Hi Amber -
I tried emailing you but ... anyway, can I please have a copy of the update
re pathogenesis - and if it has to come as an attachment, can you tell me
what I should tell my computer to open it with??
I'm a new subscriber here - Amber or anybody??? Do you have a favorite site
for good science & explanation of the progress of the disease??? I have been
surfing but the info doesn't all fit together - some not trustworthy?
outdated?
Anyway - please, everybody, tell me - here at the beginning of our fight
against the disease - what should I be doing, what should I be asking the
vet, would it be useful to do the IFA test now or wait - Tony WAS outdoor,
and he was in 2 catfights this last year where he was bloodied - opponent
uncertain - one on Dec. 7, 1999, and one back in last May. He healed very
well both times, and has seemd perfectly healthy and strong until 6 days ago,
he stopped eating and then disappeared, when he reappeared I rushed him to
the vet. He was weak, dehydrated, wouldn't eat, temp 102.4, complete blood
panels showed pancreatitis but enzymes otherwise normal, good hematocrit, WBC
cell types in normal amounts, negative for FIP & FIV but positive for FeLeuk
on the ELISA test (didn't say - titer?). He got injections of Baytril,
amoxicillin, B-vitamins, oral cyproheptadine (2 days), oral interferon, and
on this the third day of treatment he seems very nearly normal - strength is
back, eating fine, 3rd eyelids retracted. The interferon is 0.1 cc per lb
body weight of "this, keep it in the fridge" (vet didn't say what
concentration).
Advice? suggestions? What do you wish you had done at this early point in the
fight? Tony is my darling and I'll do whatever it takes - he was only
outdoors (he adopted us) because when I tried to bring him in he fought it so
hard. We've had him vaccinated every year (6 yrs) - the woman who had custody
prior to us had been, also, but I don't actually know if she ever had him
tested. Should we wait on the IFA test? (Cost is not important.)
Help???
Mary
