FLV – FeLV
This is a very serious illness. The virus is a retrovirus, the same type that causes HIV in humans. Neither dogs nor humans can catch it. It is not highly contagious but cats living together can transmit the disease.
There is a long time between infection and symptoms (years sometimes – I discuss the symptoms and here. Infection results in a range of “syndromes”. These include leukemia, which is cancerous lymphocytes in the bloodstream and lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes).
The virus also results in immune deficiency leading to an inability to protect the body and bone marrow supression (white blood cell and platelet production is compromised), which has the same effect.
As treatment is poor the best action is prevention of this cat health problem. FLV can be detected by a sensitive test. New cats shouldn’t be introduced into a new household before the other cats are tested. There is a controversial vaccine. Read more about adoptable FeLV cats here.
Two diagnostic tests are available, the ELISA and IFA tests. I discuss these in some detail and provide information about a home test kit too.
Hyperthyroidism
This is a disorder of the endocrine system. The organ concerned is the thyroid gland. It produces too much thyroxine and tri-oidothyronine in an uregulated manner. The reason is the presence of a tumor in the gland. 98% of the tumors are benign (non-cancerous).
This cat health problem arises on average at 13 years of age. No case has been diagnosed in a cat under 6 years of age. See: Elderly cat health problems.
The cat’s meatabolism increases. The cat suffers weight loss and increased appetite. The cat grooms less and looks messy. Other symptoms could be, hyperactivity, nervousness, panting, vomiting and diarrhea. Increased thirst and urination can be present. This condition can be confused with renal disease. Another disorder of the endocrine system is Cushing’s Disease in cats.
Update 8th December 2010: A concise page on the subject of feline hyperthyroidism — Iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism — Transdermal methimazole treatment for hyperthyroidism.
On another note reading about savannah is that they need a higher protein and calorie counot where as wet food has 80% water…a raw diet seems to be ideal but the risks scare me away from that…would I be better to switch him to another grain free dry food and just leave him a bowl for him to nibble at as usual and just give him a couple spoones of canned food during the day maybe a couple of crickets or something? Also Ive heard that fish foods contain IEBD or something like that from pollution in the water that is thought to be linked with hyperthyroidism In whales and vats. There is also a chemical I heard that is used to seal canned wet food thats used to seal the can that is thought to do the same (more evidence supports the fish theory) upon finding this information again I find myself very confused and in the unknown abit what is best for my cat, and at that after hearing about the blue recalls and sick pets I’m unsure which companis to turn to
I am really leaning towards wet cat food now and becoming increasingly worried about my cat…he’s an f7 savannah and I know he needs a high protein diet..so as you know I switched him to wilderness blue and he’s has since become constipated he’s defaced once or twice since last weekend his stomach feels quite bloated and I have also learned of lots of people’s pets be comming quite sick and surpassing toxicity limits…I have thrown out the food and just about everything is closed today idk what to do I thought I was on the right path with him now I am lost on what to feed my savannah and I’m becoming scared and worried for him
John, I’m very surprised to hear that some of the people that you talked to were against wet cat food. I’m not surprised that a lot of the pet stores are against it because it is easier for a pet store to store dry cat food. I honestly believe that the people who are against wet cat food are incorrect and I say that from many years of thinking and working on the subject. Here are is a post about dry cat food which may help but in any case I wish you the best of luck. A book called “Your Cat” by Elisabeth Hodgkins is interesting and is about the health affects of dry kibble.
https://pictures-of-cats.org/cat-food-recipe.html
This is a link to many articles.