Hello All,
It's been almost a month since I first found and posted to
this group. I'd like to thank you all for the warm and supportive
welcome. So much has happened in that month, that it's taken me this
long to "collect my thoughts" with understanding everything.
First of all, Pekoe & Digby were adopted from a local
SPCA (in Ontario, Canada), in July/04. 7 months later (Feb. 18th),
Pekoe (now 16 mos. old) tested FelV+ and was anaemic - his PCV
(Hematocrit) was 17% (Normal Range by our vet lab is 24 - 45%). Digby
(now 21 mos. old) also tested FelV+ the next day. Both were tested
with the ELISA blood test. Confirmation for both with the IFA Test was
also Pos. Our vet suspected that Pekoe's anaemia was due to Hemobart,
so he was immediately started on Doxycycline for 3 wks. He did test
Pos. for Hemobart. Digby was Neg. for Hemobart. The lab where some of
the tests were sent to, had recently acquired the necessary equipment
to do PCR testing, and offered to do the test for both cats for free -
I believe the PCR test was in relation to the Hemobart?
Pekoe had a Serum Profile done, and the only abnormal
results were:
- Total Bilirubin = 8 umol/L (Normal Range = 0 - 3)
- Conjugated Bilirubin = 3 umol/L (Normal Range = 0 - 1)
- Free Bilirubin = 5 umol/L (Normal Range = 0 - 3)
Digby had a Complete Blood Count and Serum Profile done, and
the only abnormal results were:
- MCHC = 296 g/L (Normal Range = 300 - 344)
- Lipase = 26 U/L (Normal Range = 29 - 77)
Pekoe responded very well to the Doxycycline. His PCV was
rechecked just two days ago, and is now 38%!! Our vet ran a
quick blood slide for the Hemobart again, and there were some
"suspicious" cells still present, so he's on another 3 wk. course of
the Doxycycline, while the blood sample is sent out to the lab that ran
it the first time. I believe they said his anaemia was regenerative -
not non-regenerative? In addition to all this, Pekoe has had two bouts
with roundworms since we adopted him. The first bout was 3 mos. after
we adopted him, the second bout was 3 mos. after that. They're both
indoor cats, and we learned that the shelter where they came from was not
administering deworming medication correctly - they were only giving 1
dose with no repeats at specified intervals! We used Drontal the first
time, and Py-ra-pam the second time. We're not sure if he's going to
develop another worm load again, but if he does, our vet is
recommending Advantage Multi. Apparently, it's something relatively
new, and is supposed to not only kill the adult worms, but the larvae
as well?
Other than that, they're both doing quite well. They eat
well - although Pekoe is a little overweight (14 lbs.), so we've cut
back his dry food some. They've been on high quality canned and dry
food ever since we adopted them. Pekoe has somewhat "restricted"
vision, believed to be caused by being malnourished at a young age when
his eyesight would have been developing. His pupils are dilated most
of the time, but do constrict in natural bright light. As our vet put
it - "he's like the kid in school that had to wear thick glasses".
Because of this, he's not as active as Digby, so that would account
partly for his weight.
Our vet has discussed with us about possible future use of
Virbagen Omega Interferon. At this point, she doesn't think she'll
start the use of anti-virals, as both of them are asymptomatic.
In a previous post, I had asked if anyone knew if the
Virbagen Omega Interferon was available for use in Canada yet. I found
the article I had read about that, and it said that recent word from
the manufacturer projects availability in Canada in May, 2005. Hope
that's true!
I'm so very glad I found this group! I was a member of a
CRF Support Group and gained a wealth of information and support from
them when I was treating our "Casper". As I mentioned in my initial
post, we successfully treated him for 4 yrs., until we had to help him
cross the bridge in July/04 at the ripe old age of 20 yrs. 5 mos.
Best Wishes to All,
Marlene
