Introduction
Cats that are infected with feline leukemia virus experience weakened immune systems. While there is no cure for feline leukemia, supportive therapies can help to lower infections and illnesses in FeLV cats.
Treating Cats with FeLV
In order to help reduce the amount of infections and illnesses that a FeLV cat is exposed to, FeLV cats should be kept indoors and away from other animals. FeLV cats should also be in a reduced stress environment. To help reduce stress levels for a FeLV cat, the cat should have plenty of toys and entertainments, the cat should have a safe place to go to when it feels stressed, and the cat should be in a quiet household.
Preventing secondary infections
To combat secondary infections, FeLV cats should receive wellness checks every 6 months. During a wellness check the cat will have a complete physical examination and full panel blood tests. These tests will catch any invading secondary infections early. If secondary infections are found, treatments which include antibiotics, nutritional supplements, and fluid therapies may be administered. Blood transfusions can help to combat severe anemia if this condition develops.
Boosting the immune system
Products which help to boost the immune system and slow down virus replications have seemed to help some cats with FeLV, but the effects of these products are still under investigation. Some pet owners give their FeLV cats low doses of human interferon. This is a product that can reduce virus replication in humans, and some pet owners swear that it helps their FeLV cat. To date there are no known negative side effects of interferon use in cats. Another type of medication, ImmunoRegulin, stimulates an animal’s immune system, and it is administered through intravenous injections. Again, the effects of ImmunoRegulin on FeLV cats is not yet clear and some veterinarians do not use this type of therapy; ImmunoRegulin can cause fever, lack of appetite, and vomiting.