We tend to think of viruses as something that primarily affects people. Whether it’s a common cold that goes away in a few days, or some horrific disease spreading worldwide like in a Hollywood blockbuster, we kind of see it as a human phenomenon. However, they affect animals just as much, sometimes even our beloved pets at home. No matter how harmless it seems at first glance, every time your feline shows any sign of discomfort, it’s time for a trip to the vet.
Other than the common cat diseases like rabies, ringworm, cat flu, or feline immunodeficiency virus, there’s another less-known, but highly contagious virus - parvovirus, better known as parvo. Now, this disease is sometimes called canine parvovirus (CPV) as it typically affects dogs. If so, why are we discussing it in an article about cats? Dogs can transmit this troublemaker to cats during close contact, which requires immediate treatment. Luckily, there’s enough available information on parvo to know what you’re dealing with, so we’ll focus on the main aspects of this malicious little agent.
What is Parvo?
Knowing your enemy is surely the best way of defeating it, so first let’s get down to the basics. Parvovirus is a contagious virus whose primary targets are dogs and wolves. It can also infect skunks, foxes, and cats. The way this virus is either transmitted through stool or contact with a parvo-infected surface. Without getting into too many gnarly details, it’s fairly easy to recognize infected feces: it’s usually totally liquid diarrhea that can sometimes contain blood.
To get this right, we have to distinguish between two strains of parvovirus. While the name applies to the entire virus family, dog and cat strains have different names. The dog strain is called canine parvovirus (CPV), and the cat variant is known as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), considered a dangerous threat if left untreated. There are some differences and similarities between the two strains we’ll cover later.
According to the official classification, we’re dealing with a gastrointestinal disease, although it’s been known to affect bone marrow or even the heart in puppies. But the stomach is where this agent is most harmful, damaging cells, and the gut barrier, and making absorption more difficult. This is why vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms of the disease.
Causes and Symptoms
As we pointed out, parvovirus is mainly spread through feces. A dog can get parvo by coming into contact with the stool of infected canines, though it’s not always visible right away: some animals can take up to a week to show symptoms. Dog owners need to take precautions with young puppies to prevent them from contracting parvo.
What does that mean? Generally, puppies shouldn’t go out before receiving all the necessary vaccinations to boost their immunity (the vaccination period is usually between six and sixteen weeks of age.) This is because parvo can survive on the earth for a whole year, whereas it doesn’t last more than a month in closed spaces. Puppies are inexperienced and curious, sniffing everything they see, and it’s very easy for them to get infected if you don’t watch out.
Parvo is highly contagious, and it’s a serious illness that should be treated immediately once you recognize the symptoms. Again, the usual indicators are bloody, liquid stool, and vomiting, but the puppy can also experience sudden appetite loss, dehydration, fever, or lethargy. Slow, heavy movement and laziness can be signs of parvo, as well as a depressed mood that doesn’t go away easily. Looking for online solutions yourself can be dangerous: leave it to the vet to assess the situation.
The Feline Strain
Getting back to the furry meowers, we’ll say a few words about the cat parvovirus strain (FPV), commonly known as feline distemper. It’s closely related to the dog version, though cats aren’t infected as often. But when they are, it can be a life-threatening situation. The virus essentially destroys blood cells in the body, weakening the immune system severely. As a result, most kittens can’t survive parvo without treatment, which is why it requires such immediate action.
The problem is that this type of virus is very resilient. Even if you use disinfectants like alcohol, it might still survive. Plus, once brought in from outside, it can thrive on various indoor surfaces, like bedsheets, litter boxes, food bowls, footwear, etc.
As one of the most dangerous feline illnesses out there, vaccination is a high priority here. Kittens receive a core vaccine known as the “distemper shot”, protecting against FPV, FeLV (feline leukemia virus), and feline herpes. Every reputable vet knows how damaging these three can be and will insist on timely vaccination for your little furball.
Can Dogs Transmit Parvo to Cats?
Research shows that cats can’t transmit FPV to dogs, but dogs can pass their parvo to cats. They might contract a certain mutated strain of CPV, leading to cross-contamination. For instance, this can happen when your feline has been in contact with a parvo-infected dog. In this case, it needs to stay in quarantine for a while to prevent possible contagion.
Or, it could happen in an animal shelter, where animals are in very close proximity. If there’s a virus outbreak, supervisors need to react without delay and isolate the infected animals to avoid cross-contamination.
Taking Precaution
Parvovirus is a perfect example of “better safe than sorry”. In other words, preventing the disease is a way more effective method instead of treatment. New and inexperienced cat owners should take heed and learn to recognize symptoms as early as possible.
As with any other virus, vaccination is the traditional and most effective method of prevention. Of course, it’s not 100% foolproof, but it minimizes the possibility of infection. It has to be done early, so follow your vet’s instructions as they know best. Besides vaccines, they can offer other helpful advice for preventing or fighting parvo.
