Changes

Preventative strategies should also be implemented in the FIV-infected animal in order to protect the cat from acquiring potentially life-threatening infections. This is particularly important as FIV positive animals are often refractory to treatment when secondary infections arise. Ideally, affected cats should be kept indoors to minimise exposure to potential pathogens⁴. Routine vaccination against herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia and possibly feline leukaemia virus is recommended², and killed vaccines should be favoured as there is a small risk of the attenuated strains in modified live vaccines causing disease in the immunosuppressed patient^{2, 5}. It may also be advisable to administer an extra booster before introducing the cat to a high risk environment, such as a cattery or in hospitalisation if the cat has not received one in the last six months². Treatment against worms and fleas should be kept up to daye, particularly to minimise the risk of transmission of ''Haemobartonella felis''.

Preventative strategies should also be implemented in the FIV-infected animal in order to protect the cat from acquiring potentially life-threatening infections. This is particularly important as FIV positive animals are often refractory to treatment when secondary infections arise. Ideally, affected cats should be kept indoors to minimise exposure to potential pathogens⁴. Routine vaccination against herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia and possibly feline leukaemia virus is recommended², and killed vaccines should be favoured as there is a small risk of the attenuated strains in modified live vaccines causing disease in the immunosuppressed patient^{2, 5}. It may also be advisable to administer an extra booster before introducing the cat to a high risk environment, such as a cattery or in hospitalisation if the cat has not received one in the last six months². Treatment against worms and fleas should be kept up to daye, particularly to minimise the risk of transmission of ''Haemobartonella felis''.

Some antiviral agents have been shown to give improvement in FIV-infected cats². Zidovudine is the mot effective of these⁵ but can induce bone marrow toxicity and so patients' haematological profile should be closely monitored<sup>2, 4, 5<sup>.  

 

interleukin-2 have been used in a small number of

clinical trials involving FIV-infected cats with chronic

gingivitis/stomatitis. Improvements in clinical and laboratory

findings were reported in a proportion of these cats

treated orally or subcutaneously with AZT at a dose of 5

mg/kg three times daily (Hartmann and others 1992, Hart

and Nolte 1995, Hartmann and others 1995). Since

Evening primrose oil, at a suggested dose rate of

Evening primrose oil, at a suggested dose rate of

one 550 mg capsule daily, has also been used with

one 550 mg capsule daily, has also been used with