Some time ago, a disease such as piroplasmosis, which is carried by ixodid ticks, was dangerous only for dogs. However, not so long ago, the causative agent of piroplasmosis, which is no less common and dangerous exclusively for predators of the feline family, has become no less common. How serious is this disease for a cat?
Every year, with the first sunny days, ticks become more and more active. These disgusting blood-sucking insects are carriers of such dangerous diseases that threaten complete disability and even death, such as tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. However, ticks can be dangerous not only for humans, but also for animals. Domestic cats often become infected with pyroplasmosis.
Pyroplasmosis in a cat: symptoms
Piroplasmosis is a parasitic disease of warm-blooded animals, in which a microscopic organism enters the bloodstream through a wound from a tick bite. It actively multiplies inside erythrocytes, which entails their massive death and severe intoxication of the cat's body. Without treatment, the animal is doomed to death.
The main symptoms of piroplasmosis infection in cats are:
- an increase in body temperature up to 41 ° С;
- apathy, refusal to feed, or simply poor appetite;
- change of the normal color of urine to red-brown;
- yellowish or just pale mucous membranes.
The appearance of two or more symptoms should make the owner of the cat suspect that she has piroplasmosis and urgently go to the veterinary hospital to take an analysis of the animal's peripheral blood. Agree with the laboratory assistant that the analysis be performed urgently, even if for a fee - if your cat actually has pyroplasmosis, then the count goes into hours.
Treatment of piroplasmosis in cats
If the test results confirm the diagnosis of piroplasmosis in the animal, then the cat should be treated. The therapy is prescribed by a veterinarian and is primarily aimed at destroying the pathogen in the animal's blood. These are injections, and they are quite toxic, therefore, droppers are prescribed to relieve intoxication and maintain the cat's body.
It is best to prevent the very possibility of infection and keep the cat outside. If this is not possible, then periodically treat your pet's coat with tick-repelling agents, for example, sprays and drops. Do not neglect buying a quality collar for your outdoor cat that will scare off parasites. A few months before the onset of summer, the cat can be vaccinated against piroplasmosis, which does not guarantee that infection will not occur, but one hundred percent will help to avoid death.
