Enteritis
Enteritis:
Intestinal
inflammation from toxic causes (food poisoning, long-term constipation)
or from bacterial infection. Mild cases are treated with 24 hours
of fasting followed by a diet of skim milk? and broths. More severe
cases, accompanied by fever, will call for administration of antispasmodics
and/or antibiotics. Infectious enteritis is a contagious disease
which, if not quickly diagnosed, may be fatal. It can be prevented
by vaccination.
FELINE
INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS
Feline Infectious
Enteritis (or Feline Panleucopenia) is caused by the Feline Parvovirus,
it is a very resistant virus and can exist outside of the cat for
up to a one whole year. Young cats are most at risk although cats
of any age can succumb to infection, especially those with a defective
immune system. It is spread in bodily secretions and taken in through
the nose and mouth.
What are
the clinical signs of infection?
Many cats will shake off the virus before clinical signs occur but
some will succumb to a potentially fatal illness. Often cats become
very depressed and do not want to move around, they develop a fever
and become dehydrated. They do not want to eat, they may appear
to want to drink but seem unable or may vomit after drinking. The
intestine becomes very gassy but there is often no diarrhoea until
the later stages of disease. The numbers of White Blood Cells (those
responsible for immunity) often fall to dangerously low levels.
If cats
contract the virus while pregnant, any kittens may be born with
brain damage this is classically seen as a kitten with a marked
tremor.
How do we
diagnose the disease?
Diagnosis will be based on clinical signs and absence of vaccination.
Confirmation in deceased animals is by post mortem pathology.
Is there
a treatment?
The outlook for cats which fall prey to the severe disease is very
poor. Antibiotics have no effect on the virus but may help to rduce
the risk/severity of secondary bacterial infection. Treatment is
supportive; a drip is usually required to provide fluids and combat
dehydration and liquid foods are required during the recovery stages.
Vigorous treatment provides the best chance of recovery but vaccination
will reduce the risk of catching the disease.
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