My kitten has parvovirus symptoms. What happens to her IV fluids?

This kitten was likely already exposed to it before you go it. This disease can be fatal but hydration is the key. It is a virus so supportive care is all you can do until it passes. Most turn the corner within a week of treatment starting with no more vomiting followed by an appetite returning.

I am so sorry that this has happened to you and your family! Feline parvovirus also called feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious and often fatal disease with kittens being the most susceptible. Diagnosis can sometimes be confirmed using a fecal antigen test kit. However, because this fecal antigen is detectable only for a short time after infection, false-negative results are common. It sounds like this might have been the case with your kitten. Supportive therapy is the main course of treatment and prognosis is guarded. Because the virus is very hardy, it can remain infectious in your home for years, unless the environment can be appropriately disinfected with bleach.

Common causes for diarrhea and flu-like symptoms in a kitten include intestinal parasites, bacterial or viral gastroenteritis (like feline panleukopenia), GI blockage, among others. You can get a pet dewormer and try to slowly syringe water or pedialyte with a little honey in it. Make sure he is swallowing so that the water doesn't go into his lungs. If he has a bacterial infection, he needs to see a vet for antibiotics. If he has panleukopenia, his prognosis is very poor even with veterinary care. Keep him warm and clean and try to get fluids into him.

Feline parvo, also called panleukopenia, can be spread through the stool, urine, or nasal secretions of affected kittens. I'm glad you kept the kittens separated when they were both in your care. I would make sure you do not let your heathy kitten use any of the bowls, blankets, beds, or litter pans the sick kitten came in contact with. You can clean these items with diluted bleach. Also clean surfaces the sick kitten came in contact with similarly. Signs to watch for include lethargy, diarrhea and poor appetite. Here is a helpful website: https://www.avma.org/public/petcare/pages/Feline-Panleukopenia.aspx. I hope Sebastian does great!! Please let us know if you have further questions.

With appropriate and intensive treatment chances of recovery are usually good. The response to the first days of treatment is essential, but for sure the fact that you went straight to your veterinarian increases the chances a lot. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Poor little one, I would recommend that he has fluids intravenously and medications through the drip until he starts to eat.. then you can start oral medications. If he is dehydrated already, as time goes by without eating, he will be getting worse. Hope you can have him rechecked and that something a little more intensive can be done for him. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This depends on the type of fluids he is receiving, it is possible to provide intravenous nutrition but this is often very expensive. Tube feeding is often used if not eating voluntarily or if vomiting is severe. I recommend you chat about this with your primary treating vet