FeLV+ Pixie needs help.

We rescued our baby 1 year ago when Josh found her in a field while working. We put her on a kitty wellness plan with Banfield and they informed us she was FeLV positive. She has so far lived a very normal life, staying in doors and always getting into trouble from sneaking up on someone or jumping up on the kitchen counter. We love her.
Unfortunately we somehow got a flea infestation which we assume could have been brought in by our dog. After treating her and the house she has been sick. First she was just having shallow breathing which we took her to the vet and was treated immediately. She seemed to be getting better and then almost overnight she stopped eating and had extremely low energy. One of her nasal cavities was clogged making breathing even more difficult. She started to get discharge from her eyes and her "third eye" is showing. The doctor has run blood work and said everything looks normal and that it looks like her FeLV is starting to come to the surface. We are trying to get her in for an abdominal ultrasound but of course the doctor that would do that is out of town this week. I'm hoping someone may have some advice. I have been crying everyday for a week. We have only had a year with her. It's not enough time.

I don't have any experience with FeLV but really hope Pixie picks up and has more time with you.     Also that others who know about this condition see your thread and are able to offer you the support and advice you need.

How old was Pixie when your husband found her?  I've read in other threads that the age in which they contract it can have a bearing on how long they might live with this disease. (kittens who contract it in the womb are the worse off for it, but you would have no idea if that's what happened, I guess)

It's possible the chemicals in the flea treatment have just adversely effected her and it's really nothing to do with her FeLV.  What did you use to treat the fleas?  Did you read up on any possible side effects (afterwards)  and does your Vet know exactly what you used?   If the Vet doesn't think this is a possibility, are they suspecting Lymphoma?  Is that why they want to do an ultrasound?  What are they recommending in the meantime?   Can't cannot wait a week to eat! 

I sure hope this is something Pixie can get past and live many more years with you.  We have cats here on TCS who are doing quite well with FeLV.

Ugh let me tell you our situation....one go with your gut. A few weeks ago I already had 3 cats none of which I ever had tested for AIDS because i didn't know what it was....never thought of it. Anyway 3 weeks ago my neighborhood kids found an abandoned kitten clearly distressed pus filled eyes respiratory distress and I didn't know what to do so I called a friend who rescues and I knew she'd have access to emergency meds as I couldn't bring him into my house and get my 3 sick. Well he tested positive for AIDS and the vet put him down. We were gonna adopt him too I have her my credit card info and all to get him treated. Well in his honor we adopted a beautiful sand long haired guy who I kinda felt was younger than 8 weeks...we took him in and he was always lazy and sluggish but ate and drank but didn't do normal kitten activities. Well yesterday I was getting ready for my grams memorial dinner since she died Wednesday and my husband said our one 14 week old kitten attacked him and said he's not moving! Panicked we thought he broke a bone he was pooping his little self and I was like omg rushed him to the animal hospital where they're like he is critically ill I said he was attacked he's like no another cat will do that if they sense illness he has no breaks....so we agreed not to put him down please treat him....well he popped positive for AIDS and my heart sank but he said he needs retesting at 6 months old to be sure because it could be his antibodies from his momma....right now he is still hospitalized but we got to see him today. His blood sugar was so low it was undetectable they had to put an IV in his bone he was so little....he had to be cathetered....I was hysterical....now mind you I'm a nurse and can deal with a dying human...he responded to the sugar water infusing he's eating well and hopefully this was a fluke and he will be negative in 6 months but we are prepared that may not be the case....I have read so much this weekend so far about it...basically it's a game of chance. Kittens usually struggle so right now I'm hoping mine is a false positive and he's negative in the future. I can't handle having my other 3 tested right now it'd break my heart but they're good to date....if he is AIDS positive germ prevention will be the key to keeping him healthy....give him a chance I am though my nerves are shot!!!!

I also have 2 friends raising positive cats who say they're doing fine...basically if they're sick as a kitten it's harder to rebound an illness...ironically 2 of his siblings are negative right now so I'm hoping he will eventually be....or maybe they're just not positive yet....my friend said she has only ever seen 1 from a litter not have it and I said as of now looks like I'm only one with one who did get it!

Thanks everyone for your replies. So far we have had an ultrasound and the only thing we found was a small amount of fluid in her abdomen and an enlarged lymph node. Because of the lymph node they did a biopsy looking for lymphoma. It was negative for lymphoma and her blood sugar is low and she is running a high fever.
They now want to go through her stomach to see if it is gastrointestinal but because of her fever they won't do it plus it's a very expensive procedure.
mrsgreenjeens I decided to do research on the flea medication used which was revolution and she has every single symptom that would be a known adverse reactions to the medication and in many cases a cat that was treated with side effects died within a week! We brought this to our vets attention and she said saying she doesn't believe it is a possibility that the flea treatment caused it. I'm very frustrated to still not have an answer but kind of relieved that it could be the medicatione but who knows how long until she would get better if she even can. And the vet isn't on our side. She is drinking now but still barely eating and very lethargic. What a mystery!

Traceyeo said:

I also have 2 friends raising positive cats who say they're doing fine...basically if they're sick as a kitten it's harder to rebound an illness...ironically 2 of his siblings are negative right now so I'm hoping he will eventually be....or maybe they're just not positive yet....my friend said she has only ever seen 1 from a litter not have it and I said as of now looks like I'm only one with one who did get it!

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She has been completely normal until this spell. I am convinced it was the revolution we gave her! I think owners of positive cats should be more educated on the disease. I wish I had been

T traceyeo , just want to mention that FIV+ cats *can* live with FIV- cats. Now Leukemia is a different story as it is passed via all bodily secretions.

Also, they lose their mom's immunity prior to 6 months of age. It's thought it's between 10-16 weeks old.

Fighting4Pixie said:

She has been completely normal until this spell. I am convinced it was the revolution we gave her! I think owners of positive cats should be more educated on the disease. I wish I had been

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I've had issues with revolution myself, though the worst reaction was vomiting and loss of hair at the application site. I now only use Advantage II as it is the only flea medication that I haven't had a cat react to (60+ including the rescues.)

Yes we think that he may have been younger than 6 to 7 weeks when I got him because when he got sick his eyes were just changing colors....I have educated myself so much on the feline AIDS and diet and so on my eyes could bleed. I'm a nurse so I try to think gee what as a human would I watch for....I'm hoping at 6 months he is negative because that's the recommended testing time....he has made a huge recovery from this. I had knee surgery the 21st so my husband has been tending to him in his "sick room" but today when he heard me talking after a nap he started crying for me!!!! We then decided well he wants downstairs let's see how his adopted siblings welcome him back. They did great and he is tinkered out now! Praying he continues to gain strength. As for those flea meds one year my ex husband and I used fosters I believe it was and our golden retriever/pointer mix and pure bred pug got violently ill also needed hospitalization. Keep us posted! I'm happy I found this little forum! Here's a picture of him snuggling under my neck currently lol

Fighting4Pixie said:

Thanks everyone for your replies. So far we have had an ultrasound and the only thing we found was a small amount of fluid in her abdomen and an enlarged lymph node. Because of the lymph node they did a biopsy looking for lymphoma. It was negative for lymphoma and her blood sugar is low and she is running a high fever.
They now want to go through her stomach to see if it is gastrointestinal but because of her fever they won't do it plus it's a very expensive procedure.
@mrsgreenjeensI decided to do research on the flea medication used which was revolution and she has every single symptom that would be a known adverse reactions to the medication and in many cases a cat that was treated with side effects died within a week! We brought this to our vets attention and she said saying she doesn't believe it is a possibility that the flea treatment caused it. I'm very frustrated to still not have an answer but kind of relieved that it could be the medicatione but who knows how long until she would get better if she even can. And the vet isn't on our side. She is drinking now but still barely eating and very lethargic. What a mystery!

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I was thinking maybe you did OTHER flea treatment as well, like maybe a "flea bomb" in your house, or something that perhaps Pixie inhaled after the fact that might have caused the nasal cavity issue.  Did you just apply the Revolution and that's all?  Gosh...this really IS a mystery.  BUT thank goodness she tested negative for Lymphoma.  That's got to be a big relief!!!!!   She may be lethargic because she isn't eating.  Are you force feeding her?  She needs nourishment to recover, and plenty of it.  Cat's cannot go very long without food, really just a couple of days at most. 

Traceyeo said:

Yes we think that he may have been younger than 6 to 7 weeks when I got him because when he got sick his eyes were just changing colors....I have educated myself so much on the feline AIDS and diet and so on my eyes could bleed. I'm a nurse so I try to think gee what as a human would I watch for....I'm hoping at 6 months he is negative because that's the recommended testing time....he has made a huge recovery from this. I had knee surgery the 21st so my husband has been tending to him in his "sick room" but today when he heard me talking after a nap he started crying for me!!!! We then decided well he wants downstairs let's see how his adopted siblings welcome him back. They did great and he is tinkered out now! Praying he continues to gain strength.

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Let's hope his test was a false positive and his retest shows negative, but as Catpack said, FIV positive cats CAN coexist with FIV negative cats, you just don't want them fighting (biting) each other.   We have several members who are in that situation with FIV- cats sharing homes.   Glad your little cutie pie is improving.