FELV kitty, long-term antibiotic use?

My cat Buster was diagnosed with FELV when he first arrived at my house at approximately 6 months old, he is now almost 2 years old. About 6 months after I found him he became symptomatic, at least in his skin health, he was diagnosed with feline leukemia related giant cell dermatosis by a specialist at a veterinary university hospital. After a course of AZT his skin problems (lesions near mouth and on pads) had seemed to subsided. He had to stop taking the AZT as his RBC was dropping after each blood count. He is currently on an antibiotic, clavamox tabs, 2x per day, mixed with wet food. However, he continues to have skin related problems on his pads and his red blood count has fallen-an effect of the FELV according to the vet. The vets don't want to risk another CBC because of the low blood count. He has taken exclusively the clavamox for about 3 months as well as 1 month prior to that. He has had no side effects, but I am wondering about any long term effects that antibiotic usage could have? Any other suggestions for an FELV kitty? Buster and I thank you!

My question back to you is...if the Clavamox is not working for the skin issue, AND his RBC is still dropping , why is your little furry friend still taking it?  Am I understanding that correctly? 

Additionally, is your Vet treating him for the low RBC or not?  What are his other numbers?  How is his Hematocrit and Hemoglobin?  And what is his WBC?

Here are two articles that may be of  interest to you.  This first one ia regarding the use of AZT in cats:

http://www.petplace.com/article/drug-library/library/prescription/zidovudine-azt

In it, it refers to the use of erythropoietin if RBC drops, so here is an article on that:

https://www.vetinfo.com/feline-anemia-treatment-erythropoietin.html

Is it the University Vet Hospital that is currently treating him, or a regular Vet?  If a regular vet, I would consider taking him back to the University Vet.

It can affect the natural flora of the gut (the bacteria that help digest your food) and could result in food intolerance and digestive upset. I'm not sure how long of a course of an antibiotic you would need to start seeing that happen. It could also create or promote bacteria that are Clavamox-resistant.

Is he on the Clavamox as a preventative, to keep his ulcers from becoming infected, or is it meant to stop the ulcers from occurring in the first place? From what I read online quickly here, it looks like the FELV virus is suspect of causing the cell mutations that create the ulcers so I would assume the antibiotics are meant to prevent infections.

Thank you for the replies! He is taking the Clavamox as a preventative for further infections. He is not being treated for the low RBC at this time.

I should clarify that he is also taking a probiotic as well as an iron supplement. His other blood cell counts, WBC, hematocrit, and hemoglobin are low normal and holding steady, not sure of the actual numbers but the low RBC is what is most worrying to the vet.

He is going to the regular vet in my city, however, she is in close contact with the university vet on consulting about his case. She will not prescribe/suggest anything without first consulting with them.

To my knowledge, they are unable (still researching) to come up with an appropriate treatment plan as the FELV virus has affected his bone marrow function and hindered the ability to create new red blood cells, creating a type of anemia which is non-regenerative, at least that has been what I have told.

I am in regular contact with both my normal veterinarian and the two university vet specialists working on Busters case. However, they seem to be stumped at this point. :/

Well...taking iron supplements is kind of treating the low RBC.  (same thing happened to my hubby).  What I find odd is that Buster's H & H are "normal".  I would have thought with non-regenerative anemia, his Hemtocrit would have been low

OK, good news that your Vet is working with the University Vets, as I think University Vets are usually up on the most current procedures. 

Now, here is a thread from one of our long time members who has had 2 or 3 cats come down with non-regenerative anemia.  She is a vast wealth of knowledge on the subject, so if you want to p.m. her after reading thru her thread, I'm sure she wouldn't mind.  But you may find some interesting info here within her thread that you can discuss with your Vets.  BTW, she also has a an FIV cat (not FeLV, but similar).  Not sure if HE ever had any of these issues or not, but he may have.  He is NOT one of the 3 cats I am thinking of though....she has LOTS of cats )  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/293570/sheldons-turn-bone-marrow-biopsy-tomorrow-very-anemic

Hi busterkitty and welcome to the forum !

I have only enough time to drop a quick note to you,but the quality is sure to balance its brevity.

These general forums are a good starting point and great places to share experiences.....but, when it comes to specific feline diseases/conditions, there are specialized online communities with an individual focus on each of almost all of them.

In the case of FeLV, that community has been active since 1997......thousands of people and their cats have passed through and the community is a wealth of collective knowledge/info/support which you can easily access.

I'll tell you this: I lost a young kitty to FeLV 12 years ago.....at a time when I didn't know about those groups. I lost him due to veterinary incompetence and my own ignorance.....from everything I've learned over the past few years online, I'm certain that, had I been able to access an online community like that, he would not have passed before his time. His passing haunts me to this day.

OK.......first, get yourself a new separate email addy to use for this group - they use email as their 'operating platform' (old-school!)

The group sign-up page is here: http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org

Here's their website: http://felineleukemia.org/

(just a comment....not to diminish any faith you may already have re the two "veterinary specialists" currently being consulted, but, do understand that, just like Veterinarians, there are specialists....and, then there are specialists. After almost 20 years, that group will know 'who's who' in the veterinary specialist arena [regular vets, too])

Please keep us posted.......oh, we don't ever refuse pics, btw!

Thank you so much to everyone! I am currently doing more research, and will absolutely look into everything mentioned!

busterkitty - I've sent a message as well.