Can Cats Get Parvo Disease
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Can cats get parvo disease. This disease is quite serious and if left untreated it can end your cats life in a short time. Parvo in cats is highly contagious and usually targets and affects young unvaccinated cats. 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.
Feline parvovirus is the virus that causes feline panleukopenia. Over time new strains of canine parvovirus emerged and mutated and scientists found it could infect cats cells. Cats can only catch parvo from infected cats.
It can be fatal. They can also get it from contact with an infected cats urine feces and nose secretions. 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.
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. Most cats catch the virus through infected areas rather than from other infected cats as the virus can survive up to a year in the environment. Yes cats can catch this disease from dogs depending on the strain they are exposed to.
Parvovirus can trigger severe gastroenteritis in adult cats and kittens over a month old. Parvovirus is highly contagious and a mutated strain of canine parvovirus has been suspected of infecting felines. Cats can develop parvo when they ingest bodily fluids blood feces urine saliva of an infected cat.
So while it is uncommon yes cats can get parvovirus from dogs. Feline parvovirus is a virus that can cause severe disease in cats particularly kittens. This comes after the virus incubates with the incubation period spanning 5-9 days.