Comments on: FIV – Separating Myth from Fact http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/ conscious living, health and happiness for cats and their humans Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:18:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ingrid http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-40481 Ingrid Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:44:36 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-40481 I'm sorry about your kitty, Cindy, but as you can see, FIV+ cats can live long, happy lives with the right care. If your vet hasn't already done so, I would recommend retesting with a different test just to be sure. False positives do occasionally occur. Unfortunately, I don't believe that any of the available tests can distinguish between the virus and the vaccine. Best wishes to your kitty! I’m sorry about your kitty, Cindy, but as you can see, FIV+ cats can live long, happy lives with the right care. If your vet hasn’t already done so, I would recommend retesting with a different test just to be sure. False positives do occasionally occur. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that any of the available tests can distinguish between the virus and the vaccine. Best wishes to your kitty!

]]> By: Cindy http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-40409 Cindy Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:38:49 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-40409 I can't thank you enough for this information. We adopted a shelter cat yesterday and when we took her to the vet for her check-up we discovered she was FIV positive. I've never heard of this before and didn't know what to do. If she goes back to the shelter, they will put her down. We have 3 other cats and the vet said we might have to find her a home with no other cats, which would be almost impossible. After reading this, I think we will keep her with us and introduce her slowly into our household. The vet mentioned a test that might be able to tell if she tested positive because of the vaccine, or if she really has FIV. Have you heard of a test like that? Thank you again. Kind Regards, Cindy I can’t thank you enough for this information. We adopted a shelter cat yesterday and when we took her to the vet for her check-up we discovered she was FIV positive. I’ve never heard of this before and didn’t know what to do. If she goes back to the shelter, they will put her down. We have 3 other cats and the vet said we might have to find her a home with no other cats, which would be almost impossible. After reading this, I think we will keep her with us and introduce her slowly into our household. The vet mentioned a test that might be able to tell if she tested positive because of the vaccine, or if she really has FIV. Have you heard of a test like that? Thank you again.
Kind Regards,
Cindy

]]> By: The Conscious Cat wins Certificate of Excellence | The Conscious Cat http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-38335 The Conscious Cat wins Certificate of Excellence | The Conscious Cat Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:59:38 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-38335 [...] FIV – separting myth from fact [...] [...] FIV – separting myth from fact [...]

]]> By: Adventures in Veterinary Medicine - Virginia | The Conscious Cat http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-37733 Adventures in Veterinary Medicine - Virginia | The Conscious Cat Sun, 25 Sep 2011 01:04:35 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-37733 [...] was estimated to be about ten years old.  She was FIV positive.  FIV is the feline version of the aids virus.  It is contagious, but is primarily [...] [...] was estimated to be about ten years old.  She was FIV positive.  FIV is the feline version of the aids virus.  It is contagious, but is primarily [...]

]]> By: Conscious Cat Sunday: The three dreaded "F" diseases | The Conscious Cat http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-30780 Conscious Cat Sunday: The three dreaded "F" diseases | The Conscious Cat Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:01:32 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-30780 [...] FIV: Separating myth from fact [...] [...] FIV: Separating myth from fact [...]

]]> By: Ingrid http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-16762 Ingrid Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:41:38 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-16762 I'm sorry to hear Zooloo (love the name!) is starting to decline, DeAnn, but it sounds like you've given him a wonderful, full life despite his FIV status. It's hard when they get to this stage where there's not all that much we can do for them medically. It sounds like he's still enjoying life. Treasure every moment you have left with him! I’m sorry to hear Zooloo (love the name!) is starting to decline, DeAnn, but it sounds like you’ve given him a wonderful, full life despite his FIV status. It’s hard when they get to this stage where there’s not all that much we can do for them medically. It sounds like he’s still enjoying life. Treasure every moment you have left with him!

]]> By: DeAnn http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-16759 DeAnn Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:15:02 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-16759 Hi Ingrid! Thanks for posting the latest facts about FIV. Our 18-year-old cat Zooloo became FIV+ approximately 10 years ago. We tried to separate him and our other cat, a female named Cleo, when he was first diagnosed. We realized quickly that was not going to work... at all. Zooloo was never so vicious as to bite Cleo to where his teeth broke the skin so we took a chance and continued having them live together. Of course, it was difficult at first since Zooloo was used to going outside but he eventually got used to being confined indoors. For the first 8 years since his diagnosis, I administered interferon daily through the mouth for one week and off the next. If he was doing well, I'd give him a break from the meds. If he seemed a bit sluggish, I'd resume his regimen. Zooloo does not take well to pills, needles, etc. but the oral liquids are not a problem. Interferon, at least in his case, would perk him back up. I realize now that I could write volumes so I'll be brief. Suffice it to say, our little Cleo lived to be 13 years old and died from pancreatic cancer. We had her tested for FIV and she never contracted the virus. Today, Zooloo's kidneys are beginning to fail so he has lost weight but he is still so vibrant and full of life! He is truly a fighter. We call him the Magic Johnson of Cats. Interferon is too much for his little system to take at this point and giving him fluids via needle is simply out of the question. Ultimately, FIV is probably not going to be the main cause of his demise. We may not have much more time left with him but we've been wrong about that before. Hi Ingrid!
Thanks for posting the latest facts about FIV.
Our 18-year-old cat Zooloo became FIV+ approximately 10 years ago. We tried to separate him and our other cat, a female named Cleo, when he was first diagnosed. We realized quickly that was not going to work… at all. Zooloo was never so vicious as to bite Cleo to where his teeth broke the skin so we took a chance and continued having them live together. Of course, it was difficult at first since Zooloo was used to going outside but he eventually got used to being confined indoors.
For the first 8 years since his diagnosis, I administered interferon daily through the mouth for one week and off the next. If he was doing well, I’d give him a break from the meds. If he seemed a bit sluggish, I’d resume his regimen. Zooloo does not take well to pills, needles, etc. but the oral liquids are not a problem. Interferon, at least in his case, would perk him back up.
I realize now that I could write volumes so I’ll be brief. Suffice it to say, our little Cleo lived to be 13 years old and died from pancreatic cancer. We had her tested for FIV and she never contracted the virus.
Today, Zooloo’s kidneys are beginning to fail so he has lost weight but he is still so vibrant and full of life! He is truly a fighter. We call him the Magic Johnson of Cats. Interferon is too much for his little system to take at this point and giving him fluids via needle is simply out of the question. Ultimately, FIV is probably not going to be the main cause of his demise. We may not have much more time left with him but we’ve been wrong about that before.

]]> By: Ingrid http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-12085 Ingrid Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:18:54 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-12085 I'm so glad you hung in there with your guy, Margaret, and so happy to hear that he's doing so well after what he (and you!) went through. I’m so glad you hung in there with your guy, Margaret, and so happy to hear that he’s doing so well after what he (and you!) went through.

]]> By: Margaret http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-12077 Margaret Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:04:15 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-12077 Around three years back we were doing TNR at my husband's work and one of the first was a young male. We had him desexed and were about to return him when he developed a huge abscess on his neck. After surgery the wound did not knit very well and when the stitches were removed it fell open. There ensued a long road of problems and uppermost in my mind was that he was really FIV positive. The vet suggested we euthanise if the test was positive but we were adamant we would not. The wound became infected so many times and I took so many photos of it in its various stages, tried everything we could think of or research besides the antibiotics so often required. The last comment by another vet was that we might as well try everything within reason as we were looking down the barrel of a gun. The wound was two years in the healing and it finally closed. We have a multi multi cat household and this guy is such a character, he stands out amongst the others and gets on well with them all. We don't know what's in store for him or us in the future but at least he is having a life that is happy in the meantime. He does eat raw, won't tolerate anything else and fingers crossed will continue to thrive. In fact we have to lock him in a cage with his food at night so he can't go and eat everybody elses! Thanks Ingrid for this information, much appreciated! Around three years back we were doing TNR at my husband’s work and one of the first was a young male. We had him desexed and were about to return him when he developed a huge abscess on his neck. After surgery the wound did not knit very well and when the stitches were removed it fell open.
There ensued a long road of problems and uppermost in my mind was that he was really FIV positive.
The vet suggested we euthanise if the test was positive but we were adamant we would not.
The wound became infected so many times and I took so many photos of it in its various stages, tried everything we could think of or research besides the antibiotics so often required. The last comment by another vet was that we might as well try everything within reason as we were looking down the barrel of a gun. The wound was two years in the healing and it finally closed.
We have a multi multi cat household and this guy is such a character, he stands out amongst the others and gets on well with them all.
We don’t know what’s in store for him or us in the future but at least he is having a life that is happy in the meantime.
He does eat raw, won’t tolerate anything else and fingers crossed will continue to thrive.
In fact we have to lock him in a cage with his food at night so he can’t go and eat everybody elses!

Thanks Ingrid for this information, much appreciated!

]]> By: Don’t believe the myths, especially the urban ones http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-9466 Don’t believe the myths, especially the urban ones Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:18:09 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-9466 [...] it) helps. The first step, though, is separating the facts from the misinformation.  Ingrid at The Conscious Cat has given us a readable, easy to understand post on what’s true about FIV and what’s [...] [...] it) helps. The first step, though, is separating the facts from the misinformation.  Ingrid at The Conscious Cat has given us a readable, easy to understand post on what’s true about FIV and what’s [...]

]]> By: Ingrid http://consciouscat.net/2010/07/12/fiv-separating-myth-from-fact/comment-page-1/#comment-9440 Ingrid Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:48:49 +0000 http://consciouscat.net/?p=3497#comment-9440 That's an outdated recommendation, Daniela - unfortunately one that many people still believe. FIV+ cats can share a household with negative cats becuase the only way FIV is transmitted is through deep, penetrating bite wounds - something that's not likely to happen in a household of cats who get along with each other. That’s an outdated recommendation, Daniela – unfortunately one that many people still believe. FIV+ cats can share a household with negative cats becuase the only way FIV is transmitted is through deep, penetrating bite wounds – something that’s not likely to happen in a household of cats who get along with each other.

]]>