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How to Find if Your Cat has Feline Leukemia

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By Melanie Fitzpatrick
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Feline Leukemia is accountable for more deaths among cats than any of the other diseases out there. Feline Leukemia not only occurs in wild felines, but it also occurs in the domestic felines – better known as the felines that live in our house…the felines that are our pets. Within this article, we are going to share some information about Feline Leukemia with you.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Feline Leukemia is Devastating
    There is no denying that feline leukemia can be a devastating disease for both you and your cat. There are three types of feline leukemia, below you will find those types:
    • FeLV – this feline leukemia occurs in all infected felines and will cause severe immunosuppression, which is a weakened immune system.
    • FeLB-B – This happens in fifty percent of the felines who are infected with FeLV, this causes more neoplastic diseases, which includes abnormal tissue growths and tumors.
    • FeLV-C – this happens in one percent of cats who have feline leukemia and can cause severe anemia

  2. Step 2

    Symptoms of Feline Leukemia

    When it comes to the symptoms of feline leukemia, it all depends on what stage the disease is in. Below are some symptoms you may notice in cats who have feline leukemia:

    • Anemia
    • Chronic infections that keep coming about
    • Decrease in appetite
    • Blood found in the stool
    • Depression
    • Stamina that has decreased
    • Constipation or diarrhea
    • Infertility
    • Drinking a lot and urinating
    • Jaundice
    • Neuropathies
    • Weight Loss

  3. Step 3

    Feline Leukemia symptoms found with pregnant cats:

    • Lack of appetite
    • Lethargy
    • Stunted growth
    • Fading kittens
    • Loss of body mass
    • Spontaneous abortion

  4. Step 4

    Feline leukemia is one of the most devastating feline diseases that effects cats worldwide. Alone, in the United States, feline leukemia is found in 2% to 3% of all cats. Cats who are sick are four times more likely to be infected by feline leukemia. The male cats are 1.7 times more prone to getting feline leukemia then females are. Also, the cats who are younger are more susceptible to getting feline leukemia than older cats are. Cats who live in the outdoors are more likely to get feline leukemia.

  5. Step 5

    How Does Feline Leukemia Spread?
    Feline leukemia can spread through saliva that has been infected. It can also spread through feces, tears, urine, an infected mother during gestation and nursing. 20% of cats who have FeLV pass feline leukemia to their young. Some methods of transmission are listed below:
    • Bite Wounds that come from cats who are infected
    • Blood transfusions
    • Mutual grooming
    • Nose to nose
    • Shared food
    • Shared water
    • Sneezing
    • Shared little boxes

  6. Step 6

    Effective Drugs

    Veterinarians state that FeLV is not able to get passed on to humans. If you suspect your cat has feline leukemia, then you should take your cat to the vet to get some diagnostic tests done. These diagnostic tests will be able to detect all three of the leukemia in cats, but it will not be able to distinguish between them. Currently, there is no cure for feline leukemia and it threatens the lives of cats each year. However, some drugs have been proven effective and they include the following:

    • Acemannan
    • Interferon Alpha
    • Staph Protein A
    • Holistics
    • ImmunoRegulin

Tips & Warnings
  • If you see any signs of feline leukemia in you cat, then please take him or her to the vet to get treated.
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