Arty, again, this is an email I tried to post early this morning, but for some reason it didn’t go through to the Listserve, so I am reposting:
From: Amani Oakley Sent: October-21-15 11:51 AM To: '[email protected]' Subject: RE: [Felvtalk] Stanozolol (Winstrol(R)) Arty, the Winstrol is an anabolic steroid so it really just works by bulking up the body, repairing damaged tissue, and also has a strong ability to treat serious anemia by working directly on the red blood cell producing cells in the bone marrow and erythropoietin production in the kidneys. Erythropoietin is the substance that the body produces that tells it to make more red cells. It is NOT the same kind of steroid as prednisolone, etc., so it can be used with other types of steroids, with pain meds and with antibiotics, etc., without interfering with their activity. My frustration comes from the fact that this drug was basically pulled because it is associated with doping scandals in professional athletes (they use it to become stronger and faster and to heal and recover from workouts faster), so it became a drug whose name you can’t mention and is tough to get sometimes. Also, there was a scientific study suggesting liver damage with its use, but the rest of the scientific literature just doesn’t seem to have borne this out and it certainly isn’t my experience. So here we have this relatively inexpensive, fairly effective option, with little downside risk, and quick effects usually, and the vets would rather tell us there is no hope and to euthanize our cats, than suggest this medication. I just don’t get it, and I have some very good friends who are high up in the echelons of the vet community, so believe me when I tell you that I have had this discussion on many occasions! Amani From: Felvtalk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ardy Robertson Sent: October-20-15 11:10 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Stanozolol (Winstrol(R)) Thank you so much Amani – it really sounds like you have done your homework!! And that’s just it – this happened so fast and took us so off-guard that I didn’t have any knowledge of what to do. We took him in on a Sunday night, and after putting some “puzzle pieces” together, I think he was getting sick for a while and I just did not pick up on it. We had been gone for a couple days, then we had company at our house so he was kind of out of sight and I figured he just didn’t like the people, when actually he usually loves people. He had felt hot a couple of times, but both times he was lying on a window sill with the sun shining directly on him. Our regular vet was out so a different animal hospital was filling in. They gave him fluids and antibiotics as well as pain liquid and sent us home. No blood test. The next day our regular vet did xrays and found an enlarged lymph node somewhere near his tummy I think, so that’s why they did the blood work and found the FeLV. They were also the ones that did the FeLV test 5 years prior when we found him as a kitten. They changed to an antibiotic 10-day shot for what they thought was a bite from another cat that we had taken in (who tests negative). That cat was a very aggressive player and really made Tigger nervous and stressed out so we don’t have her anymore. I am going to read about Winstrol and also talk to both of our vet offices about it. The reason I am using two vet offices is because our regular one is 35 miles away and Tigger has needed to go in sometimes 5 times a week so we started taking him to one in our city that Tigger didn’t like very much but now they have different vets and they seem nicer to him. They have all apologized that they really don’t know much about treating FeLV+ cats and also don’t know much about any of the medicines used. (I would think they would want to read up on it now that they have a patient needing treatment.) At any rate, I think if Tigger can make progress, not only will we be thrilled, but it may change the outlook for other cats in the future. Is the Winstrol an immune-booster, or an anti-viral drug? I’m not even sure how the Interferon works, or if it does? I asked our vet if Tigger needs another blood test because I do not know where his blood counts are, or if it is in his bone marrow. I think I now know some additional questions I can be asking. Thank you so much! Ardy Robertson Osseo, Wisconsin From: Felvtalk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Amani Oakley Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 9:24 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Stanozolol (Winstrol(R)) Ardy If you do decide to try the Winstrol, get his blood checked before and then after a few weeks on the Winstrol. If this works as well for you as it did for me, you will want some solid proof to demonstrate its effect. Hopefully, the vet will learn, as mine did since I got weekly blood work when Zander was on Interferon, then LTCI and then Winstrol. The blood work spoke for itself. Again, I have to say I have not seen anything else work so well to increase weight, stamina and appetite than the Winstrol so see if your vets will get it for you to try out. Amani From: Felvtalk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ardy Robertson Sent: October-20-15 10:13 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Stanozolol (Winstrol(R)) Hello – can I chime in here a bit? My cat Tigger is on Interferon (7 days on then 7 days off and repeat) for FeLV. I think it might be helping but his appetite is poor and I have to syringe feed him. Surprisingly a very large syringe seems to work better than the small ones. I go slow to make sure I don’t choke him and he might aspirate food into his lungs. For his comfort (and mind) I fold a heavy bath towel in half and put it around him the same way they do to us when we get our hair cut…then I clip it in back with a large office binder-clip. He doesn’t feel like I am restraining him and has actually gotten used to it, so less stress which is important for FeLV+ cats. Also I do feed the critical care food thinned out a bit but when he got constipated, my vet had me give him a couple tablespoons of pure pumpkin (no spices) and it worked wonderfully. I know he needs calories of good quality, but I think he also needs some carbs and bulk in order to keep regular, so I mix some baby food chicken (the #1 kind for little babies) and some rice baby cereal with some water. He does not seem to mind it. I also give him some water. He has since started eating fairly well, but still not drinking as much as he should. He is also on the appetite stimulant you mentioned. I had not heard about Winstrol before. The vets in my area have always euthanized cats at the first mention of FeLV so treating Tigger is a big of a learning experience for both of the offices that I take him to. I believe taking him to both clinics is sort of giving him a second opinion and they are both telling me they are learning about treating FeLV from him. Thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of this group and learn. Ardy Robertson
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