Cats can develop many serious diseases over the course of their lives. One disease that you should understand is the feline immunodeficiency virus, which people commonly shorten to FIV. This is a serious disease that doesn't have a cure, but proper treatment through frequent visits to your local animal hospital can help your pet to maintain a decent overall quality of life after diagnosis. It's important to catch FIV as quickly as possible, given its seriousness. To do so, you should know some of the potential indicators that your cat has this disease. Here are three factors.

Frequent Infections 

FIV affects a cat's immune system, which means that a cat with this disease will often be susceptible to frequent infections. These infections can vary and may include ear and eye infections. Typically, a healthy cat can get over these issues without much difficulty, but a cat that has FIV will almost always need veterinary care. It's common to find that these infections can occur over and over, which can often be a warning sign that something is wrong. For example, a cat that never previously had an eye infection may have several over the course of a few months.

Dental Problems

There are many different dental problems that cats can suffer from, but it's common for cats that have FIV to develop gum issues that affect the teeth. Inflammation of the gums can sometimes be visible when your cat yawns. The gums will appear swollen and red, and may even be bleeding in one or more areas. As it worsens, this inflammation can be so uncomfortable that it affects your cat's appetite. Because its mouth is so tender, the animal may eat far less than it previously did when it was healthy.

Fever

A fever can be another potential indicator that your cat has FIV. Determining that your cat has a fever can be challenging; unlike when your child has a fever, the cat won't appear flushed. There are, however, several potential indicators of a fever in your cat. It may shiver, as chills are common during fevers, and it may also exhibit lethargic behavior. A digital thermometer can help you to check the temperature in your cat's ear. A reading of higher than 102.5 degrees indicates that a fever is present. If you're aware of any of these indicators, and especially if all of them are present, schedule an appointment with your local veterinarian.

For more info, contact a company like Marquette Animal Hospital.

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