Feline AIDS

Feline AIDS

Feline immunodeficiency virus or FIV (similar to HIV or Human AIDS) is an infection that attacks the immune system of the cat. Up to 1 in 12 cats tests positive for FIV nationally. In cats that are at risk or clinically ill, the infection rate rises to as high as 15%. This percentage is higher here in Florida as I diagnose this disease at least 3 to 4 times monthly.
FIV is a lentivirus that is transmitted primarily thru bite wounds, but also may be acquired from the mother while pregnant. Unlike Feline Leukemia, the virus is not transmitted thru intimate contact such as with grooming behaviors, because the enzymes in the mouth destroy the virus just as HIV is in humans.
Clinical signs usually begin 6-8 weeks after infection and include low white blood cell counts (wbc fight infection), neurologic signs (behavior changes, dizziness, seizures) and severe sickness in general. Cats with AIDS have poor immune systems and do not fight common illnesses as normal cats would. In other words, a simple cold can kill a FIV infected kitty! Many FIV infected cats will have no specific signs of illness and can live 4-5 years without any problems. This disease, however, will eventually kill the patient as does HIV in humans.
There is no treatment or drug cocktails in veterinary medicine as there is in human medicine. There is a new vaccine, however, that was introduced in July 2002. A patient must test negative for FIV before vaccinating. There is a series of 3 vaccines initially with 1 vaccine given each year thereafter.
Any kitty that goes outside at all in Florida is at risk for FIV infection. It is transmitted primarily thru a bite wound commonly occurring during a cat fight. This is a terminal illness, but the vaccine has tested almost 100% effective in preventing the disease. As always, if anyone has any questions, feel free to call the hospital for more information.

Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia(FeLv) is one of two diseases we routinely screen for in new kittens and outdoor cats, with the other disease being Feline Immunodeficiency Virus(Fiv)or Aids. Thankfully, we are not seeing this disease too often due to diligent vaccinating and routine screening.
FeLv is caused by a C-type retrovirus or oncornavirus that has a propensity to cause cancer of lymphoid cells and bone marrow stem cells. FeLv is spread by carriers in the saliva (richest source), urine and feces. Thus biting and intimate contact (mutual grooming/oral contact) is a very common mode of transmission. FeLv may also be passed in utero (transplacental) from mother to fetus, however most kittens die at birth. Survivors may mount an immune response and overthrow the virus resulting in a cure, become a carrier (10%) or have active disease.
The primary stage of illness has varying severity and may last several weeks. One may see enlarged lymph nodes and low grade fever. Two to four weeks after infection, anemia and low platelets may be seen. In 70-90%, the patient’s immune system will overthrow the virus and fully recover. Others will become carriers and continue to worsen. In carriers, the virus will cause cancer (lymphoma, blood related cancer etc), anemia (1/3 to 1/2 of patients develop severe anemia) and immunodeficiency (simple infections can cause severe disease and/or death). The average lifespan of a FeLv carriers is 1/2 to 1 year. Cats with active disease will usually die from a common respiratory infection or “cold” due to a poor immune system caused by the virus.
Diagnosis is accurate, simple and takes 10 minutes. Currently we use the Idexx Snap test which utilizes a few drops of blood. It also screens for Fiv or Aids.
Prevention is always better than treatment. Several commercially available vaccines are available and are very effective. Two vaccines are required initially 3 weeks apart and then once yearly thereafter.
This is a very serious and lethal disease. Some pets can live fairly normal lives, but will eventually die from the virus or illness caused by the virus. Early testing and proper vaccinating is key to hopefully someday eradicating this disease.
As always, please feel free to contact the clinic if you need further information regarding Feline Leukemia.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations

“To vaccinate or not to vaccinate… That is the question!”

Recently, there has been much debate, fueled primarily by the media, regarding yearly vaccinations of pets. The media, as well as other non-veterinary groups, are asserting that veterinarians are over vaccinating pets in this country. This month’s article will look at this important issue and try to shed some light on this controversial subject.
It is uncertain why or when the veterinary experts at the time decided that yearly vaccinations were the best protocol. Maybe, 50 years ago when supposingly this began, veterinarians extrapolated from human vaccine protocols and continue their recommendations today. I recently attended a large vaccination symposium discussing these issues to determine are vaccinations necessary and do they pose a health hazard to the pet or human.
Major points of the meeting looked at current human protocols compared to veterinary medicine and detrimental health issues to pets and humans as a result of vaccinating or not vaccinating yearly.
I do not have any children, so I have no concept of what vaccines babies/kid/teenagers receive. Experts at the symposium presented a slide from the American Board of Pediatrics regarding their current vaccination protocol for babies in their first year or so of life. It was amazing! According to the protocol, vaccines are given every week for several months. This differs from veterinary medicine in that vaccines are started at 8 weeks of age and done every 3 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then recommended yearly. The program expert calculated a several fold increase in the number of diseases babies are vaccinated against in the first year compared to dogs/cats. Many diseases in children have not been seen in decades, but why do kids still receive vaccines for them? The answer to the question is with a question… would you rather your child get a potential deadly disease or would you rather have them vaccinated prophylacticaly? Most pediatricians have never seen some of the diseases they vaccinate for and would never see them unless visiting a third world country. The same holds true for our pet friends, except, I personally have seen all the diseases I vaccinate yearly for in the past 8 years. Some of these diseases I see every month such as Aids, Leukemia, Hepatitis. Recent research has shown that adverse effects attributed to vaccines themselves cannot be substantiated. Some people ask me to run a blood test on their pet instead of vaccinating to determine if their vaccine level is high enough to protect against disease. If every pet were exactly the same with the exact same immune status, blood tests may be useful. In other words, a flu shot may protect me, but not you since our bodies require different amounts of vaccine for protection.
Current recommendations by immunologists, veterinary colleges and vaccine researchers is to continue with yearly vaccines for Rabies/Distemper and twice yearly for Bordetella in dogs and once yearly vaccines in cats. I guess the old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may apply to disease prevention and vaccine protocols.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding this month’s health article, please feel free to call the office.

Feline Heartworm Disease

Feline Heartworm Disease

Canine and Feline Heartworm Disease share only one similarity…both are transmitted by the mosquito. Florida ranks first in the country for heartworm disease in both the dog and cat.
Past teaching in veterinary colleges was that when cats got this disease, it would cause only a transient illness and the patient would fully recover. However, over the past few years, research has shown about 30% of all cats either have been exposed or possess the disease. Indoor cats are more susceptible than outdoor cats to heartworms.
Symptoms include vomiting, asthma like symptoms, lethargy and poor appetite. In some patients however, there are no symptoms and death is sudden. In canine disease, as many as 50 to 100 worms may reside in the right heart ventricle and pulmonary arteries whereas cats may only have 1 to 2 worms in the lungs. Hence, a common symptom is an asthma like syndrome.
Currently, supportive care is the only treatment.Some patients will respond and recover and others will not. Unlike canine heartworm disease, testing is unreliable. Two tests currently available are the Antigen (detects heartworm material in the patient’s body) and the Antibody (examines the patient’s immune system for heartworm exposure). A positive or negative response to either or both tests does not rule in or out heartworm disease. In most positive tests cases, the patient has only been exposed to the disease and infection never occurred. Usually, further testing such as radiographs and bloodwork are required to fully assess the disease status.
Although there is no cure for this potentially deadly disease, there are two preventatives available: Heartguard (ivermectin) which is a chewable product given every 30 days that most cats dislike and Revolution (selamectin) which is a topical product also used every 30 days. Revolution not only prevents heartworm disease, but also treats fleas, ticks, ear mites, intestinal parasites and skin scabies. It is very easy to apply and should be used every 30 days. Unlike canine heartworm disease, Revolution may be used regardless of heartworm status. That is, the dog must have a negative heartworm test result prior to using prevention, whereas in the cat, it is not necessary.
If you have any questions to this puzzling disease, please don’t hesitate to call the clinic.