by Dragon88 » August 31st, 2012, 4:23 pm
Just last night we rushed little Quincy to Purdue University Veterinary Clinic for Feline panleukopenia. It's similar to Parvo in dogs.
Prognosis
Of affected kittens that are two months or less of age, 95% die regardless of treatment. Kittens that are more than two months old have a 60-70% mortality rate with treatment and a nearly 100% mortality rate if not treated. Adult cats have a 10-20% mortality rate if treated, and an 85% mortality rate if not treated. Elderly cats have a 20-30% mortality rate if treated and a 90% mortality rate if not treated
Transmission and Clinical Signs
Panleukopenia is primarily spread through contact with an infected animal's bodily fluids, feces, or other fomites, as well as by fleas.[2] It may be spread to and by cats, minks and ferrets[2] and can be spread long distances through contact with bedding, food dishes, or even by clothing and shoes of handlers of infected animals. It is not, however, contagious or contractable by humans.[2] Like all parvoviruses, FPV is extremely resistant to inactivation and can survive for longer than one year in a suitable environment.[1]
The virus primarily attacks the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, causing internal ulceration and, ultimately, total sloughing of the intestinal epithelium. This results in profuse and usually bloody diarrhea, severe dehydration, malnutrition, anemia, and often death. It causes a decrease in the cat's white blood cells, thus compromising its immune system. Typically, it also causes a decrease in hematocrit and platelet counts on a complete blood count. This is often key in diagnosing panleukopenia. Other symptoms include depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, loss of skin elasticity due to dehydration, and self-biting in the tail, lower back and back legs. Affected cats may sit for hours at their water bowl, although they may not drink much. Terminal cases are hypothermic and may develop septic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation.[1] Most panleukopenia deaths are due to secondary infections or dehydration resulting from diarrhea. This is because the virus affects the infected cat's immune system, leaving it vulnerable to secondary infection.[3]
If a cat is exposed during pregnancy, the virus can cause cerebellar hypoplasia in her offspring. This is why administering modified live feline panleukopenia vaccine during pregnancy is discouraged. Feline panleukopaenia and canine parvovirus are extremely closely related, and viruses can be transmitted between dogs and cats.
We have laid out some SERIOUS SERIOUS cash and will give him EVERY fighting chance in the world. I am searching the web for a top leading veterinarian in this field of study and would like them to contact Purdue to give any advice (in treatment) or to gather research in this field. If he must die I do not want him to die in vein. I want him to be studied in the hopes to find a cure for this disgusting and veil virus. We have instructed to do CPR, full medication therapy and ventilator. if he turns for the worse. We do not wish him to be opened up and cardiovascular massage performed however (he's been opened enough lately).
At the time of this post his white blood cell count if 1400 and should be around 6000, has not eaten in 3 days so they are placing a nasal tube in him to his intestine for force feed him. With out nutrition his body can not produce the needed blood cells to help fight the virus. When and if we see the count start to rise then we know we are making good progress, I ask any and all of my fellow ODC brothers and sisters to please pray with us for Quincys fight for his life over the next week.
(ODC)Dragon88
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I can't wait to meet the new little one! 
