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There is a recently new and serious threat to the feline community in North Carolina, Cytauxzoonosis, or C. felis. This is a tick borne disease that can lead to death within a very short period of time, usually within 1 week.
Cats that spend any time outdoors are at a very high risk. The way to help to prevent this very deadly disease is by reducing the cat’s exposure to immature stages of ticks:
1-Keep grassy areas cut short
2-Reduce the number of small mammals in the yard
3-Do not allow cat outside when the grass is moist
4-Use and maintain adequate tick prevention using approved products (see your veterinarian for proper dosage and recommendations since Frontline and Frontline-Plus will protect a cat that weighs less than 10 pounds but cats over 10 pounds will need more frequent dosing or higher dosing if at risk )
Owners should be aware of a sudden decrease in their cat’s appetites or ability to walk. If you notice any suspicious symptoms you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian has less than 72 hours to diagnose and institute therapy.
Upon a physical examination, a veterinarian may find a fever, general muscle weakness and pale or jaundiced membranes. Further examination of the blood may show a low white blood cell count or a low platelet count. Depending on what stage of disease the patient is in, there may be elevated levels of various blood enzymes which will appear in more extensive blood work. A cat in the later stages of Cytauxzoonosis will show general organ failure.
Diagnosing and treating may require referral to a specialist for an ultrasound to get cells from the spleen or internal lymph nodes or a bone marrow biopsy to get cells to analyze for the organism. The treatment is specialized and not without great risk itself so the best course of action is prevention.
This disease is becoming more common in NC and needs to be taken very seriously due to the short amount of time allowed to treat for this disease. If you suspect your cat may be at risk, schedule an appointment immediately.
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