Thanks for the info. I've joined the anemia group and am reading up on it. Has anybody on this list tried the Epogen for a leuk pos cat that is anemic? I read a lot about Epogen being very effective for anemia and I read about people using it for CRF. Just wondering what sort of experiences people have had using it for non-regenerative anemia not due to CRF.
Thanks Amy --- On Thu, 8/6/09, Sharyl <cline...@yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Sharyl <cline...@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Wolfie Update > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 6:48 AM > > 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 > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
