Waltham Feline Medicine Symposium

INTRODUCTION As a species, cats are frequently afflicted with immunosuppressive states that put them at risk for serious infections. The retroviruses feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are the most common causes of immunosuppression in the cat.21,22 Neutropenia, a specific deficiency of the immune system, can result from a variety of causes. These include primary diseases such as panleukopenia virus and complications of disease treatment, such as that caused by chemotherapy. Immunodeficiency states of newborn kittens are believed to contribute to neonatal sepsis, a leading cause of death in kittens. Inherited and congenital defects in the immune system occur in cats, but these appear to be much less common than in the dog. Regardless of the cause of immunosuppression, certain clinical principles apply to the treatment of all affected cats. An effort should be made to diagnose the precise cause of immune dysfunction, so that the most appropriate treatment can be given. Special effort should be made to protect immunosuppressed cats from infection, whether it be by isolation and increased hygiene for hospitalized cats or by recommending a low-risk life-style at home. This paper will focus on the specific treatment of the most common states of immunosuppression in the cat.