Feline Leukemia/AIDS Testing From The Pets Mobile Vet

The Pets Mobile Vet is a full-service medical treatment center on wheels, providing not only primary care but an extensive array of advanced testing and treatment options. Mobile veterinarian Dr. Michelle Maloney operates in the Cumberland, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, Windham, Gorham, Saco, Gray, New Gloucester, Auburn, Lewiston, Brunswick, Freeport, Durham, and Pownal, ME, areas, and designed her practice so that pet parents rarely need to subject their pets to stressful car rides in a carrier to a veterinary hospital.

If you have just rescued a new feline, have adopted a kitten, or are wondering which routine inoculations your current cat needs, consider including feline leukemia/AIDS testing as part of their preventative health care. While they are separate viruses, both are capable of causing a cat’s premature death, especially if left undiagnosed and without proper care.

Why Include Feline Leukemia/AIDS Testing in Routine Care?

Both feline leukemia, or FeLV, and feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, are viruses that can be transmitted from infected cats to uninfected felines through bodily fluids. Both can also be passed when cats bite each other during fights or when uninfected cats come into contact with an infected cats’ urine. Each of the viruses compromises the immune system and makes infected cats more susceptible to other illnesses. If a cat is infected with one or both of these, they may suffer from inflammation around the gums or eyes, chronic skin infections, weight loss, and behavior and neurological issues or may lead to cancer. FeLV-infected cats can present symptoms such as chronic fever, seizures, and anemia, while FIV can cause respiratory and urinary problems.

If your cats should test positive for feline leukemia or feline AIDS, they can still go on to lead healthy lives for several years or more. Cats’ immune systems may be able to withstand the viruses and allow them to survive with ongoing veterinary care.

Feline Leukemia/AIDS Testing and Veterinary Recommendations

Tests for these viruses are usually offered and performed together and are a common inclusion in standard care for new pets welcomed into the family. If your pets are infected, getting the diagnosis as soon as possible allows you to begin care and protect other animals by separating them from the infected cats. The viruses cannot be passed from cats to humans. Testing involves a simple blood draw, from which the blood is examined for antibodies formed in response to being infected.

Contact Mobile Veterinarian Dr. Michelle Maloney in The Cumberland, ME, Area to Discuss Vaccinating Uninfected Cats to Protect Them From Exposure

The Pets Mobile Vet help simplify Cumberland, ME, and surrounding area pet owners’ lives by including blood analysis as part of our mobile veterinary services. Call us at 207-408-0554 to schedule an appointment today. We can discuss with you about preventing your cats from Feline Leukemia/AIDS.