A few years ago, these diseases were a death sentence for cats. Within a few years of diagnosis, secondary infections from immune impairment or cancer caused by the virus would end these precious kittys’ lives too soon.
Last week, I had a special patient, just a few years old with leukemia (cancerous kind) due to a leukemia infection. The cat was vaccinated, but never tested. I suspect the cat was infected when first adopted. The kitty succumbed to the cancer this week. My feline friend passed very quickly.
Had we tested the cat earlier, we could have started treatment. There is a very good treatment for these diseases. It’s not a cure, but a treatment. It’s FDA approved to relieve the symptoms of the disease, by stimulating the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are the part of the immune system attacked by these viruses. But in many cases, we not only reduce symptoms, but suppress the disease. In one of my patients, who had been positive for FeLV for many years, he actually tested negative. Unfortunately, when the owner stopped treatment, the disease came back. Luckily, since restarting therapy, he has done much better and is negative again.
The drug used is called lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator , made by a company called T-Cyte. It is an injection. It’s not cheap, but it is worth it in the lives sparred. Below is a link to the company website.
By the way, I am not connected to the company in any way, nor get any financial incentive for endorsement. I just love cats and want cat owners to know they have options if they find their cat infected.