Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or Feline AIDS) in Cats Guide: Here you'll find in-depth information on Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in cats including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
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The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), also sometimes called “feline AIDS,” is one cause of immune system disorders in domestic cats. FIV is thought to share many features with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS in people. The feline and human viruses are species-specific, which means that HIV cannot cause infection in cats, and FIV cannot cause infection in people. Infection with FIV ultimately suppresses the cat’s immune system, allowing any number of secondary
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a common retrovirus in cats that is thought to share many features in common with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. Infection with FIV progressively suppresses the cat’s immune system. As a result, the symptoms of so-called “feline AIDS” can vary widely, as the cat’s immune system slowly breaks down.Cats infected with FIV can develop a number of different symptoms. Because their immune systems are weakened and unable
Infection by the feline immunodeficiency virus can be diagnosed using tests that identify antibodies in the cat’s blood caused by previous exposure to the virus. Most of these tests can be performed at a local veterinary clinic, although some samples may need to be sent to an outside laboratory.Most veterinarians will perform a thorough physical examination and conduct routine blood work (complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile) on any cat presenting with nonspecific signs
There is no effective cure for feline immunodeficiency virus infection. However, there are treatment and management protocols that can help affected cats live a longer and more comfortable life. The overriding goal of treating FIV infection is to prevent or resolve the secondary opportunistic infections that can quickly become lethal due to the immunocompromised status of infected cats.By the time FIV infection is definitively diagnosed, the veterinarian will already have performed a thorough physical examination,