Hillsdale Veterinary Group | Comprehensive and pain-free healthcare for pets

Hillsdale Veterinary Group
6359 SW Capitol Highway
Portland OR 97239
map and driving instructions

Phone:
(503) 246-4660

Hours

IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR FeLV?

There is no cure yet for FeLV infection. However, cats may live for years following infection. It is impossible to predict how each cat will respond. In general, once a cat shows signs of the disease, the long-term prognosis is poor. There are several experimental treatments which may produce some improvement in some patients, but usually this provides only short-term help.

HOW CAN I PREVENT MY CAT FROM GETTING FeLV?

The most important method of controlling FeLV is to simply not expose FeLV-free cats to infected cats. Depending on the cat’s environment, the risk of being exposed to FeLV varies. Indoor cats have a very low risk of becoming infected with FeLV (assuming they are FeLV-free to start with.)

The FeLV vaccine initiates immunity in cats. It does not contain infectious FeLV, so it can’t cause disease. The vaccine is not 100% effective (no vaccine is), but it does diminish the risk of FeLV disease.

SHOULD I TEST MY CAT BEFORE VACCINATING IT?

FeLV testing of cats before vaccination is not mandatory, but is recommended because it identifies infected cats which would not benefit from vaccination and which should be isolated to prevent spread of the virus. If you choose not to test before vaccinating your cat, current evidence indicates that vaccination of FeLV-positive cats will neither help nor harm.

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WHAT IS FELINE LEUKEMIA?

In 1964, the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was first described. It was named the leukemia virus because leukemia was the first disease researchers found it could cause. Since then, it has been determined that infection with FeLV produces a wide variety of clinical syndromes in affected cats, not just leukemia. Excluding trauma, FeLV-associated diseases are the leading cause of death in pet cats. Overall, up to 3% of the feline population has been reported to be affected. However the incidence in multiple-cat households may be as high as 33%.

HOW IS FeLV SPREAD?

The virus is spread through saliva, urine, and blood of infected cats. The virus is shed in particularly huge numbers in the saliva. Intimate contact, such as shared food bowls and litter pans, bite wounds or reciprocal grooming practices assist in transmission of the virus.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF FeLV INFECTION?

•WEIGHT LOSS
•WEAKNESS
•LOSS OF APPETITE
•FEVER
•VOMITING
•DIARRHEA
•MOUTH ULCERS
•CHRONIC BACTERIAL
•INFECTION

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR CAT IS
EXPOSED TO FeLV?

When a cat becomes infected with FeLV, the infection will produce one of three possible outcomes.

1. Some cats mount an immune response to FeLV, neutralize the virus, and become resistant to future infections. This occurs in approximately 40% of exposed cats, depending on age of the cat and the strain of the virus.

2. Some cats remain persistently infected, shedding the virus in the saliva and urine.
These cats test positive for FeLV and are highly susceptible to FeLV-associated diseases, including cancer. Up to 80% of
these cats die within 3 years.

3. In some cats, the virus persists in the latent form in the bone marrow. These cats will test negative for FeLV infection, but culture of the bone marrow allows the virus to grow. Cats with latent infections are believed not to spread disease to other cats during the latent state, but are fully susceptible to both FeLV-associated diseases and cancer.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN INFECTED
FEMALE HAS KITTENS?

FeLV can be passed from the mother to the fetuses across the placenta and via the milk. Exposed kittens can be immunosuppressed and are more susceptible to infection. They can carry and spread the disease as kittens and adults, and are susceptible to FeLV-associated diseases and cancer throughout life.

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