Feline Leukemia
Prevention:
Feline Leukemia Vaccine
Protection Against:
- Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
Recommended Protocol for vaccination
Kittens: Two doses 3-4 weeks apart from 8 weeks of age
If starting with an adult cat:
- First check disease status – only vaccinate negative cats
- 2 injections 3-4 weeks apart .
Annual vaccination not always necessary unless risk is high.
Recommended Lifestyle:
If a cat will, or might have any direct contact whatsoever with outside cats (even just sharing food or water bowls or the occasional escape), the cat should be vaccinated annually against feline leukemia. Vets recommends that every cat be vaccinated at least once in its lifetime for FeLV, even if they are an indoor cat in a single-cat household. Indoor cats can escape or have direct contact with outdoor cats through window screens.
Detection
FeLV Blood Test
The feline leukemia test is a simple blood test that detects the presence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV). A vet will draw a small amount of blood from your cat and it will be submitted to a national laboratory for testing.
The test is about 90% accurate; i.e., about 10% of cats with FeLV in their blood will come up negative on the test. A small percentage of cats that test positive for FeLV will subsequently clear the FeLV from their blood and, thus, will test negative 30-60 days after an initial positive test. For this reason, a second FeLV test is recommended 30-60 days after a first positive test. Cats that test positive for FeLV should be brought to a full-service veterinary facility immediately for further diagnosis and treatment.
From: VIP Petcare