FELV TREATMENT STRATEGIES AND PROGNOSIS

摘要

Despite the fact that persistent FeLV viremia is associated with a decreased life expectancy, many owners elect to provide treatment for the myriad of clinical syndromes that can accompany FeLV infection. Although some older literature has suggested that FeLV-infected cats live only a maximum of 3 years after diagnosis, this information relates to group-housed cats in FeLV-endemic environments. With proper care, FeLV-infected cats may live many more years and may, in fact, die at an older age from causes completely unrelated to the retrovi-ral infection. A decision regarding treatment or euthanasia should never be based solely on the presence of FeLV infection. If an FeLV-infected cat shows clinical signs, it is important to realize that FeLV-infected cats are subject to the same treatable and potentially curable diseases that befall FeLV-negative cats and that the disease present may not be related to the FeLV infection at all.