It was Bud’s story that gave me hope. He helped me to understand FIV, and guided me to treat Pepper’s symptoms and enhance his quality of life. Through trial and error, and under the care of a veterinarian and a homeopath who were open-minded and genuinely interested in taking this journey with me, referencing Bud’s practical therapies made all the difference. Below is an introductary excerpt from Bud’s Timeline. I would urge you to consult his website to learn about all aspects of the feline immunodeficiency virus. It may make all the difference for your FIV cat ..

“Standard veterinary medicine’s approach to FIV infection is to “play defense”: to treat the diseases it causes, but to largely ignore the virus and the immune system it attacks.  Such a strategy would be unthinkable today for humans infected with HIV.  Even casual research, however, will show the cat owner in search of a better strategy that therapy for cats suffering from FIV is largely off the radar and left to guesswork by individual veterinarians, a shocking number of whom counsel euthanasia.

Your veterinarian has had very little guidance in treating FIV apart from “playing defense” and likely will not have the time or inclination to research experimental therapies.  It is very helpful to find a vet who is open-minded and cooperative.  But don’t expect much encouragement.

Vets will tell you that little has been “proven” to be of benefit, although this is generally a view accepted as received wisdom, not through actual research.  Those who style themselves authorities and pass on this view set the bar impossibly high by pointing to an absence of long-term studies that are never likely to exist unless supported and funded by a marketer looking to make money.  This unfortunate reality takes most supplements off the table and limits research in pharmaceuticals to multi-purpose agents. There is limited money to be made from targeting a disease largely limited to rescued stray cats.

So here is the primary lesson for the person who wants to aggressively fight his cat’s FIV infection:  Learn to do your own heavy lifting.

“Bud’s FIV Therapy” was not a program of FIV therapy.  It was very much a matter of learning as one goes.

Medication and supplement information is constantly being updated to reflect newly discovered research. Periodic reconfirmation of validity is suggested.”