Nathan, I'm really sorry to read that Mao is so ill. It sounds like you have a good vet, in that you don't mention him recommending euthanasia yet. We sometimes see less compassionate and less concerned vets recommending this just because a cat tests positive. Has your vet recommended any further treatment options? Do you have any specialists in your area who might be helpful?
To fight the eye infection, I'd recommend boosting Mao's immune system. I'm using Transfer Factor Plus Advanced and Liquid-DMG for boosting my FeLV+ Ember's system. The TF is a bit expensive (about a dollar a capsule), but the DMG isn't bad. Ember is also on low dose human interferon, which is also pretty affordable. Decent cat food is important. Ember is currently on Felidae canned, which is generally considered to be "human grade" where the meat ingredients are concerned, and is also not involved in the current recall. I think you'll get better advise from others here, especially those who have dealt with cats with respiratory problems. I really hope there's something that can be done to help Mao. He'll be in my prayers. Lance On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 11:59:00 -0400 (EDT), "Nathan Kennedy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > Yesterday I got the bad news that my boy Mao was FeLV+. This was the > worst-case scenario and one that I had dismissed because he tested > negative when I rescued him from the street as a baby in October, as had > the only other cat he had contact with. > > He saw the vet on his first visit, the next day for vaccinations and a > checkup, a few weeks later for boosters, again for a nasty fever in > December that cleared up shortly afterwards, and in January for > neutering. > Other than the fever, the only problems he had were recurring diarrhea > that I tried to manage by modifying his diet and an occasional fit of > whooping that the vet had dismissed as hairballs. Those worried me a > bit, > but the vet's clean bill of health, his big appetite, energy, and growth > all reassured me. > > Until recently. Mao seemed to dull a bit, and started snoring during his > naps. Over the past week, Mao developed a nasty case of earmites and > increased trouble breathing, progressing into fits of gasping for air. > Since he had no runny nose and his temperature was normal, I thought it > might be asthma. I took him to the vet on Saturday, and he took a blood > sample and X-rayed him, finding a constriction in his trachea. He > prescribed prednisone to try to make it easier for him to breathe as well > as treatment for the mites. Then Sunday night, Mao almost instantly > developed a horrible eye infection. The third eyelid of his right eye > closed over and swelled up, blinding him in that eye and making it > impossible for him to close it--meanwhile, his breathing deteriorated. > He > went back to another vet in the morning, and got eyedrops and ointment as > well as antibiotics. It wasn't until later in the afternoon I got the > call that he had tested FeLV+. > > Mao's breathing is not improving. The slightest exertion is enough to > send him into a loud fit of labored gasping, and when he is not napping > every breath is strained--he can't climb his scratching post anymore, > which used to be his favorite perch. Despite all that, he still wakes me > up in the morning purring and rubbing my face. He still likes to eat and > pauses between bites of his favorite food to give me his happy look > through his squinting, red eyes. He has always been such a happy cat, > and > it still shows through all his suffering. > > But if his condition doesn't get any better I don't think he can last > much > longer. It's hard to see this happen to Mao at such a young age (not > even > 8 months yet). The vet who diagnosed him told me that he could have > gotten FeLV shortly before I found him and tested negative. I didn't > think I would lose him so soon. > > -- Lance Linimon [EMAIL PROTECTED]
