From a dedicated Dog Owner, a special appeal to all Cat Owners:
Please make sure all your cats are up-to-date with their feline distemper vaccinations!
This should be an annual shot for all cats over 5 mos. of age, who are not only at risk to contract/suffer/even die from this devastating viral killer, but while carrying it, can infect
DOGS with it, wherein it manifests as canine parvo virus.
{Remember the great 'parvo' epidemic among dogs in the early 80's? I sure do - I lost two dogs over a year & 1/2 to it.}
In early January, my Alaskan Malamute boy Flint picked-up a tiny nose-scratch from a trespassing neighborhood tom, which I disregarded as "spoils of war" . . until two days later, when he was feverish & lethargic & nauseous & trembling . .
Long story short . . the vet informed me that the two reasons Flint survived were: 1) his cast-iron Malamute constitution, and 2) last Summer, the 5-way shot she gave him included an innoculant vs. parvo . . . but nevertheless, he did suffer a minimal amount of liver failure - which might
never entirely heal, which in turn might end up paring a year or two off his potential life expectancy.
So . . . cat owners: have all your animals vaccinated for feline distemper - if your family vet prefers do a 'multiple' shot', make sure it includes the distemper innoculant - this is
critical. Kittens can be vaccinated as early as 100 days of age.
Dog owners - don't let this metamorphic killer take your best friend away - if your dog is
NOT protected by the correct vaccine, or innoculant, the result of infection is
90% fatal.
If your vet relies on a '5-Way' shot, make sure it guards against rabies, canine distemper, leptospirosis, brucelosis & canine parvo virus. Pregnant bitches should receive a parvo booster between their 2nd & 5th weeks of gestation, pups should get their first vaccine between weaning & 5 months.
I've also posted this in the "Domestic Cat" thread.