Staff and volunteers at Medicine Hat's APARC are working to limit the spread of two highly contagious viruses among the shelter's feline population, and in an effort to protect the most vulnerable, are seeking emergency foster homes for kittens.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat’s APARC has closed adoptions for a minimum of three weeks following detection of two highly contagious viruses among its feline population.
The animal welfare organization announced Jan. 4 that a case of feline calicivirus had been detected in its shelter, and in an effort to limit potential spread, animal visits and adoptions were temporarily being halted.
An easily transmissible upper respiratory and oral virus causing mild to severe symptoms in cats, FCV is cause for concern, but is not uncommon in shelter settings.
But on Jan. 5, the level of concern raised significantly when APARC announced a case of panleukopenia had also been detected in its feline population.
A highly contagious virus which decreases an infected body’s white blood cell count and reduces its overall immunity to illness, panleukopenia is a life-threatening disease for cats.
“Panleukopenia is a pretty serious virus that’s closely related to canine parvovirus,” Dr. Peggy Mason, a veterinarian at Cypress View Veterinary Clinic, told the News when contacted for an independent expert opinion.
Mason explained that despite similarities, panleukopenia is different from canine parvovirus, although panleukopenia can affect dogs as well depending on the strain.
“The most typical clinical signs include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea (and sometimes) fever,” said Mason. “As it is a virus that affects the intestines, they can get really dehydrated quite quickly.
“As for treating them, all we can do, because it’s a virus, is provide supportive care, so things like IV fluids, oftentimes antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections, etc. But treatment is oftentimes not successful.”
APARC reports that without supportive care, up to 90 per cent of infected cats die, but even with supportive care, chances of survival are uncertain.
Taking into consideration the low rate of survival, high risk of transmission, current shelter capacity (as of Dec. 31, 2022, APARC had 116 cats in care) and subsequent space constraints, the organization and its veterinary team have determined the best course of action to be to euthanize any animal infected with panleukopenia – a decision Mason says is unfortunate, but understandable.
“I think it’s reasonable in a shelter situation, just because they’re so close to one another, it’s so highly contagious and it’s so serious,” said Mason.
An APARC representative said Monday, that staff and volunteers are engaging in every measure possible to prevent the spread of both panleukopenia and calicivirus. Measures include deep-cleaning adoption rooms, with each room assigned to one staff member or volunteer to limit transmission; mandatory use of PPE, with frequent changes; limiting building access; pausing acceptance of new animals and moving animals most at risk of illness to emergency foster homes.
APARC is appealing for emergency foster homes for kittens, as kittens often suffer the most severe effects of panleukopenia and other illnesses, and may not have full-vaccinations to mitigate.
Anyone interested in emergency fostering can find requirements and applications online at aparc.ca.
Help can also be offered through monetary donation, though APARC representatives request that, in order to limit potential transmission, all donations be made online.
