Hey, Michelle - I'm the one who has the 10yr old cat who has been getting it for 7-8 years. It really is hard to know if that has helped or not -- in fact my own vet, who I think is on top of everything, said he doubts it - he thinks she is just in that lucky % of feleuk+ cats who is going to remain healthy. Still, the people who surrendered her to us want her to continue to get it and have donated enough money to insure that it is covered -- plus I figure if "it ain't broke, don't fix it" -- I hate to change anything since she seems to be doing so well. Just wish there was a way to KNOW!
What I did try was IR - 2 doses subQ on two cats - I think Jen mentioned it - for URI's. One cat is negative and had a URI that nothing I did was touching - two doses and she was much better. Tried the same on Daisy, my little 14mo old positive kitty, and for the first time since before Xmas she is free of a
URI. I also did big doses of lysine. - so I really don't know if it was the IR or the lysine that made the difference.
I am leaning toward starting Daisy on regular IR doses -- mainly because there are signs that make me think she isn't going to be a long-term survivor - and I am trying already to do everything that even might help.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
FYI, I called the company that makes I-R, and they say that they only recommend using it IV because parts are absorbed sub-q and IM without being effective, i.e. it is more effective IV. That said, it seems to be working great for Smokey sub-q, so if anyone needs to give it at home it sounds like it is ok, though the company will not say it is. But in bad situations, I would try to get it done IV.I have been thinking about the 10 year old cat who has been getting monthly low dose I-R injections for 7-8 years, can not remember who on the list told us about her. I have been thinking of giving them to my two remaining positives. I am wondering if it could stimulate the immune system enough to keep the virus at bay and prevent the cancer and anemia that hits most of them before that age. But I would only do it if I could do it sub-q, and I just have not decided, given that we do not know if that is what has helped the 10 year old cat and the company does not recommend using it prophylactically or sub-q. Has anyone else been considering doing this? Gray thinks I shouldn't, just because it may have nothing to do with why that cat has done so well and I do not know what giving it sub-q and monthly, neither of which is recommended by the manufacturer, would actually do to or for them. (for instance, every sub-q shot carries some risk of infection or VAS, and this is a bacteria...) Though I also know that many drugs are successfully used "off-label." I am leaning towards not doing it at this point, but am still thinking about it a lot. I would be curious to know everyone's thoughts on this.Michelle
