The question of how low the RBC count "should be" is really the wrong question. If your cat has problems with a low or dropping RBC count (and/or the retic count is abnormally low, showing that red cells are not regenerating), and possibly other cell lines are also dropping or dropped (platelets or white cells), try Winstrol - 1 mg 2 x a day. If the red cell count is REALLY low and it is an urgent situation, start the Winstrol at 2 mg x 2 a day. The Winstrol is great for re-starting red cell production, and increasing the RBC and haematocrit levels, and very likely a positive effect on the other cell lines.
Winstrol also boosts appetite, muscle development and improves general well-being. You can keep a cat on Winstrol for months and months, and this is necessary when a cat is extremely anemic, or has other problems like lack of appetite, general malaise, etc. It is also very effective for muscle problems (eg pulled muscles) and other conditions like relatively minor spinal injuries. What may happen is that the liver enzymes will rise, freaking out your vet, who will insist that the Winstrol be stopped. DON'T LISTEN. I had my cat on Winstrol for at least 60% of the next 7 years after his FeLV decompensation, and even though his liver enzymes would occasionally rise, there was never any liver damage and the enzymes would go back to normal when he was weaned off the Winstrol. With my cat, after he was over the FeLV crisis (which took the better part of 8-10 months on the Winstrol) and I weaned him off, I would watch for signs of the anemia returning (gums and ears and pads getting pale, licking of cement, etc.) and I would put him back on the Winstrol as needed for several months. Worked like a charm every time. The cost is quite affordable. It's about 50 cents per 1 mg tablet. Expect significant resistance from vets, who for some reason would rather prescribe known ineffective treatments like Prednisolone and antibiotics (which can never really address a FeLV crisis or condition). Other members of this chatline have indicated success with other treatments like Interferon or LTCI, but I carefully tracked my cat on these other treatments, with weekly blood tests, and at least for us, these other treatments didn't result in ANY increase in red cells, white cells, platelets or reticulocytes. At the outset of our cat's severe FeLV crisis, we had him on a combination of Winstrol, prednisolone and doxycline. As he improved, I reduced all the levels, and dropped off the other 2 and left him on the Winstrol. Amani -----Original Message----- From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Jane Gannon Sent: November-15-15 11:17 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Lymph nodes When should a cat be put on Winstrol? How low should the RBC count be? How long does it help and how long can they be on it? Also how much does it cost? ----- Original Message ----- From: <dlg...@windstream.net> To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2015 5:42 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Lymph nodes > My prayers are with you and Merlot. > > ---- Anna Summers <a...@amproductionslocations.com> wrote: >> my thoughts are with you . >> >> On 15 Nov 2015, at 12:14, Maya D'Alessio wrote: >> >> > Merlot has taken a turn for the worse. He's having trouble breathing, a >> > bit dehydrated, not interested in food, and the vet thought she felt a >> > lump in his abdomen. We might have to make a hard choice tomorrow. I >> > want to give him the night to see if he improves at all. >> > >> > On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 3:11 PM, Margo <toomanykitti...@earthlink.net> >> > wrote: >> > >> > I always feel lucky that I have a Vet who will listen to me. I figure >> > that when I go in, I have had the time to really evaluate the pet, know >> > pretty well what's going on, and have had the opportunity to research >> > the possibilities for that one critter. I'm not dealing with multiple >> > species and patients. I can focus. I like it when she also has input, >> > and I think that together, we are better than either of us alone. Since >> > the lymph node incident, we have found a way to get where we want to go >> > in the best way possible. Recently my Vet found an off-label use for a >> > new flea/tick med that saved my new dog from daily doses of a pretty >> > toxic drug. I didn't know about it. And I am now trying to introduce >> > her to Zeutering, which is a form of chemical castration that I am >> > considering. >> > >> > Of course, there are times...:) >> > >> > Margo >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > >From: Lorrie <felineres...@frontier.com> >> > >Sent: Nov 15, 2015 10:01 AM >> > >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> > >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Lymph nodes >> > > >> > >You got that right! I can tell they hate it that I am so knowledable >> > >about cats, as it shows them up. Experience is the greatest teacher. >> > > >> > >Lorrie >> > > >> > > >> > >On 11-14, dlg...@windstream.net wrote: >> > > >> > >> Vets and doctors soon learn it is useless to argue with us. >> > >> Sometimes our experience is better than their training. >> > >> >> > > >> > >_______________________________________________ >> > >Felvtalk mailing list >> > >Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> > >http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Felvtalk mailing list >> > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Maya D'Alessio >> > PhD student >> > B1 377B, x32320 >> > Graduate Studies Endowment Fund Coordinator >> > Biology GSA Vice Chair >> > GSA Director At-Large >> > University of Waterloo >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Felvtalk mailing list >> > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> Anna Summers >> Tel :00 34 670671493 >> >> CAMPING 6 , >> (Camino de Guerrero, 62) >> El Palmar, >> Vejer de la Frontera, 11159 >> Cadiz >> Spain >> >> http://www.amproductionslocations.com/amproductions.html >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
