Cat AIDS

Hello! Just stumbled across this website while doing some research for my cat, Allie. She's 9ish (not sure of her exact age since she's from a shelter) and was recently diagnosed with feline AIDS. She's having pretty bad allergy-like symptoms: runny eyes, runny nose, congested. She's also stopped going outside (she used to go out for a few hours at a time) and seems like she's cold a lot. She's still eating and drinking fine. The Vet has given her Clindamycin and Amitriptylin and a shot of Ventalog at their office. This is her third dose of antibiotics without any change that I can see. I'm wondering if anyone has been through something similar or had any advice?

Thanks!
Julia

Feline AIDS? Do you mean your cat tested positive for FIV?

I ask this because the AIDS stage is basically the terminal stage of the disease. Before then, the feline immunodeficiency virus slowly impairs their immune system, making them more susceptible to other illnesses - which, apparently, your kitty is experiencing. These can take longer to treat, and need to be treated aggressively. Apparently the vet feels she's got an upper respiratory infection, otherwise I'm not sure I understand the antibiotics.

And I have no idea what the amitriptalyn would be for - did they say? It's an old-line anti-depressant that was never really effective as an anti-depressant. It makes most cats pretty dopey (at least for a while). Some vets use it to treat aggression in cats in a multi-cat household; others use it to help stop kitties from peeing outside the box, because one of the side-effects is to retain urine (which often helps kitty use the box, don't ask my why). But it's used pretty effectively in children that have a problem with bed-wetting.

I'm not clear on the use of the steroid (ventalog), as steroids suppress the immune system further. I am new to the world of FIV kitties, having just rescued one.

I do know that being FIV+ your kitty should no longer be allowed to roam outside. It's not safe for her, as her immune system can't effectively fight off the many things she'll be exposed to. And if she gets into a scrap with other cats, she can infect them with other FIV if she bites (deep tissue wounds are the usual route of transmission). It's really not responsible to let her roam anymore - so it's a good thing she doesn't want outside anymore.

Did the vet mention how her teeth looked? FIV+ kitties notoriously have problems with gingivitis and their teeth. In fact, they really ought to go for dentals every 6 months.

Here are some links that may help you be able to discuss with your vet (though if your vet is calling it Feline AIDS and your kitty is not at the terminal stage, you may want to find another vet) treatment options:

This is an article about Bud (FIV+ kitty), to put Bud's FIV therapy into context:
http://cats.about.com/od/FIV/a/budsfiv2.htm

Bud's Therapy (BTW, none of these supplements should be given without vet participation. If there is a holistic DVM in your area, you may want to investigate that route) : http://www.fivtherapy.com/

You can search for a holistic DVM here: http://www.holisticvetlist.com/

There is a Yahoo Group for FIV+ Kitties: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FivCats/

Our FIV+ kitty, Chumley, is having problems being very itchy/scratchy. We thought we eliminated food triggers as a source of the apparent allergic reactions - though the vet cautioned these are usually environmental, not food related. We put him on the Hill's z/d diet. Turns out the dry z/d has Brewers Rice as its main ingredient, and this is a known allergan. So we've now got him on a wet-food only diet (for the past three days), as we're revisiting the food as a trigger.

In the meantime, a number of people have recommended extra virgin, cold pressed coconut oil (from fresh coconuts). It has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties in addition to antihistamine properties. It's also an anti-inflammatory. The brand Nutiva is available at most Walmarts. You can read about it here: http://nutiva.com/products/coconut-o...nefits-nutiva/

We're working on getting his intake up to 1 - 2 tablespoons a day. Unhydrogenated Coconut oil is like crisco (sort of) - he didn't like it mixed into his food just like that. But once I melt it, I'm able to mix it into his food and he eats it like normal. I started REALLY small, and have worked up to a teaspoon. But someone on the FIV Yahoo group have brought up questions about feeding cats plant fat (cats are carnivores and their digestive systems aren't really designed for it)... I'm really not sure what to think.

But I'm at the holistic vet we found in our area this Friday - first visit with our Chumley.

I just know I don't want to sit back and do nothing. I want to first and foremost solve this problem with what appear to be allergies (he isn't congested and doesn't have runny eyes - he's itching and scratching a lot, and has two small bare spots on his front legs). We were using zyrtec, which definitely lessened the amount of itching/scratching, but it seems to have flared up (thus we're back to the food elimination thing).

Thank you so much for the reply and information! I'm not sure if the vet actually said feline AIDS, my mom has been taking her there. But yes, she tested positive for FIV. They did say that they don't have a lot of experience with it (we live in a fairly rural area).

My understanding is that the amitriptalyn is being used for pain. However, she doesn't seem to be in any pain. Besides the cold symptoms, she seems to be acting fine. Vet didn't say anything about her teeth as far as I know. We are having problems getting her to actually take the medicines though. For a 7lb kitty, she is VERY strong!

I'll definitely check the food and holistic DVM out. Thanks again for you help! I'm definitely going to join the Yahoo group.

You might want to talk to your mom about her treatment. The amitriptalyn is definitely not for pain. It's usually for behavioral problems, so maybe she got the name of the medicine wrong, or .... ???

Seems like this will be a learning process for your family and the vet together! Ours know about FIV, but not much other than standard stuff for treating it, and that kind of treatment doesn't begin until they actually have symptoms of AIDS.

I know there are things we can do to help reduce the viral load before it progresses, and that's the approach we want to take. Hopefully the new vet will help us figure out a good path. I've printed out Bud's Therapy to bring with us to the appointment, because I have no idea what she does and doesn't know about the disease, but I'll be more than happy to share her insights.