Re: [Felvtalk] Assisted Feeding
I agree with the others. If it's hemolytic anemia caused by hemobartonella - doxy and prednisone can help. Usually this can be identified on a blood smear. If it's strictly the felv, only a blood transfusion will help and this will only buy you some time - in the matter of weeks to months. It sounds like she is in a bad way and would need a transfusion. A/D food can't hurt but won't immediatley help with the anemia. This is where felv+ cats get really tough. The guestion of what to treat and how aggressively becomes a very difficult question. I have found that the very thin, severely anemic cats rarely survive and heavy treatment only prolongs the suffering. On the other hand, sometimes they respond nicely and do well for a time. I am so sorry. My prayers and hopes go out to you both. Jenny mdgallo...@aol.com wrote: My Macy is only 10 1/2 mos. and I took her to the vet yesterday because she had become lethargic and wasn't playing. My son is one of the vet techs so they know us and have been with Macy since we got her at 10 wks old. She was a feral cat in the neighborhood. We even tried catnip on her favorite toy, Mr. Lion. After an exam, urinalysis and blood work, the vet came in and just stood there, too upset to talk. Macy's blood count is so bad they don't know how she's even walking, although she still jumps up on furniture but not with much energy. They said she only has a few days. I've read about assisted feeding but don't recall anyone saying what they're feeding the cat. She is still eating a very small amount but if more is going to help her, we're willing to try anything. I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions. Dawn ___ 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
Re: [Felvtalk] Assisted Feeding
Hang in there! With a blood transfusion it could really help. They are a little costly but so worth it. Our Gray Kitty's Hematocrit was at an all time low of 9! They had no idea how he was still alive. With the blood transfusion it brought his Hematocrit back within the normal range and bought us some time to start other treatments as well. From: gcru...@centurytel.net To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:25:59 -0600 Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Assisted Feeding You didn't say exactly what was bad in the blood work but I'm going to guess she was very anemic. If that is the case, you need more than assisted feeding. Depending on what the numbers are, she might need an immediate transfusion just to give you a little time to try some things and there is no guarantee. It is really hard to win against a fast moving anemia. Gary -Original Message- From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of mdgallo...@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:04 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: [Felvtalk] Assisted Feeding My Macy is only 10 1/2 mos. and I took her to the vet yesterday because she had become lethargic and wasn't playing. My son is one of the vet techs so they know us and have been with Macy since we got her at 10 wks old. She was a feral cat in the neighborhood. We even tried catnip on her favorite toy, Mr. Lion. After an exam, urinalysis and blood work, the vet came in and just stood there, too upset to talk. Macy's blood count is so bad they don't know how she's even walking, although she still jumps up on furniture but not with much energy. They said she only has a few days. I've read about assisted feeding but don't recall anyone saying what they're feeding the cat. She is still eating a very small amount but if more is going to help her, we're willing to try anything. I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions. Dawn ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org __ NOD32 3862 (20090217) Information __ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _ Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/ ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] Shots for Felv/Re Testing for Non Felv Cat
Hi everyone My kitten Bernie was diagnosed with Felv about 2 months after we got him home from the shelter. He was on interferon for 45 days, retested, and is still positive. When we got him from the shelter he did not have his second set of vaccinations yet. He is now 8 months old. I am taking him to the vet tonight to get the shots. The vet said she would split up the doses so his body could handle them. I think I will go back in 3 weeks and get the rest. I am still a little nervous about him getting the shots and becoming sick. He was symptom free for about 40 days and then he had a bad day where he wouldn't eat. Otherwise, he has been acting like a normal kitten. No more soft stool, good appetite (besides his bad day), good energy. Still give him interferon once a day. Has anyone had an experience with the vaccinations? Is there a good chance he could die from the shots? I know he needs them.. but I am nervous about it. Also, I decided to keep my non Felv cat (Brady) with Bernie. The vet told us to get Brady re-tested in 3 1/2 months. He tested negative the first time. My question is, how often should you have your non Felv Cat tested? I was thinking once a year would be ok? Every 3 1/2 months sounds like too much. Thank you! ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] Survey Responses
AT WHAT AGE DID YOUR CAT BECOME FeLV POSITIVE? Bernie was 5 months old when he was adopted. The shelter told us he was negative for FeLV. He was sick the day we got him, be we didnt figure out it was FeLV until about 2 months later. WHAT TREATMENTS DID YOU DO/ARE DOING? Interferon, once a day. WHAT FOOD DO/DID YOU FEED? WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOUR CATS LEAD, E.G; INDOOR, OUTDOOR/BOTH ? LIVE WITH OTHER CATS OR NOT? Science Diet Natural Blend Dry Food. it was the food they were feeding him at the shelter and although I would like to switch to a cheaper brand, for now I'm sticking with it until he is an adult. I have 1 other cat who was a 1 year 4 months old when we got Bernie. He tested negative the first time we found out about Bernie...but he has to go back to get re tested soon. They are both indoor cats. They get along great...love to chase eachother and play. HAS YOUR CAT HAD/HAVE ANY OTHER ILLNESSES AND OR STRESS IN LIFE? IF SO WHAT? No problems, yet, thankfully. His only real stress is going to the vet. He absolutly hates that and he is now afraid of other people ( i think because of the vet visists) This summer I am probably moving back home for a little bit, so there will be a change that I hope won't be too stressful on him. WHAT AGE IS YOUR CAT NOW? OR WHEN THEY DIED? WHAT DID THEY DIE OF? Bernie (Felv +) is 8 months old and Brady (Felv -) is 1 1/2 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Shots for Felv/Re Testing for Non Felv Cat
i would suggest you get bernie the rest of his kitten shots, broken up into two or not as your vet recommends, then re-evaluate at the 3-year point, as with any other cat: the vaccines really aren't effective against distemper, at least, without the full kitten series (as too many rescues/sanctuaries can tell you, thinking that one shot in adulthood would be enough with cats who came in without their medical records)--and the risks of protecting him against distemper (a nasty, nasty way to lose a cat) outweigh the limited risks of appropriate protection. don't presume that every sniffle or bad day has anything to do with his having FeLV; FeLV cats are really just normal cats until the virus is triggered, so they can have bad days just like anyone else can. additionally, they can get infections and the ickies, be treated, and recover just as well as any other cat--they can be at death's door from something, and still be fine after correct treatment. as long as the FeLV remains inactive. unfortunately, no one really knows for sure yet what triggers the virus, tho stress and MAJOR illness are the two top suspects--but sanctuary experience will tell you that the latter isn't nearly as much a problem. as i said, they get sick, you treat them, they go on. additionally, because research seemed to have stopped for so long and just recently have begun again, we really don't have a clue on how many actually positive kitties ever DO get symptomatic. there is new evidence that there's a whole class of kitties who don't exactly clear the virus from their systems, but cease to be contagious AND never progress to symptomatic. (that research is mentioned in a november or december PetSmart webinar; it's on their site, but i wasn't able to attend it nor have i had the chance to download it so i can't give more details. i just know that in the JANUARY webinar, it was referred to a couple of times.) test your other(s) at 3-1/2 months (you've got a good vet there, since that's a valid testing interval re: exposure)--then maybe again at one year. after that, i personally wouldn't bother--the odds are that if kitty isn't positive after that amount of exposure, either they don't like each other enough to engage in the kind of close contact required to transmit the virus, or that the negative kittie(s) have dealt with the virus and processed it out of their little systems and are now immune. (sanctuary experiences indicate--again, not enough formal research to prove it, that once a cat tests positive, then negative on the IFA, they are NOT susceptible to the other strains of the virus, either--i guess it's possible that they are constantly reinfected with re-exposure, but because of the not sick til it's triggered element, it doesn't seem to be a problem. remember, if FeLV were so contagious, the prevalence-in-the-wild percentages would be MUCH higher, and there would be cats dropping dead all over the place. and, in sanctuary environments, where you have cats in every stage of infection, the sick ones SHOULD make the asymptomatic ones sick too, if it's just a matter of immune-system weakness we just have to keep asking the questions, and angling for more research, so that we can get the answers we need. my OPINIONS (tho grounded in what is known, and what has been observed) for today. MC On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 1:59 PM, Maria Ianiro mian...@gmail.com wrote: Hi everyone My kitten Bernie was diagnosed with Felv about 2 months after we got him home from the shelter. He was on interferon for 45 days, retested, and is still positive. When we got him from the shelter he did not have his second set of vaccinations yet. He is now 8 months old. I am taking him to the vet tonight to get the shots. The vet said she would split up the doses so his body could handle them. I think I will go back in 3 weeks and get the rest. I am still a little nervous about him getting the shots and becoming sick. He was symptom free for about 40 days and then he had a bad day where he wouldn't eat. Otherwise, he has been acting like a normal kitten. No more soft stool, good appetite (besides his bad day), good energy. Still give him interferon once a day. Has anyone had an experience with the vaccinations? Is there a good chance he could die from the shots? I know he needs them.. but I am nervous about it. Also, I decided to keep my non Felv cat (Brady) with Bernie. The vet told us to get Brady re-tested in 3 1/2 months. He tested negative the first time. My question is, how often should you have your non Felv Cat tested? I was thinking once a year would be ok? Every 3 1/2 months sounds like too much. Thank you! ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org -- Spay Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference MaryChristine Special-Needs Coordinator,
Re: [Felvtalk] Shots for Felv/Re Testing for Non Felv Cat
Hi I would think twice about vaccinating a positive kitten. I know that the vet that I use would not vaccinate a positive cat because vaccines can stress and assault a fragile and compromised immune system. Can you postpone the appointment and give yourself some time to do some research and talk to other people for different viewpoints? Does your kitten go outdoors? There is a really good book on the subject that describes the benefits and risks associated with vaccines. http://www.amazon.com/Vaccine-Guide-Dogs-Cats-Should/dp/1881217345/ ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8s=booksqid=123 I know this subject is controversial subject, but I think it is worth taking the time to educate yourself on all the possibilities. Jane On Feb 18, 2009, at 1:59 PM, Maria Ianiro wrote: Hi everyone My kitten Bernie was diagnosed with Felv about 2 months after we got him home from the shelter. He was on interferon for 45 days, retested, and is still positive. When we got him from the shelter he did not have his second set of vaccinations yet. He is now 8 months old. I am taking him to the vet tonight to get the shots. The vet said she would split up the doses so his body could handle them. I think I will go back in 3 weeks and get the rest. I am still a little nervous about him getting the shots and becoming sick. He was symptom free for about 40 days and then he had a bad day where he wouldn't eat. Otherwise, he has been acting like a normal kitten. No more soft stool, good appetite (besides his bad day), good energy. Still give him interferon once a day. Has anyone had an experience with the vaccinations? Is there a good chance he could die from the shots? I know he needs them.. but I am nervous about it. Also, I decided to keep my non Felv cat (Brady) with Bernie. The vet told us to get Brady re-tested in 3 1/2 months. He tested negative the first time. My question is, how often should you have your non Felv Cat tested? I was thinking once a year would be ok? Every 3 1/2 months sounds like too much. Thank you! ___ 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
Re: [Felvtalk] Shots when FelV pos.
I had a 5 month old kitten die when he got his shots. I didn't know he was even positive for FelV until he got his shots, and when he got terribly sick I rushed him to the vet and he was FelV pos. I should add this was a kitten I planned to adopt out, and it was his second shot which I gave him. I usually give the shots because it is SO expensive to take kittens to the vet. I have given shots many times, which I'm sure a lot of you do, and this is the first and only time I had problems. After this I had to test all the rest of the kittens from that litter, and half were FelV pos and the rest neg. Lorrie On 02-18, Jane Lyons wrote: Hi I would think twice about vaccinating a positive kitten. I know that the vet that I use would not vaccinate a positive cat because vaccines can stress and assault a fragile and compromised immune system. Can you postpone the appointment and give yourself some time to do some research and talk to other people for different viewpoints? Does your kitten go outdoors? There is a really good book on the subject that describes the benefits and risks associated with vaccines. http://www.amazon.com/Vaccine-Guide-Dogs-Cats-Should/dp/1881217345/ ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8s=booksqid=123 I know this subject is controversial subject, but I think it is worth taking the time to educate yourself on all the possibilities. Jane ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Shots for Felv/Re Testing for Non Felv Cat
After Dixie was tested she received no vaccinations. She became an indoor cat and was not exposed to anything that she would be vaccinated for. My vets, both regular and holistic, supported this decision. Everyone has to make up her own mind but, if I have cats or any animals who are not at real risk of exposure, I am not going to vaccinate them if their system is compromised. On Feb 18, 2009, at 12:59 PM, Maria Ianiro wrote: Hi everyone My kitten Bernie was diagnosed with Felv about 2 months after we got him home from the shelter. He was on interferon for 45 days, retested, and is still positive. When we got him from the shelter he did not have his second set of vaccinations yet. He is now 8 months old. Marylyn, Copper Thomas ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] Assisted Feeding
Thank you all so much for your information and especially for your kind words and prayers. Macy has been sleeping most of the day and when she does walk, she tires so easily and her back legs seem to be going. I had to go to physical therapy today and who cam in but the vet. I gave her the update and she said that she needs a transfusion. My son, the vet tech, has 7 cats so he's taking them in tomorrow to see if any of them are a match. I also have a negative cat that they'll check. Unfortunately, my husband and I have to go out of town tomorrow and won't return until Sunday evening. It is a comfort that she'll be in good hands with my son. Please pray that we'll find a donor and that the transfusion is successful. Thank you all so much. Dawn ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
