2023-06-16 15:00:00
Have you ever heard of Feline Leukemia? Although leukemia in humans is a well-known disease, it may be unfamiliar to know that cats also have leukemia. Feline leukemia, named because its symptoms resemble human leukemia, is a disease with a very high fatality rate.
Feline leukemia is caused by infection with the feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
Feline leukemia is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva and nasal mucus or feces, breast milk or pregnancy of an already infected cat. It can also be transmitted through saliva from cats grooming each other, and kittens born to mothers who already have leukemia can be infected. There is also a possibility of infection if you are bitten. In particular, care must be taken when the cat is outdoors, as it increases the risk of contracting feline leukemia.
As mentioned earlier, the disease is called feline leukemia because its symptoms are similar to human leukemia. Symptoms include pale gums due to anemia, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fever. Feline leukemia is dangerous because it causes malignant tumors (cancer) in various tissues and organs, including lymphoma, and destroys blood cells, affecting red blood cells and white blood cells. Anemia is caused by the destruction of red blood cells. Feline leukemia impairs the immune system, making it vulnerable to many diseases. Care should be taken for secondary infections such as enteritis, stomatitis due to immunodeficiency, or respiratory diseases.
Don’t be fooled by the absence of symptoms. This is because feline leukemia may show symptoms following a long incubation period. So even if you don’t show symptoms, you may be infected with feline leukemia. Even if there are no symptoms, it is necessary to manage feline leukemia through regular checkups.
Feline leukemia is an incurable disease with no effective treatment, so prevention and regular diagnosis are necessary. If infected with feline leukemia, symptomatic treatment is provided, such as responding to secondary infection, chemotherapy, and boosting immunity.
Fortunately, feline leukemia can be prevented through vaccination. Cats should not be allowed to go outside to prevent contact with other cats and infect them. Cats that go out are more susceptible to feline leukemia, as well as other diseases and parasites, so diagnosis and prevention should be more vigilant.
Feline leukemia is obviously a fatal disease, but proper treatment and management can improve the quality of life and extend the survival period. Even if there are no symptoms, early diagnosis is recommended to prevent transmission to other cats and start managing the disease.
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