Mission
Animal Clinic and Feline Aids (FIV)
Located in the San Fernando Valley, 16907 San Fernando Mission Blvd. Granada Hills Ca, 818-363-8143
(Feline Immune Deficiency Virus)
Some current information regarding
FIV:
1.
There
is no evidence to indicate that the disease is transmittable to humans.
Cat owners should not be concerned that their cats could expose them to
human AIDS.
2.
The
disease is predominantly seen in older cats (unlike the leukemia virus) and
blood samples from all over the
3.
Although
similar to Feline Leukemia Virus, cats infected with FIV do not test positive
for leukemia. There is a specific test available to screen for FIV.
It is reliable and requires only a small amount of blood.
4.
Signs
of the disease are similar to those in humans suffering from AIDS and include
swollen lymph nodes, severe weight loss, diarrhea, respiratory infections,
anemia, and parasitic infections. The
cat’s entire immune system is suppressed by the virus.
5.
Because
FIV in cats attacks the same type of blood cells that the human AIDS virus
destroys in humans, it is felt that the cat may help provide answers for AIDS
research.
6.
FIV
infection should be suspected in any cat that has repeated infections or
continually gets in fights with other cats.
FIV
in cats is spread through cat fight bites. Other contact, such as
eating or drinking out of the same bowl has not been shown to transmit the
disease.
A
diagnosis is made with a blood test. A positive test means the
cat has been EXPOSED to the
virus and will likely be infected for the remainder of its life.
A negative cat means either the cat has not been exposed, or that
exposure has occurred so recently that antibodies have not had time to develop
in the cat after exposure. As a
rule, it requires 4-6 weeks for the cat to develop an antibody level after
exposure that can be detected using the blood test.
TESTING KITTENS. The test is not accurate in kittens under 4-6 months of age. A positive antibody test result in younger kittens simply means it is detecting antibody in the kitten’s blood that it received from its mother while nursing. Any positive test performed on pets less than 6 months of age should have a confirmation test performed at 6 months of age or older. If that second test is also positive, then it can be assumed the kitten is infected. If the second test is negative, there is nothing to worry about.
Clinical
signs may not develop for long periods of time after exposure—up to 6 years.
For this reason, the disease is most often diagnosed in the older adult
pet.
Clinical
signs usually are simply a failure to respond to treatment for other conditions.
Severe gum infections and respiratory infections are common.
Cats that are “poor-doers” are common.
Treatment-resistant diarrhea is sometimes seen.
THERE IS NO
CURE FOR FELINE AIDS. There are, however, newer
medications that can be used to boost the cat’s immune system helping prolong
its quality life. However, the virus
will remain in the cat and often reappears at a later time.
FIV positive cats should not come in contact with other cats to minimize the spread of the disease. Euthanasia of a positive cat is NOT NECESSARY as long as the cat is kept in the house and as stress-free as possible to minimize the chances of another infection developing to which the cat will not be able to respond due to FIV infection.
The prognosis is NOT GOOD for the long-term.
16907 San Fernando Mission Blvd. Granada Hills, Ca. 91344 818-363-8143
Home Our Philosophy Hospital Tour Our Services Conditions K-9 Conditions Feline Conditions Videos Lost Pet 911 Payment Options Directions and Hours Book Store