Page 1151 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

54 – THE FADING KITTEN 1143

Classical signs—Cont’d usually much more severe in panleukopenia virus
infection.
● Severe vomiting and diarrhea (usually ≥ 7
weeks old).
● Hypothermia or fever. Treatment
● Severe dehydration. Aggressive intravenous fluid replacement is essential.
IO fluid administration may substitute if venous access is
Clinical signs limited. IP SC or oral fluid administration is less likely to
provide adequate fluid support for the duration of illness
Intrauterine infection may result in intention (5–10 days). Fluids should be supplemented with potas-
tremor (cerebellar hypoplasia), which becomes appar- sium, dextrose and water-soluble vitamins as needed.
ent when kittens begin to walk. This condition is non-
Parenteral broad spectrum antibiotics (e.g.
progressive and does not affect health unless tremor
enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg IV or SC q 24 h plus ampicillin
severity prevents adequate food intake or leads to injury.
22 mg/kg IV or SC tid) are administered due to the
Postnatal infection causes necrosis of intestinal mucosa severity of the leukopenia. Anti-emetics may be
and hematopoietic progenitor cells resulting in severe required if nausea is severe.
vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and panleukopenia.
Blood transfusions may be required to treat anemia,
● Most common in kittens ≥ 7 weeks old when protec-
hypoproteinemia and to provide passive humoral
tion from maternal antibodies is lost.
immunity.
Hypothermia occurs in kittens < 6 weeks old or older
Nothing is offered orally until vomiting has ceased.
kittens in endotoxic shock. Fever is common in kittens
> 7 weeks old. Mortality is high in untreated kittens, but most
aggressively treated patients should survive.
Panleukopenia commonly affects entire litters, but
some kittens may escape infection if passive immunity
is protective. FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITINITIS VIRUS
(FIP) INFECTION
Peracute deaths may occur without typical signs in
some kittens.
Classical signs
Diagnosis
● Abortions, stillbirths, fading kittens.
Clinical signs of gastroenteritis in the presence of ● Recurrent fever.
severe panleukopenia are classical findings. ● Weight loss.
● Ascites.
Non-regenerative anemia and hypoproteinemia are
● Kittens 4 weeks and older.
common.
Detection of parvovirus antigen in feces by point-
of-care tests for canine parvovirus appears to be Clinical signs
useful, although the test accuracy of these tests in
Perinatal infection may result in abortions, stillbirths
cats is unknown. Cats recently vaccinated against
and fading kittens, although most clinical illness is
panleukopenia may also shed virus and test positive.
seen in weaned kittens and young adults.
Necropsy and histopathology findings are diagnostic.
Cycles of unexplained fever and weight loss are com-
mon in older kittens (> 8 weeks).
Differential diagnosis
Ascites, pleural effusion or uveitis may be present in
Panleukopenia virus can be differentiated from other
older kittens (> 8 weeks).
causes of gastroenteritis such as sepsis, FeLV and
enteric bacterial infections by identifying parvovirus in FIP is more likely to affect individual kittens or lit-
the feces. In addition, the degree of leukopenia is ters than to cause widespread outbreaks of disease.