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Common medical problems for FIV cats

   
Tushy Magoo - RIP

Because I said- so & Mom will- back me up		 
 
Purred: Fri Sep 29, '06 4:43pm PST 
I thought I'd start a thread about common medical problems FIV cats have. Mama has rescued several FIV cats over the last 6 years. Some of the problems we've seen are:

Teeth and Gum problems - FIV cats are more prone to these. We have one who has to take antibiotics from time to time for this, and another who had to have all his teeth removed.

Another problem we are dealing with right now is neurological issues with Casper (not yet on catster). The vets can't decide if he has had mini-strokes, or if the neurological issues are due to the FIV.

One boy, Johnny, is also have bone marrow issues from the FIV. This is probably the scariest thing we are dealing with right now because we can't reverse that. For now, he is stable and happy, but we are keeping a close eye on him.
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Pangur (In- Memoriam)

Singing- Sensation		 
 
Purred: Sat Mar 31, '07 4:44pm PST 
Pangur has the gum problems, but he is on antibiotics right now and it seems to have been wiped out for the moment. He also has persistent diarrhea, but I think that may be because of the FeLV.
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Sketchie (in- loving- memory)

Sketchie		 
 
Purred: Tue Apr 10, '07 9:48am PST 
Yes, I'll vouch for the teeth and gum problems. In the years before I went to kitty heaven, I had to have all of my teeth pulled out due to decay and pain. The vet says FIV is transferred via saliva -- maybe there's something to do with the virus being active in the saliva that affects the teeth? I'm just a cat so I really have no idea, but it's an interesting thought...

I also lost my eyesight there at the end and my vet said that blindness seems to occur more often in FIV-positive cats. I was 16 though, which isn't a short life by any means, so it's hard to say if my blindness would have happened even if I were healthy.

I think FIV-positive cats, especially those who have been rescued, know how special they are. We know that there are people out there to love us in spite of having a silent disease. Since I left for the Rainbow Bridge my mom has adopted 2 more FIV-positive cats. And I'm glad she did because it is hard for us to find homes.
kitty
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Bagha Byne

Cool and Smart
 
 
Purred: Fri Aug 10, '07 5:07am PST 
I was diagnosed FIV+ because I came down with toxoplasmosis. Normally cats don't get toxoplasmosis (we're healthy hosts to the toxoplasma parasite), but immunodeficient cats like me do.
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Teddy - The Angel

I am Tedtastic.
 
 
Purred: Sat Aug 18, '07 8:20pm PST 
Hi Guys,
I am pretty new here, me and all my brothers and sisters are FIV +ve. I have had health problem all my life, gums, intestine, eye infections, you name it, I have had it and now I am battling Lymphoma in my kidneys, which is more commonin FIV cats. But my two brothers and sister show no signs at all and have been healthy all their lives.
But we definitely know we are very special.
Teddy and co
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Thomas

144262		 
 
Purred: Fri Sep 21, '07 7:27pm PST 
The only FIV-related issues Thomas has experienced so far have been neurological. He had some seizure-like episodes in November '06, and in July '07 he experienced some behavioral changes followed by a loss of balance and the temporary paralysis of his right forelimb. After two days, his behavior normalized. Four days after that, he spontaneously recovered his ability to balance and the use of his leg. Despite numerous tests, his vets were unable to determine the cause of the seizures or paralysis. They suspect that both were probably FIV-related.

Thomas is otherwise quite healthy, aside from the fact that he is FIV+ and diabetic.
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Solomon

The Purrmaster
 
 
Purred: Tue Dec 23, '08 7:23pm PST 
I'm a former semi-feral cat and just went to a vet today for the first time. Mommy says I am a gift from God....she purrayed and purrayed for Him to bring anofur kitty....and along came me!

I was just diagnosed with FIV altho my brofur and sisfur don't have it. I currently have an eye infection but mom got me some eye drops from the vet.

Before I recently got to my furever home, I was cared for by a foster mommy and she said it's best to keep a (limited) supply of antibiotics on hand in case I do get an infection. Foster mommy used to have FIV cats and they lived long lives.


My vet said she saw some gingivitis in my mouth....so I may need to go get that taken care of.

Edited by author Tue Dec 23, '08 7:26pm PST

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Thomas

144262		 
 
Purred: Wed Feb 11, '09 9:02pm PST 
Updating- Thomas has since lost a tooth (10/08) and suffered another neurological episode (4/08). He's taking a low dose of Reconcile (kitty Prozac) for some FIV-related behavior issues, and it is working amazingly.

We also found out he has HCM, after an adverse reaction to a medication given for the neuro issues.. but I guess that's not really FIV-related. wink

Poor defective kitty.

That said, all things considered, he is doing quite well. big grin

We think he will be 8 this year (he's a former feral, trapped in adulthood, so it's hard to say for certain)..and he's been positive since at least 8/2004, as this is when he was trapped/tested.
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Thomas

144262		 
 
Purred: Wed Feb 11, '09 9:09pm PST 
If anyone out there is considering bringing a feral into the family fold, don't let Thomas' story discourage you.. he's not typical!

Our other former colony kitty, Tyson (trapped 1/04 at ~9 months) is the picture of health, apart from some issues with stomatitis. Nicholas is also a product of the colony (though born inside- "mom" was trapped while pregnant), and he and his mother and littermates are quite healthy as well.

Both cats have been a wonderful addition.. and thus far, Thomas is the only "lemon" I'm aware of. wink

I'm just sayin'.
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