These diseases are severe, irreversible and incurable, but the animal can live several years, if it has a good quality of life. It is important to prevent the spread of these diseases, to vaccinate them and prevent them from leaving the home so that they do not contract them through contact with other cats.
Felv causes bone marrow tumors and cancer, which causes immunosuppression and severe anemias. When the cat has a committed immune system, any disease puts its life at risk. The feline recurrently develops skin conditions, abortions, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. It manifests fever, lack of appetite or weight loss.
VIF is an infection caused by a lentivirus, whose development course is slow, Since there are cats that show signs of the disease until several years after having infected. It is usually detected by routine cats in cats. ANDThe animal manifests recurrent fever and lethargy, and develops oral, eye, respiratory, intestinal and skin diseases.
There are some myths and truths related to these diseases, which are detailed below:
They are uncommon diseases
Fake. The veterinarian Emerson López states that of every 10 cats that arrive sick and that they are subjected to testing to detect these diseases, one comes positive. According to data from the American Feline Physicians Association, 25% of cats in Latin America have vif. They are diagnosed accurately with the quick test called Elisa or with immunochromatography. The latter identifies the antigen of leukemia and HIV antibody. There is also the PCR test.
They can be transmitted to the human
Fake. These are not zoonotic diseases and cannot be infected to other species of animals. Although the VIF acts in the same way as the acquired immunodeficiency virus, in humans, both are totally different, as well as the form of their infection.
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They are highly contagious between cats
TRUE. FELV is transmitted by direct contact with infected animals, Mainly, by bites, as well as for scratches, breastfeeding or during pregnancy. It can also be found in body fluids and feces. The vif is spread, especially, for saliva, during fights or when they groom each other.
Infected cats live a few years
In part. Most cats with leukemia live three to four years, after having contracted it. In relation to the VIF, it will depend on the stage in which it was diagnosed. It will depend on the animal’s immune system. If you have good quality of life, you can live many years. The euthanasia, Well, they can live without symptoms. The positive cat must be taken to check every six months with the veterinarian or before any symptom. You should not go outside the home.
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The vif is asymptomatic
In part. In the primary phase, the cat has no symptoms, although it can transmit it to other felines, and in the chronic or terminal stage, the animal develops opportunistic diseases, such as parasitosis or gastroenteritis.
These infections can be treated
Fake. There is no treatment for these diseases. Having a weak immune system, the animal is more predisposed to concomitant infections that are treated with antibiotics and if it has pain, with anti -inflammatory. In some countries, interferonas are given, a group of natural compounds that have antiviral effects to maintain the low viral load, but the treatment must be suitable for each individual.
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These diseases are incurable
TRUE. Therefore, it is important to castrate the cat and prevent him from leaving home. Feline leukemia is prevented with annual vaccination. The first dose is inoculated at 8 or 10 weeks of life; the second, at 15 days or a month after the first, and then once a year. Cats should be vaccinated before integrating them home and diagnostic tests. For the VIF there is no immunization. For the World Veterinary Association of Small Species, The FELV vaccine is essential, regardless of whether or not the cat leaves outside the home, because it could have acquired it during pregnancy or breastfeeding.