn’t suffer the same fate? Please help “Fat Louis” and his concerned dad, cheers Adam.
Hi Adam, Your neighbour is correct, feline AIDS is real and widespread, in central Auckland as many as 8% of all cats have the virus. It is a retrovirus, related to human HIV although fortunately not transferable to people. FIV is the most common cause of death by infectious disease in cats in New Zealand.
It does so by interfering with the host’s immune system until that cat is too weak to fight off disease, or other infections. FIV lives in an infected cat’s blood for life. The virus is present in large amounts in saliva and is most commonly spread between cats through biting during fights. Some infected cats will show no symptoms for many years. If symptoms do develop they can be as diverse as severe mouth infections, swollen lymph nodes and recurrent fevers.
Outdoor cats and cats that fight a lot (often males) are most at risk of this horrible disease. If Fat Louis is as chilled as his name suggests and didn’t get into fights with Rufus and other neighbouring cats then the chance of him having this disease is small. A simple blood test can be performed at your vet to check for FIV. Keeping Louis inside more, especially at night, neutering all cats at a young age, isolating any really aggressive individuals, and blood testing new arrivals will all help to reduce risk.
A new vaccine is available here now which is approximately 75% effective against the sub-types of the FIV virus that occur in N.Z., substantially reducing the chance of a cat ever becoming infected. Louis would need three initial shots and then a yearly booster. Adam, definitely get the blood test done for peace of mind and I’m sure Fat Louis will be able to continue on his long and peaceful life. Kind regards, Dr Alex Melrose.
Parvo
Alex,
I’m often down at Cox’s bay being exercised by my two energetic Staffies. The last time I was down there my club of fellow dog owners were talking about a Parvo outbreak in Auckland’s dogs. Should I be worried for my two boys, they were both vaccinated about 9 months ago. What’s going on out there? Simon, Westmere.
Simon,
Your friends are correct; there is an outbreak of Parvovirus at the moment, mainly in the South and West of Auckland. We haven’t seen any cases up here in Grey Lynn but there have been a number of dogs coming in with more mild types of gastroenteritis, exhibiting vomiting and diarrhoea for 2 to 3 days, then recovering.
Parvo is a much more severe form of gut infection, dogs will collapse with explosive, bloody bowel movements, dehydrate quickly and suffer terribly. Hospitalisation and treatment will save their lives in 50 percent of these cases.
It is a very hardy virus that survives well on grass or pavement for up to 2 years, spreading without direct contact between dogs, and is thus very difficult to eradicate or even avoid. For this reason public areas should be avoided by puppy owners until they have had their full course of shots.
Fortunately today’s vaccines are very effective at stopping the disease. Your two Staffies, being current with their injections, should be immune and would have only a tiny chance of catching this illness.
I think this outbreak should serve as a reminder to repeat Parvovirus vaccinations yearly in all dogs (the latest vaccines do last longer than this) and to seek immediate veterinary treatment for any dog showing signs of gastroenteritis.
Regards, Alex.
Parvo in Puppies
Hi guys, just wanted to ask Alex a question. We are getting a new puppy the week before Christmas. As you know we already have Zadie and our cat Marney. We also have a lab from next door, "Jack" who comes everywhere with us. This summer we are going away to Rakino Island with everyone mentioned above. Is it safe to have our new puppy running around on our property over there? Also there are a few people who wanted to bring their dogs over for the time they are staying. Would it be best to tell them not to bring their dogs? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. S.
Hi, sure sounds like an action filled Christmas coming up. Once the new pup is 13 weeks old (one week after his 12 week, and final puppy vaccination) he can run around on public ground, pavement and parks. Before that point the risk of Parvovirus is too high on areas where large numbers of dogs could have had access.
Parvovirus sets the gold standard for infectious disease precaution in dogs due to its ridiculously strong persistence in our environment. Any sick dog could have shed some virus on a sidewalk as it walked by, and the virus will remain infectious to any passing dog for up-to 2 years despite exposure to all the elements! Incredible, and potentially fatal, without any direct contact with a sick dog.
I personally think its ok to have healthy, fully vaccinated dogs to socialise at your own, well fenced place before that. True a tiny risk is present of these dogs carrying viruses on their fur, but there is a large benefit in social development for your pup. As long as they are gentle, well socialised dogs that will take it easy on the little guy, then I think you will have a great summer at Rakino. Regards and best wishes for the summer holidays, Dr Alex Melrose. BVSc MRCVS. VetCare Grey Lynn, 408 Great North Rd. 09 3613500, www.vetcare.net.nz.
Puppy Parvo Risks
Hi guys, just wanted to ask Alex a question. We are getting a new puppy the week before Christmas. As you know we already have Zadie and our cat Marney. We also have a lab from next door, "Jack" who comes everywhere with us. This summer we are going away to Rakino Island with everyone mentioned above. Is it safe to have our new puppy running around on our property over there? Also there are a few people who wanted to bring their dogs over for the time they are staying. Would it be best to tell them not to bring their dogs? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. S.
Hi, sure sounds like an action filled Christmas coming up. Once the new pup is 13 weeks old (one week after his 12 week, and final puppy vaccination) he can run around on public ground, pavement and parks. Before that point the risk of Parvovirus is too high on areas where large numbers of dogs could have had access.
Parvovirus sets the gold standard for infectious disease precaution in dogs due to its ridiculously strong persistence in our environment. Any sick dog could have shed some virus on a sidewalk as it walked by, and the virus will remain infectious to any passing dog for up-to 2 years despite exposure to all the elements! Incredible, and potentially fatal, without any direct contact with a sick dog.
I personally think its ok to have healthy, fully vaccinated dogs to socialise at your own, well fenced place before that. True a tiny risk is present of these dogs carrying viruses on their fur, but there is a large benefit in social development for your pup. As long as they are gentle, well socialised dogs that will take it easy on the little guy, then I think you will have a great summer at Rakino. Regards and best wishes for the summer holidays, Dr Alex Melrose.
