Hi,

A friend has 3 cats and over the last 3 months they have all had occassional diarrhoea with a tiny bit of blood, one has a gunky eye and one has a bit of a wheezy chest and sneezes which has passed. She took them for a check up and the vet thinks its Felv and wants them back for more tests. Having done some research the symptoms dont seem to fit quite right and they are all really healthy looking, eating well and lively but she is now really worried as there is no cure. Anybody got any experience with this condition or these symptoms?

It isn't unusual for a vet to test for FeLV because:-

an FeLV +ve cat is more likely to suffer from other ailments and a variety of symptoms
and
they can charge for it.

This particular vet is playing it crafty. The test involves taking a little blood and using an in-house kit which gives a result in around 15 minutes. This could/should have been done on that visit if the vet feels it's necessary but bringing the client back will presumably involve a further consultation fee. As you've pointed out, it's also worried your friend. She'll be nicely softened up and worried enough to agree to anything by the time she goes back. I have no heartache with suggesting any cat is tested as it's something breeders do as a matter of course. I have a real hatred of vets using the whole process as a scare tactic.

I think your friend had better phone the vet and ask:

How the extra stress of being hauled to the vet's practice will affect the cats' health, as stress is known to have a very adverse effect on the immune system and will often trigger latent infections.

Why he didn't do this simple blood test the previous time, when the cats were there, anyway

Why he intends to test for Felv, rather than FIP or FIV (in truth, FIV or FIP would be the first thing I would think of if a cat has serious issues with its immune system)

If he was planning on offering FIP and FIV tests on following visits, should they prove Felv negative

What his course of action would be if they prove positive for any of these diseases, as opposed to his present treatment
(If there is nothing he can do that he isn't doing right now, why test for the cause of the failing immune system?)

It is like the specialist who insisted on doing a contrast X-ray on my knee to detect a possible minute crack in my meniscus, and when the result wasn't obvious, wanted to do an MRI scan. When I asked what consequences this would have for treatment, the answer was 'none'. He could give no valid reason for doing the test at all, he could hardly admit to filling his pockets at my expense.... So I flatly refused to undergo the MRI and told him to go and rip off someone else.

__________________
Jiskefet & the mognificent Dutch bunch

My little angels at the rainbow bridge

I agree, sadly she is very loyal to said vet. Do these symptims sound like one of these awful disrases then even if the cats seem so healthy? I dont want her to worry but she wants to be prepared for the worst!

Nobody can say if these cats will test +ve or -ve. The FeLV test also automatically tests for FIV. Neither is an instant death sentence even if they do test +ve. Testing has become more popular of recent times. The test kits are now marketed to vets as something they can make great profit from as few pet owners would know to question why.

Did the vet ask if the cats had been wormed recently? Blood in stools can often indicate a need for worming. One gunky eye tends to suggest a localised infection due to trauma. One sneezy, wheezing cat suggests allergies or asthma. Altogether, this whole lot would indicate looking for something more serious and absolutely warrant more testing. Spread over 3 months and 3 cats - yeah, maybe test just to rule it out.

That's the question every pet owner should be asking when a vet starts suggesting a myriad of tests. What are we testing for? If the result is positive then what? Unfortunately for owners, vets will (quite rightly) suggest a blood panel which is very useful - and slip in a quick £50 FeLV/FIV test because they can. The biggest 'at risk' group for this kind of thing are insured animals because their owners have less interest in questioning the costs and therefore the need.