Amy, Epogen is very effective for treating non-regenerative anemia. Treatment is not started until the HCT or PCV is below 20 and usually in the mid-teens. The Anemia group I gave you the link for has more info on treatment protocol. Sharyl
--- On Thu, 8/6/09, Iva Lark Emily Seaberg <melleph...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: > From: Iva Lark Emily Seaberg <melleph...@sbcglobal.net> > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Wolfie Update > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 1:32 AM > A few years ago I had a kitty with > Chronic Renal Failure. Towards the end he was extremely > anemic and we did the Epogen. I'm so glad we did it because > it did buy us some time. I decided to try the Epogen when it > became clear he was not making new blood cells, his anemia > became extreme and we knew that without help he would die > from it, a slow, lethargic and very sad death. I wanted to > give him a chance and the Epogen did. My vet talked to UC > Davis about his unique situation (he also had high blood > pressure and a heart problem) and we gave him a really > really low dose. I believe typically they give it 3-4 times > a week and we gave it once a week. It was such a low dose > the vet thought it might not work, but it did and actually > better than we anticipated. > > So, I can't speak for the FeLV stuff, but I can say the > Epogen wasn't as evil as I was expecting to be from what I > had heard word of mouth. We used it very cautiously, and it > seemed to make a big difference. You just really have to > watch it, start off slow. It is easier to add treatments > then try and slow it down and you don't want their values > increasing too fast. > > Good luck, > > Iva > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > Message: 7 > > Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 16:38:44 -0700 (PDT) > > From: Amy <awilkin...@yahoo.com> > > Subject: [Felvtalk] Wolfie Update > > > > > So I've been posting about my cat Wolfie who has been > losing weight since about mid 2006, from 15.4 lbs down to > 10.8 lbs today. His last visit was on July 2nd and he > had a HCT of 29. He also tested positive for > Mycoplasma haemominutum previously called Haemobartonella > felis small form. He's been on doxy, pred, and > Pet-Tinic twice daily for almost a month. > > > > My vet thought he looked great today and he hasn't > lost any weight since his last visit but he's not gaining > and his HCT is still going down. We took a tiny amount > of blood and sent it out for a reticulocyte count. I've lost > almost all my leuk positives to anemia in the end (except > for one to lymphoma and one to neurological issues) and I'm > really bummed out by the news. I was hoping treating > the Hemobart would help the HCT even though my vet wasn't as > optimistic. > > > > I'm just wondering how most people here lose their > leuk positives. It seems all of mine do so well, are > completely asymptomatic and then out of nowhere they stop > making red blood cells, the HCT starts to drop, and it is > downhill from there. My vet wrote me a 10 page letter > on everything that could cause weight loss and anemia and we > have eliminated almost all the possibilities I think. > We haven't done a digestive panel yet because it takes 4 mls > of blood and I don't want to do that with his HCT dropping. > If the reticulocyte test comes back and shows he is making > red blood cells, we will start investigating digestive > issues or anything else that could be causing his lower > HCT. If it comes back as nonregenerative anemia, is > there anything I can do? I know there is the option of > Epogen and I'm looking into that. Anything else or do > I just spend time with him and wait? I hate this point > where they are feeling fine, looking fine, and I know it's > only > > a matter of time :( This guy has been with me > longer than any of my other positives and I'd do anything to > help him but I'm afraid there's nothing else I can do. > Thoughts? > > > > Amy > > > _______________________________________________ > 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
