I have some good news and some BAD news

Well, the test results are back.

Good news: Lola doesn't have FIP

Bad news: She has FeLV

Now, let's all thank god that I had the brains to at least get Leo vaccinated at his last shots appt. I normally don't like extra vaccines, but I got one for him. WHatever I was thinking, I'm glad I was thinking it.

I know NOTHING about FeLV. I don't know how long I can expect her to live, what I should do for her, what I should ask my vet to do or anything. What is hopeful is that this particular round of antibiotics is making her better. She's ever so slightly dehydrated from the diuretics, but other than that, everything seems to be normal or extremely close to normal. I'm going to continue whatever supportive care is reccommended, I just don't know what to expect or what questions to ask.

Anyoen have any good links or knowledge or advice?

The vet DID say that he would rather see FeLV than FIP, so that's at least SOMETHING

Keep that board magic coming...I swear to god that it works!

HUGS heres one site i found...

http://www.bright.net/~zimm1/FightingFeLV/

Felv is one I at least know a little about... Depending who you talk to Lola will be a normal kitty with a short life or live a full one... minimize stress ...

Sending happy Lola

My thoughts and prayers are with you LOLA girl!!!!

I think that is good news - at least now you know you won't have an inevitable decline over a short period, and there is a good chance that Lola can live a near normal life for a reasonable length of time.

Thanks...

I'm going to separate Lola and Leo temporarily. They will need (even though leo has the vaccine) to use separate LB's and eat separately. For the first 8 weeks, we could be seeing one of 3 forms of FeLV. Since she has tested negative before, I'm hoping that she has a latent or temporary form. I want to zero in on exactly what's going on before I reunite them. Lola will have her own room, and not too very much space to run around in, so she will be well rested. She will get to be with me on my bed at night, which she loves.

I am so glad to hear that!!!! Not that she's sick, but that it isn't what we thought!!!! Hopefully you'll find a routine that works well with her and yourself. We are still praying for you guys though

Well, I guess that is a mixed basket, huh?
I have to say I'm somewhat surprised to hear FeLV as the diagnosis...I figured she would have been screened for that at whatever shelter you got her from (unless you didn't get her from a shelter) but I'm just surprised that it wasn't caught sooner by one of your other vets.

Lots of hugs all around...this must be so hard.

At least you know what you're up against now. Much better than wondering and waiting.
I've heard FeLV can be managed for several years in strong cats. I wish you and Lola the best of luck fighting this.

I don't know much about Felv, but FIP is a death sentence, so to me it sounds like good news. Of course, it is still a terrible thing, but at least there will be something you can do, and a potential for a good outcome.

Hugs and prayers to you!

Prayers, Good Vibes and Best wishes to you and Lola!

Originally Posted by OllyExtra05

Well, I guess that is a mixed basket, huh?
I have to say I'm somewhat surprised to hear FeLV as the diagnosis...I figured she would have been screened for that at whatever shelter you got her from (unless you didn't get her from a shelter) but I'm just surprised that it wasn't caught sooner by one of your other vets.

Lots of hugs all around...this must be so hard.

Click to expand...

She was, and that's the tricky thing. We don't know where she could have got it. She tested negative at 8 weeks, then at 16 weeks. But there are different forms of this. The likely outcome is that she's a latent carrier of the disease...meaning outbreaks and shedding of the virus will be random and intermittent. There's no telling how often or how severe these outbreaks will be, though, and we can't be sure how she's carrying this for another 8 weeks.

We're going to go through University of Illinois vet school at the Chicago Medical Center. Hopefully, they will be able to devise a routine for us that will keep her healthy. She's generally been a healthy little cat until a few weeks ago. She had a routine URI once, and worms and coccidia when she was found orphaned, but other than that, she's been healthy.

Thanks for all your prayers...keep working that board magic for us to be able to control this.

Lola is still in my prayers. THANK GOD it isn't what was originally suspected.

Here's some info: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resou...hure/felv.html
http://www.fabcats.org/felv.html

What a relief to hear it's not FIP! I don't have much experience with FeLV myself, but do know several people whose cats tested positive and are doing well. Will continue to pray for Lola!

While it is not the greatest news, FeLV cats can have better outcomes than FIP so there is a good chance that Lola will be around longer. I will keep her in our prayers.

Is it possible for a cat to have a false-negative on the test? Spike (my brain-damaged shelter rescue) was tested at the shelter and at the vet's, and tested negative both times. He's lived with us for over two years now, but when we took him to the vet's last weekend, she asked us if he'd been tested for the disease, because some things about him made her wonder. (He has bad teeth and gums, for one thing, despite us brushing his teeth and his being on dental-care food. Also, he doesn't seem to drink a lot -- of course, it could just be that he never drinks when we're watching him, as he doesn't have any difficulties in using the litterbox -- and she said his kidneys [I think it was his kidneys; I could be wrong!] seemed small for his size.) He's an indoor cat, though, so I'm not sure where he would have picked it up if he didn't have it before now? It didn't concern her enough to have him tested again, after we told her he had been tested already, but now I'm wondering ...

She had a positive-negative on her test, whatever that means. The vet says that he thinks she's always had this, even though she's tested negative twice before. I suspect this means she's a latent carrier, but I also don't have a degree in Vet Medicine. If we get through this labored breathing business, then I suspect that she'll be normal again for awhile and then we'll just keep having episodes like this until it's her time to go.

All I know is that we're going to do whatever we can for her.

I think it is one of those things where the test isn't always accurate. Negatives could turn out to be positive next time and vice versa. In other words, there could be many factors that are affecting the outcome of the test. I could be mixing it with something else however, but I think it is that way for FeLV. It also does not show up right away, so if you catch a cat on the street and take it in to get tested (or like a shelter would test a cat that just came in) and it turns out the cat got FeLV from fighting with an infected cat a few days before, it isn't going to show up in the cat immediately. If that makes sense.