subject: Re: Questions about FeLV treatments
Thank you all for your input. I've sent the information on
Immuno-Regulen to the
allopathic vet that I use. I appreciate your time and experience very
much.
Jane
On Jun 21, 2007, at 9:09 AM, Nina wrote:
Hi Jane,
I have used both feline interferon omega, (injectable, non FDA
approved, expensive), and human interferon Alpha, (oral, easily
obtained, inexpensive). As far as I know I was the first list member
to procure a special FDA dispensation for the fio and I have to say,
I was disappointed at the results. While I do believe that it helps
with symptoms the great hope I had for it as a "cure" was dashed. I
do suspect that it might be something that would help those cats
first exposed to throw the virus, but at least anequdotally, it
doesn't seem to help them reconvert once the virus has taken hold.
If the darn stuff wasn't so expensive and hard to get I'd consider it
a valuable tool in our arsenal, as things stand, I just don't know.
IA on the other hand is something that I would always keep on hand
and feel is worth using, (that is what I was suggesting the last time
I brought up your using interferon for MeMe). It's easy to
administer and it does seem to help most cats, at the very least,
feel better.
I have never personally used Immuno-Regulin, but the reports from
list members are enough to convince me that it is worth a shot, (no
pun intended), when symptoms are not alleviated with more common
treatments like antibiotics. There have been several accounts of it
helping with symptoms of infection like fever spikes. From what I
understand, it is a bacteria that when introduced causes a boost in
immune response that also helps battle current unexplained symptoms.
The recommended protocol is IV injection, but at least one of our
list members had good results using it subq and Best Friends uses it
IM on a monthly bases for their felv+ cats. Have you discussed using
it with your vet? You might point her to the vets at Best Friends
since you seem fortunate enough to have a vet that is willing to
research options.
What type of antibiotic has MeMe been prescribed? There are so many
different abx out there you may not have hit on the right one to help
with her symptoms. Have you tried the broad spectrum abx like
Baytril and/or Doxi?
I am sending prayers and good thoughts that the recent lump you
discovered has dissipated by now and that it was nothing more than a
stubbornly swollen lymph node.
Hugs to both you and MeMe,
Nina
Jane Lyons wrote:
I am trying to decide what the best treatment would be for
my cat (MeMe) who has 'moderate, but improving symptoms' of FeLV.
(we are having success with stomatitis and giardia, but still have
some
swollen glands and a runny nose).
I asked one vet that I use to order Virbagen Omega for me.
This is her response to my request:
Jane, The info on this is not encouraging. Besides the expense, the
European vets don't feel it's a cure all. Here's a brief summary
of the one study: J vet Int Med July-Aug 2004. "Therapeutic Effects
of recombinant feline interferon-omega on felv-infected and
felv/fiv infected symptomatic cats"
Recombinant feline interferon omega or felv and felv/fiv cats
compared to 42 controls, 39 Ifn treated cats at 9 ms, mortality was
39% in the Ifn cats, 59% in controls; at 1yr, mortality was 47%
v.59%. Ifn treatment gave minor but consistent improvement in blood
parameters (rbc count, wbc count).
So: statistical improvement but half still died by 1 year. Dr.E
I have just read an article that was referenced on the Feline
Leukemia site by Dr. Karen Thomas who was
promoting the use of ImmunoRegulin. The article is not dated, and it
is not clear if the information is current,
or if there is any connection to interferon.
Is there anyone who has experience with these treatments, or could
direct me to someone who does?
Thanks very much
Jane
