help! vaccinated cats diagnosed with distemper!??

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Tracie June - 03 May 2005 21:17 GMT

I hope someone out there can help me out. We brought a 8 wk. old kitten
home on 4/19. He was kept away from my other cats (2 1/2 male, 7 yr. female)
until he was tested for FeLv and worms. Both negative. A week after cats
began sharing home my older male began vomiting and soon after bouts of
runny diarrhea with a smell that could knock you over. These bouts
continued every 5 to 6 hours. Into Sat. morn. our female cat also began
vomitting. Neither would look at food or water. Both were brought in to the
vet on Sunday for emergency hydration via i.v. and given a shot to control
the vomitting. Initial diagnos was coxidia. A few hours home and the
symptoms continued. Both brought in to be hospitalized yesterday and
diagnos is now FPL although both cats have been vaccinated and are up to
date with shots. Has anyone heard of a situation like this? Meanwhile the
kitten is happy as can be, eating and drinking etc. 2nd decal sample looked
fine. Thanks for any input as I am going out of my mind with worry.

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Rhonda - 04 May 2005 01:03 GMT

Oh man, what a tough thing to happen. I'm so sorry you all have to go
through this.

You might want to talk to the vet that vaccinated your cats. How long
ago was it? I'd have them look up the exact date in the records, make
sure it was given. There are different kinds of distemper vaccinations,
one is killed-virus, another is live-virus. Live virus activates the
immune system more, but has the greater (although still small)
possibility for causing the virus in itself. I don't think either is
fool-proof, but I'm wondering if your vet used an older or
less-effective batch. I'd talk to him or her.

We took in a stray pregnant cat last year, she had diarrhea for a few
weeks. After the kittens were born, some with defects, the vet informed
us that she probably had had distemper. Luckily, the kittens or our
other cats did not get it. She was isolated from our crew for months
because of the kittens.

Maybe your kitten's mom had it, but he did not contract it himself.
Maybe ask the vet if he could be a carrier without getting the illness,
and if so -- for how long?

Good luck to your two babies. I'm sure it's a big worry, but our mom-cat
came through distemper just fine. She's now running through the house
faster than her kittens!

Let us know what happens,

Rhonda

> I hope someone out there can help me out. We brought a 8 wk. old kitten
> home on 4/19. He was kept away from my other cats (2 1/2 male, 7 yr. female)
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> kitten is happy as can be, eating and drinking etc. 2nd decal sample looked
> fine. Thanks for any input as I am going out of my mind with worry.

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Phil P. - 04 May 2005 12:37 GMT

> I hope someone out there can help me out. We brought a 8 wk. old kitten
> home on 4/19. He was kept away from my other cats (2 1/2 male, 7 yr. female)
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> diagnos is now FPL although both cats have been vaccinated and are up to
> date with shots. Has anyone heard of a situation like this?

Panleukopenia is *very*, *very* rare in adult cats. How did your vet reach
the diagnosis? Was their white blood cell count very low?

Phil

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Chris - 04 May 2005 13:56 GMT

I don't mean to alarm you but when my Tucson was first diagnosed with FELV,
the thing that raised my vets eyes were that blood test showed FLP
indicators-specifically, very low white blood count. He did Elissa
(confirmed with ISA) to determine she was indeed positive for FELV. Has
your vet tested for this? Keep in mind that Tucson tested neg for FELV as a
young kitten but after 5 1/2 years of strictly indoor living & no exposure,
she tested pos....

>> I hope someone out there can help me out. We brought a 8 wk. old kitten
>> home on 4/19. He was kept away from my other cats (2 1/2 male, 7 yr.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Phil

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Tracie June - 04 May 2005 15:10 GMT

Thanks for the replies. I just spoke with my vet and both cats are being
released tonight! To answer a few questions, the new kitten was tested for
FELV and was negative. Our vet has come to this diagnose by ruling out any
other possible cause via cbc, blood and stool samples. She told me both
cats ate last night and no vomit or diarrhea. Temps are still at 102 but
she thinks they are ready to come home. I will be giving them antibiotics
with a needle because they are impossible to give pills too. Wish me luck!

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Mary - 04 May 2005 17:39 GMT

> Thanks for the replies. I just spoke with my vet and both cats are being
> released tonight! To answer a few questions, the new kitten was tested for
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> she thinks they are ready to come home. I will be giving them antibiotics
> with a needle because they are impossible to give pills too. Wish me luck!

I'll keep you and the kitties in my thoughts. I really hope they will
be okay.

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