Treatment of Feline Infectious Anemia

Feline infectious anemia is caused by a parasitic bacterium, infecting the red blood cells and causing a cat’s immune system to attack the affected red blood cells.  The bacteria can be transmitted by lice, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, or through a wound from an infected cat.  Cats that live outdoors and cats with limited vaccinations present the greatest risk of becoming infected with feline infectious anemia.  The infection often occurs in combination with the feline leukemia virus.

Several options are available for the treatment of feline infectious anemia.  If the disease is not treated, it will only progress and ultimately can lead to the death of the infected cat.

Doxycycline has been found to be an affective antibiotic when used to remove bacteria from the bloodstream.  Veterinarians generally recommend that it be administered for a three week period.  It may be used in conjunction with an immunosuppressant to prevent the Immune system from attacking its own red blood cells.  Severe cases may require a blood transfusion. 

Early diagnosis and treatment of the disease increases an affected cat's prognosis for a positive outcome.