Cat has AIDS

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Molson - 05 Nov 2004 21:54 GMT

As a result of a severe mouth (gums) infection, one of our two have been
diagnosed with Feline AIDS. The vet sez the prognosis is not good and at
best will be able to keep the infection and pain under control with
medication.
Anyone out there with experience on this? Cat is seven years old.
TIA
M

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Cat Protector - 05 Nov 2004 23:46 GMT

I am sorry to hear about your cat's diagnosis but sever gum infection is not
a cause of FIV but rather a symptom of it. How did your cat come to get the
disease since it is spread primarily through bites by other FIV infected
cats. I would get a second opinion just to be sure.

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> As a result of a severe mouth (gums) infection, one of our two have been
> diagnosed with Feline AIDS. The vet sez the prognosis is not good and at
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> TIA
> M

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Molson - 08 Nov 2004 10:08 GMT

He was a stray we took in some years ago. Age is approximate. Understand the
infection is a result of the AIDS and not the other way around. Being in
Japan we are not clear on what precise drugs are being used but essentially
it is a steroid and pain killer. On his curent mix he is his same old happy
self and eating well. As soon as we stop he relapses in a matter of days and
stops eating. Treatment was started on antibiotics, pain medication and HeNe
laser treatment. He got better but his recovery plateaued so now we are on
his current mix. We had his teeth cleaned in this process as well (kitty
breath). Not much experience with sick kitties on my part. The other one got
snake bit (Habu) some years back and that's about it. Thought I might try to
tap the information of this news group.
THX
M

> I am sorry to hear about your cat's diagnosis but sever gum infection is not
> a cause of FIV but rather a symptom of it. How did your cat come to get the
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> > TIA
> > M

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Cat Protector - 08 Nov 2004 17:53 GMT

Well it is not good to have a cat exposing other cats to the disease. In
other words you don't want to mix an FIV positive cat with an FIV negative
cat. If you have two cats I'd have them both tested.

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> He was a stray we took in some years ago. Age is approximate. Understand
> the
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>> > TIA
>> > M

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Yngver - 08 Nov 2004 18:07 GMT

>Well it is not good to have a cat exposing other cats to the disease. In
>other words you don't want to mix an FIV positive cat with an FIV negative
>cat. If you have two cats I'd have them both tested.

FIV is spread through deep bite wounds. If the cats are not likely to bite each
other there is virtually no risk. FeLV, of course, is different because it is
spread through mutual grooming and sharing food and water bowls. However, if
the cat actually has FeLV then the other cat(s) have already been exposed.

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Mary - 06 Nov 2004 01:01 GMT

>As a result of a severe mouth (gums) infection, one of our two have been
>diagnosed with Feline AIDS. The vet sez the prognosis is not good and at
>best will be able to keep the infection and pain under control with
>medication.
>Anyone out there with experience on this? Cat is seven years old.
>TIA

I have a cat that was FLV+. This is another immune deficienty type of disease.
I gave her interferon, immunoglobulin, a very good diet, stress free
environment and she ended up testing negative. She used to get gum
sores/infections. I'd give clavamox the instant I saw it start and she'd be
okay in a couple of days. I also started brushing her teeth and no more
infections. Cats can live a long time with AIDs with good supportive care.

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Yngver - 08 Nov 2004 16:16 GMT

>As a result of a severe mouth (gums) infection, one of our two have been
>diagnosed with Feline AIDS. The vet sez the prognosis is not good and at
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>TIA
>M

By feline AIDS, do you mean feline leukemia or FIV? There is a big difference
in the prognosis. Cats that are FIV positive can live a relatively normal
lifespan. They have a depressed immune system so you must take extra care to
insure your cat is not exposed to infections/diseases that healthy cats would
normally resist.

Feline leukemia (FeLV) positive cats will generally have shortened lifespans
but can live several healthy years with supportive care. If your cat has FIV,
that's a better diagnosis than FeLV.

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Molson - 08 Nov 2004 21:12 GMT

FIV+. That was the shocker for us. We had him tested for lukemia when we
first took him in and when he came up negative had him vaccinated annually
along with rabies and distemper. I didn't know about Feline AIDS until now.
M

> >As a result of a severe mouth (gums) infection, one of our two have been
> >diagnosed with Feline AIDS. The vet sez the prognosis is not good and at
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> but can live several healthy years with supportive care. If your cat has FIV,
> that's a better diagnosis than FeLV.

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Yngver - 08 Nov 2004 22:54 GMT

>FIV+. That was the shocker for us. We had him tested for lukemia when we
>first took him in and when he came up negative had him vaccinated annually
>along with rabies and distemper. I didn't know about Feline AIDS until now.
>M

Hmm, usually when they test for FeLV they test for FIV as well--vets normally
use the in-house combo test. If I were you, I'd have the cat retested for FIV
after three to six months because sometimes cats will fight off the infection.
At the shelter with which I'm involved, all FIV cats are re-tested every six
months. Make sure the re-test is the Western blot instead of the snap (ELISA)
test.

Chronic gum disease is associated with FIV but your vet should be able to
control it with aggressive treatment, although it may take a while. Again,
although cats with FIV are more susceptible to infections, many of them live a
normal or nearly normal lifespan.

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Molson - 10 Nov 2004 12:40 GMT

> >FIV+. That was the shocker for us. We had him tested for lukemia when we
> >first took him in and when he came up negative had him vaccinated annually
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> although cats with FIV are more susceptible to infections, many of them live a
> normal or nearly normal lifespan.

I thank you for your dialog.
M

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