Kitten recovered from parvo, now has runny stool. Can she get it again?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! What clinical signs was she exhibiting that indicated she was ill: vomiting, coughing, sneezing, inappetance, etc? It is not uncommon for kittens to acquire respiratory infections if they were obtained from a shelter/rescue setting and this can certainly make them feel ill. If Luna appears back to her normal self and is eating/drinking normally, no vomiting/diarrhea, or other signs are noted then I would suspect she is okay at this point. If she is still exhibiting any abnormalities of any kind I would certainly have her evaluated by her veterinarian. Based on her physical examination with the doctor, a minimum database (complete blood count, serum chemistry, +/- urinalysis, +/- FeLV/FIV test), fecal diagnostics, or radiographs may be recommended.

Parvo virus in cats (also known as panleukopenia) is a very serious illness with a poor prognosis. If Blue was not tested for feline panleukopenia and his diagnosis was an educated guess, it may be that the bloody stool and vomiting were caused by some other bacterial or viral infection, or intestinal parasites. I do hope that he continues to get better and go back to completely normal! A true panleukopenia virus infected cat can continue to shed virus particles for 6 weeks. I do recommend that he be seen by the vet to start vaccinations next week to prevent other viral infections that are prevented with proper vaccination. Here is some more information on panleukopenia virus in cats: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1983

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Luna has made a pretty impressive recovery from her Parvo diagnosis, and you did a great job caring for her at home. Since she is doing so well with her currently therapy plan, I would continue her medications for the proper length of time as indicated by your veterinarian. I would not recommend stopping any medication earlier than prescribed, as this can sometimes cause dog's clinical signs to reappear. If you have any specific questions about the medications prescribed for Luna, I recommend contacting the veterinarian who prescribed them to see if he/she would like you to continue them for longer than originally prescribed. Otherwise, as long as Luna is otherwise healthy and acting normally at home, I would not be concerned. I hope this is helpful!

I’m sorry Luna is so sick. It sounds like she needs to see a veterinarian very soon. Young kittens do not have much reserve and can become dehydrated very quickly. Please take a fresh poop sample with you when you go to the veterinarian. They will likely want to look for intestinal parasites and possibly do some blood work to look for panleukopenia. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that Luna is having trouble. Specifically diarrhea that is yellowish in color is often indicative of coccidia which is a parasite of the small intestine. It is possible it's something else like other parasites, dietary problem, etc. I don't know of any over the counter medicines for coccidia so you will have to consult with your vet and have Luna evaluated before they can prescribe medicine for her. They will be able to evaluate her and run a fecal exam then decide on the treatment. I hope see gets well soon.

Oh goodness that is concerning. You said you had her checked out. Hopefully she was vaccinated at that time as well, if not then she should be vaccinated immediately . Panleukopenia is included in the core feline vaccines. She should be boostered 3-4 weeks after the first vaccine and then again until she is about 16 weeks old. I am glad you disinfected it, hopefully she was not exposed. There is not much else you can do. Best of luck and I hope she does well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

This could still be from the parvo. Puppies can have abnormal stool on and off for up to a month after surviving the disease. If that’s not the case, often a prescription strength high fiber or hydrolyzed protein diet will help. There are some cases that will not respond to diet, and at that point your vet can discuss referral to an internist, further testing, or medications like Tylan powder to help. Best of luck to you and Luna!