General Information
The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and its associated diseases is the foremost infectious cause of illness and death in cats. About 80% of persistently infected cats die within 3 years of becoming infected. Although some infected cats may live a normal lifespan, nearly all are plagued with recurring illness.
Currently, there are no drugs available that uniformly destroy the virus in infected cats; therefore, treatment is directed at relieving clinical signs, promoting a sense of well-being, and preventing spread of the virus to other cats.
Although various methods to rid the FeLV-infected cat of virus have been tried, none has been highly successful. Approaches to therapy have included anti-viral drugs, interferon, biological response modifiers, antibody therapy, and even bone marrow transplants. Your doctor will discuss the types of treatment available for your cat and the expected results.
Important Points in Treatment
1. Medication: Give all medication as directed. Call the doctor if you are unable to administer the medication as directed.
2. Blood tests: Periodic monitoring of your pet is necessary to assess your pet’s health status and evaluate the response to treatment.