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Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in Cats

Publish date: 22/08/2025

Immunodeficiency is a common infectious disease in cats, especially in older cats. Let's learn about this disease with Fivevet to know how to prevent and treat it effectively for cats.

1.    Characteristics of infectious immunodeficiency in cats

Infectious immunodeficiency cats, also known as FIV, is a complex Retrovirus that causes immunodeficiency in cats. FIV is mainly transmitted from one cat to another through deep wounds caused by biting or scratching, commonly found in male cats and free-range cats. A less common method of transmission is from an FIV-infected mother cat to her kittens. FIV is not transmitted through food, water, litter boxes, sneezing, licking fur and other methods of infection. The rate of infection increases with age.

2.    Symptoms of FIV

Cats are tired, have anorexia, lose weight, have fever, swollen lymph nodes, anemia, convulsions, wounds that are difficult to heal or do not heal, persistent diarrhea, poor skin or coat condition (skin diseases, hair loss or rough hair, etc.), infections in the oral cavity (stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc.), abnormalities in the eye area (conjunctivitis, excessive eye discharge, persistent watery eyes, etc.), respiratory diseases (runny nose, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, etc.), chronic or recurrent infections (eyes, ears, skin, bladder, intestines, upper respiratory tract, etc.), signs of neurological disorders: changes in behavior, loss of body control, etc.

3.    Diagnosis of infectious immunodeficiency disease in cats

To diagnose FIV in cats, it will be based on clinical and blood tests, rapid antibody tests or virus detection by PCR method.

4.    Prevention of FIV in cats

To prevent infectious immunodeficiency in cats, owners need to keep cats indoors to avoid contact and fighting with stray cats, stray dogs or other infected pets. Use a leash when walking your cat to easily control stressful situations and avoid cats fighting with other animals.

5.    Treatment of infectious immunodeficiency in cats

There is no specific treatment for FIV; it is necessary to treat FIV symptomatically and improve resistance. It is necessary to establish a reasonable diet so that the animal has good nutrition, fluid and electrolyte therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-boosting drugs, and parasite control drugs. Because it is a viral disease, it is important to treat symptoms and improve resistance so that the animal's immune system can fight the virus.
Supplement Five-Butasal, Five-Multivit plus or Five-Prozyme 5way, ... to help cats have more nutrition and increase resistance to fight pathogens.
 
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Fivevet - Central Veterinary Medicine JSC No.5

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