I'd really appreciate contact info for your communicator. I've had to make some tough choices lately regarding my FeLV+ kitties and can use the help.
Thanks, Deanne in Akron
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: 103.5 F temp and panting in 5mos. FeLV kitten Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:07:33 EDT
Dear Melissa:
Don't know that I have anything significant to add that has not already been
mentioned. Panting related to anemia is because as the hematocrit drops the
blood is able to carry less and less oxygen to the body tissues and so the
body's response is to step up the breathing in an effort to try and get more
oxygen. With FeLV+ kittys, there is the liklihood that difficulty breathing may be
related to lymphoma, or tumors, in the lungs, which can develop very quickly,
with no other outward symptoms. And, as has been mentioned already, heart
disease with fluid build-up in the chest cavity (also with the wet form of FIP
which FeLV+ kittys can be more susceptible to) makes breathing more difficult.
Fluid in the chest can also be due to pneumonia, and of course in that case
there will also be fever.
As far as running a temp goes. A persistent low-grade temp, or cyclical
fever which varies between normal and occasional spikes of 103-104 then back down
is quite characteristic of FeLV+ kittys. Really high temps are typically
associated with an acute bacterial infection (which normally respond to abx
therapy) or an initial viral onslaught, with fever being the body's attempt to try
and "burn up" the invading pathogen. A temp of 103.4 is not so severe.
After my Angel Eyes tested positive for FeLV in June '03, her only symptoms
over the next 8 mos. were very mild gingivitis and a recurring low-grade temp
that would sometimes drop to normal and sometimes spike as high as 104, then
drop back down, usually hovering between 102-103. She was never lethargic and
ate like a champ even the day she passed. The holistic vet who was working
with me said that unless her temp got up to 105 or above, it was not dangerous
for her, and the persistent fever was an indication that her body was trying to
fight off the virus and neither winning nor losing the battle. She was on
immunosupportive therapy (interferon, then Moducare, and a raw, organic diet with
CoQ10, l-Lysine, etc.)
When Angel crashed the day after Xmas '03, her temp was up to 105.4 and she
was having difficulty breathing. One of my older kittys had had a URI two
weeks before and she had been exposed to him. When Angel was taken to the vet, he
said her lungs sounded like they had fluid in them and he put her on abx for
pneumonia...her temp came down a bit, then went back up; another abx was tried
and again her temp came down then went back up; a third was tried with the
same result. At that point an x-ray showed her lungs to be almost completely
obstructed. The vet said it could be fluid, or it could be lymphoma. He tried
giving her lasix to help dissipate excess fluid, but that did not help her
breathe any easier, just made her lose control of her bladder. A test to confirm
lymphoma would have been invasive and very stressful...he did not recommend
it. I also tried some homeopathic treatment to clear her lungs/ease her
breathing and distress, but it did not help. Having to breathe through their mouth
is very stressful for cats.
I could not afford to take Angel to ER to be put in an oxygen chamber and
that would have been terrifying for her to be left alone at a hospital...I wish
there had been some way for me to give her oxygen at home. She was in such
distress struggling to breathe...I called an animal communicator and told Angel
it was OK if she needed to leave, that I did not want her to keep suffering on
my account. In a previous conversation the day before, Angel had said she did
not WANT to go and was trying very hard to get well, but she was getting very
tired and discouraged. She didn't need my help to cross over, she just
needed my permission. Within minutes of our conversation, Angel threw back her head
and gasped for air and then went limp in my arms...her spirit was gone. But
her beautiful, strong body kept on breathing so very quietly until the vet
came to silence her heart. I will always wish I could have done more to help her
keep breathing and wonder if she could have gotten well, given more time.
So, if you haven't already done so, I would have an x-ray taken to find out
if your kitty has fluid build-up, or possibly tumors, in the lungs that may be
causing the breathing difficulty. And have a blood test done to see in the
hematocrit is dropping and your kitty is becoming anemic. I hope by now you
have gotten some answers and know what you are dealing with.
Sincerely, Sally in San Jose
