Ok, I have no idea what forum this belongs in, so took a chance here.
Calling all Rescues/Shelters/Etc. Looking for advice on Panleukopenia.
We recently just had our second case of what "might" be Feline Distemper in a kitten that was adopted (side note - it was a "possible" second case in over 2 years). We aren't sure, but the kitten did pass after adoption and the vet "guessed" that's what it was. Obviously we are bit panicked about this since the virus can remain around for a very long time. I've been doing a lot of research on this on the net and for the most part have found that shelters and rescues vaccinate kittens that are 4-6wks of age the day they arrive at the shelter with the distemper vaccine. My question is: What does your rescue/shelter do? Do you vaccinate all your arrivals? How do you keep this at bay? Do you wash down everything with the bleach solution on a very regular basis? Daily? Weekly? What can you recommend for us?
A little background - our rescue (like most others) takes in cats from where ever they are found. Outside, inside, abandonment, ferals, etc. So obviously we are at high risk like other shelters. We get kittens of all ages - birth up to 10-12 weeks, some with mothers, some without. If we were to go with vaccinations for all kittens that arrive 4-5wks or older, that would work for those babies, but for the newborns, mothers, etc. What should we do? Our kittens are typically not taken to the vets. With the amount we have it would be financially impossible. Kittens are all dewormed and deflead prior to adoption and the adoption contract is written so that the adoptive family MUST take the kitten to the vet within 10 days of adoption. All adult cats are completely vaccinated and tested prior to adoption, so they are not my concern. It's the babies that we're trying to figure out what's best to do.
Thanks!
Lisa
Calling all Rescues/Shelters/Etc. Looking for advice on Panleukopenia.
We recently just had our second case of what "might" be Feline Distemper in a kitten that was adopted (side note - it was a "possible" second case in over 2 years). We aren't sure, but the kitten did pass after adoption and the vet "guessed" that's what it was. Obviously we are bit panicked about this since the virus can remain around for a very long time. I've been doing a lot of research on this on the net and for the most part have found that shelters and rescues vaccinate kittens that are 4-6wks of age the day they arrive at the shelter with the distemper vaccine. My question is: What does your rescue/shelter do? Do you vaccinate all your arrivals? How do you keep this at bay? Do you wash down everything with the bleach solution on a very regular basis? Daily? Weekly? What can you recommend for us?
A little background - our rescue (like most others) takes in cats from where ever they are found. Outside, inside, abandonment, ferals, etc. So obviously we are at high risk like other shelters. We get kittens of all ages - birth up to 10-12 weeks, some with mothers, some without. If we were to go with vaccinations for all kittens that arrive 4-5wks or older, that would work for those babies, but for the newborns, mothers, etc. What should we do? Our kittens are typically not taken to the vets. With the amount we have it would be financially impossible. Kittens are all dewormed and deflead prior to adoption and the adoption contract is written so that the adoptive family MUST take the kitten to the vet within 10 days of adoption. All adult cats are completely vaccinated and tested prior to adoption, so they are not my concern. It's the babies that we're trying to figure out what's best to do.
Thanks!
Lisa
