Chapter 7: Reintroduction of Recovered Animals

Viral shedding can continue for up to ~14 days following recovery from clinical signs, thus isolating recovered animals for an additional two weeks is the safest option to limit spread within the shelter. Socialization is still required for puppies during this period, making prolonged isolation a potential challenge for many shelters. 

A negative FPV SNAP test is suggestive that significant quantities of virus are no longer being shed. In practice, SNAP testing recovered kittens/cats and moving the negative animals to adoption is relatively low risk, especially if these animals can be housed separately from other kittens and recently vaccinated adults (or immediately adopted into a home meeting these same criteria).

Adopters should be asked to observe a voluntary two week caution period in which their new pet is not exposed to other kittens or unvaccinated adults. Exposure to vaccinated adults is fine.

Bathe animals prior to re-introduction to a shelter in order to remove virus persisting on the coat. There is no contraindication to performing surgery on recently recovered animals. Continue vaccinating kittens following the normal revaccination schedule; although recovery from FPV infection will confer long-term immunity, protection is still needed against the other agents included in the multivalent vaccine.