Likelyhood of FeLV, FIV, FIP, in bottle fed kitten?

Home The Daily Kitten Cat Chat Forum Purrs Likelyhood of FeLV, FIV, FIP, in bottle fed kitten?

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  • #52943
    Chaos
    Participant

    Recently, I have been worried about Cloud. I had him when he was 1 week old and have bottle fed him since then. I worry, because even though he is gaining weight like a monster (1 pound in 3 weeks! Yikes!) But he always seems to be sniffly or sneezy, and his eyes always have discharge. He has been on antibiotics a couple of times and this keeps coming back. I just worry ): He is my baby.

    #749377
    Buttons
    Moderator

    Hey chaos. How old is cloud now? It sounds like symptoms of cat flu but if it is reoccuring its more than likely feline herpes. Its a virus that has the same symptoms of cat flu -sneezing, eye problems ie.. Reoccuring eye infections.

    Feline herpes can be transferred for mother to baby within the first few days if she had it. Like human herpes once they have it in their system it never goes away but flare ups become less and less as they get older. Also sometimesL-lysine helps keep eye infections and flare ups at bay. Flare ups normally occur in times of stress or early development.

    Buttons and Nutini have the virus but i give 500ms of L-lysine daily and have no more eye issues with them. I got sick of the constant anti-biotics and lets face it too many anti-biotics can weaken the immune system over time L-lysine on the other hand is a natural occurring amino acid that boosts the immune system.

    The only way cloud could have any of the viruses you mention is if he got them inutero or i think one the FeLV and FIP can be transferred through mothers milk.

    If he was exposed to the viruses before being born he could test positive for any of the viruses but that could just be the mothers antibodies which can stay in his system for up to a year and actually those antibodies can help cloud build a natural immunity to those viruses in the future.

    I think testing him at about 3 months is good if he tests negative then have him vaccinated but if he test positive don’t worry tomuch and retest at a year.

    I think more than likely you have a case of feline herpes which is something like 60% the cause of most reoccuring eye and respiratory problems in kittens and cats and L-lysine will sort that annoying virus out and put it back in its box 🙂

    #749378
    Chaos
    Participant

    He is almost 5 months now and I was going to have him tested at 6 months (: I have another cat who has herpes, but she doesn’t usually have flare ups and the last time she did, I had him on antibiotics too. I’m trying to get my vet to order l-lysine for one of my cats so I can give him some too. He is due for a vet visit soon. I just get so worried because he is so sweet and I would be devastated if he was badly sick. Thank you for answering my question (:

    #749379
    Buttons
    Moderator

    No problems chaos. If you have another with herpes that’s probably where cloud got it.from. The L-lysine i use and my vet recommended is just the standard health shop 500mg powder capsule or the tablet and i sprinkle that on their food. The vets one would probably cost a lot and its the same stuff as the health shop one and that about 8-10 dollars for a month 1/2 supply

    #749380
    Buttons
    Moderator

    No problems chaos. If you have another with herpes that’s probably where cloud got it.from. The L-lysine i use and my vet recommended is just the standard health shop 500mg powder capsule or the tablet and i sprinkle that on their food. The vets one would probably cost a lot and its the same stuff as the health shop one and that about 8-10 dollars for a month 1/2 supply

    #749381
    Chaos
    Participant

    Unfortunately there isn’t much I can do to protect them from her. I’m not 100% positive she has it, cause she also has a congenital defect that plays a part to her always getting sick, but it is possible. It’s hard to tell because she doesn’t seem to shed the virus and none of my other cats have the same problem. I will order some online (: She was on it for a while but I ran out and couldn’t get more. They actually go crazy for the cod oil flavored goop XD Especially Luna, she has the defect and she can’t really breathe right so eating is hard for her and she just loves to slurp up the l-lysine goop. I will get them some of that. i am probably still going to get him tested, since he is the only feral I have that has shown any symptoms of any sickness before 1 year (besides Luna). She’s been tested for FIV and FeLv and she was negative. Luckily Cloud still has lots of energy and puts on weight so hopefully it is nothing serious.

    #749382
    Buttons
    Moderator

    I bet its nothing serious. And like you say its always a very good sign when there is weight gain.

    #749383
    jcat
    Participant

    Very many — most, even — kittens born to stray, feral or abandoned mothers have chronic herpes and/or cat flu, at least that’s been my experience in the shelter I volunteer at. Buttons has given you great advice, try not to worry, if he’s playful and gaining weight, there can’t be too much wrong.

    #749384
    GD
    Participant

    Have him tested to get peace of mind. We just took Sheldon (now 13 week-old feral we caught three weeks ago) for tests last week, before letting him be around Glen Jr. Glad we did – his disease tests were negative, but he had three parasites that Glen could easily have caught had we let them coexist.

    #749385
    ecbrown
    Participant

    This is the l-lysine powder we sprinkle on their food. (I have 2 that I’m pretty sure have the herpes virus in their systems.)….

    http://www.amazon.com/Vetoquinol-Viralys-L-Lysine-Powder-grams/dp/B0013LLHW0/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_1

    It is affordable, all 4 cats love it, and that little jar lasts a long time. The amount they recommend on the jar sounds high to me, so I do a level scoop twice a day as opposed to a heaping scoop. (I end up giving about 500 mg per day that way.)

    I’d definitely have him tested for the big nasty diseases but it’s probably just the herpes virus.

    ETA: My vet said to do 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off the lysine once their health is stable. Unfortunately, I’ve never gotten there with Eko….there is always a sneeze or eye squint that makes me think I need to keep going with the lysine. The other cats only get it when I think they have been exposed to a cold or look like they are coming down with one. (Well, Lucy gets it everyday for now too since she just recovered from a cold.)

    #749386
    GD
    Participant

    I use the same kind of lysine on GG’s cats, and highly recommend it.

    #749387
    Chaos
    Participant

    I’ll definitely check out the powder. Ill probably get the glop for Luna though. He seems pretty healthy otherwise, but I will definitely get him tested anyways. I will probably be using it daily for Luna anyways. I am sure Cloud will do well with it (:

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