Vet said she would not biopsy an FIV + cat. Is there a reason for not doing a biopsy?

Cat Question: I volunteer at a cat rescue, we have one vet providing lower cost care but can not seem to get the more complex answers to questions we have. FIV is one area where we need answers. Currently we have an older male cat (10 about) that has spent a long time fending for himself before he was rescued 12 weeks ago. He came with many issues, covered in fleas and not neutered. He has been neutered now but has kidney "issues" and is on the special diet for this. He also has a bump above the shoulders on one side. Before the FIV diagnosis the vet wanted to biopsy this. Now she said she would not biopsy an FIV + cat. Is there a reason for not doing a biopsy? Even a foster home placement for this cat would require a better understanding of this cats health, any prognosis and treatment options. Can you help us find a course of action and educate us? Many thanks, Sara.

Hi Sara,

The only reason she may have not wanted to biopsy the lesion is to prevent possible contamination of her instruments?

Also cats with FIV are immunosupressed so causing another wound from a biopsy may have been another one of her concerns.

The lump could be anything, but cats with FIV could have lympohma, an enlarged lymph node, or it could be an abscess from a cat fight.

I would not place this cat into a foster house with other cats.  It could infect other cats if it bites them, but also since he is immuosuprresed he could get sick from diseases other cats have.

I hope this helps you and group.  Thanks for volunteering!