Re: Moving overseas need advice FELV cat
Kevin, There is an animal sanctuary in Minnesota, it is called Home For Life, they have some FeLV cats. Maybe you could write or call them and explain your situation. Here is their website address: Home For Life: http://homeforlife.org Here's a little piece on their positive residents: http://www.homeforlife.org/announce.htm Home For Life The Animal Sanctuary of St. Croix Valley P.O. Box 847 Stillwater, MN 55082 T: 1-800-252-5918 / F: 651-998-1512 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Personally I would call and try and speak to someone, explain your circumstances and make it clear you want to have your baby back when you come back stateside. They are an actual sanctuary where kitties of deceased owners or people who can no longer care for their pets go, people in nursing homes for instance. So I don't know if they would take your kitty or not, but it's worth a try. -- Belinda Happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties ... http://www.bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candle Light Service http://www.bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com (affordable hosting web design) http://HostDesign4U.com --- BMK Designs (non-profit web sites) http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Re: Jen-- how is Ewok doing?
Hi Michelle! Thanks for the email! The last few days have been a whirlwind...I'm not sure when I updated last, but Ewok got a shot of Elspar last Friday and actually ate a few bites of food on his own later on that evening! The next day, I took him into our regular vet's with your email about the steriods in hand...she went ahead and gave him the shots in addition to more fluids...by the time we left about noon, she could tell he was already feeling a little better...and by that night he was eating a little on his own! The weekend went well, and by Sunday he was playing with the feather wand like his old self! So, Monday rolls around and we have a decision to make because we were supposed to leave a few days earlier to head home to Chicago for X- mas! I called the oncologist and updated him on Ewok's condition...he suggested we take him with us (we were driving) as he preferred that he be with us as opposed to our vet's office if he were to take a turn for the worse. I said, Great! and then called our regular vet to update her...we both agreed that taking another shot of dex with us wouldn't be a bad idea if something were to happen. Anyway, we made it to Chicago late last night with two dogs and Ewok in tow! He was such a good boy throughout the 24 hour drive! He's still doing great...eating on his own and acting like his old self! :) I'm just enjoying whatever time I've got left with him...I really love having him here with me...and, fortunately, he's an adventurous, social guy...so he's very curious about his new surroundings! Keep your fingers crossed that his remission lasts just a little bit longer! Michelle--thank you so much again for all of your advice! Jen But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world; You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed... --Antoine de Saint-Exupéry If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys. -- Chief Dan George - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 7:52 am Subject: Jen-- how is Ewok doing? I have been thinking about him. Symptoms any better? Did the vet try the steroid shots? Any talk of using CCNU? Did the last chemo shot (the one that starts with E, can't remember the name) do anything? I am hoping for the best, but worried that things are bad since you have not written. Please let us know how he is when you get a chance. We are all pulling for him, and for you. Love, Michelle
Re: Jen-- how is Ewok doing?
Oh, Jen, I am so overjoyed to hear he is feeling better and that you have him with you there and he is having such a good time!! I was really worried that your not having emailed meant he was doing worse. It is so, so great that you have a vet who was willing to give you a dex shot to take with you. Most vets will not do that. My own vets would not give them to me, and I only was able to get them from a vet who is a friend of a friend, and that is the only reason I was able to give Simon the extra dex shots that helped pull him through that time-- the oncologist wanted me to drive him 45 minutes each way while he was feeling completely terrible to get any additional shots, and to wait two days to do it because it was a weekend, which I thought was ludicrous since they were sub-q and I have given many shots.The oncologist ended up being glad Simon got the extra dex shots and was not at all annoyed that the other vet gave then to me. Anyway, I am so glad to hear you have such a great vet!! So how long are you in Chicago for? I agree that it is best to take things day by day while he is feeling good. I would recommend, though, when you get back, that you discuss with the oncologist whether he thinks the chemo drugs that he has been using are still working at all or not, and if not ask about using CCNU instead for a round or two or more. If you google CCNU you should be able to find studies and information showing that about 50% of cats who become resistant to the other chemo drugs can go back into remission for a while with CCNU, sometimes for months at a time. At least, that is what I remember-- it was almost a year ago that I did the research. Anyway, thank you so much for updating us! I feel a little holiday cheer now for the first time in days! I hope you and Ewok continue to have a good holiday! Love, Michelle In a message dated 12/21/2005 1:37:07 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Michelle!Thanks for the email! The last few days have been a whirlwind...I'm not sure when I updated last, but Ewok got a shot of Elspar last Friday and actually ate a few bites of food on his own later on that evening! The next day, I took him into our regular vet's with your email about the steriods in hand...she went ahead and gave him the shots in addition to more fluids...by the time we left about noon, she could tell he was already feeling a little better...and by that night he was eating a little on his own! The weekend went well, and by Sunday he was playing with the feather wand like his old self! So, Monday rolls around and we have a decision to make because we were supposed to leave a few days earlier to head home to Chicago for X-mas! I called the oncologist and updated him on Ewok's condition...he suggested we take him with us (we were driving) as he preferred that he be with us as opposed to our vet's office if he were to take a turn for the worse. I said, "Great!" and then called our regular vet to update her...we both agreed that taking another shot of dex with us wouldn't be a bad idea if something were to happen.Anyway, we made it to Chicago late last night with two dogs and Ewok in tow! He was such a good boy throughout the 24 hour drive! He's still doing great...eating on his own and acting like his old self! :) I'm just enjoying whatever time I've got left with him...I really love having him here with me...and, fortunately, he's an adventurous, social guy...so he's very curious about his new surroundings!Keep your fingers crossed that his remission lasts just a little bit longer! Michelle--thank you so much again for all of your advice!Jen
Re: Jen-- how is Ewok doing?
Oh Jen, I'm so thrilled that Michelle and Simon were able to help you and Ewok! It's true that everything we do ripples out, we usually don't get to see it as clearly as you and Michelle have. Such a nice Christmas present, to be thinking of you and little Ewok enjoying your vacation together! Thanks for letting us know how you guys are doing. N [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: LOL! He does have the personality of an orange tabby, doesn't he! :) I've got two orange (girl!) cats who are just little firecrackers! Ewok is a black-and-white guy, very handsome, if I do say so myself... ;) I had a kind of epiphany the other day when I had taken your info to my regular vet...she thanked me for the info and told me that she's learned alot through me (I, of course, had to defer to this list and the wonderful, collective knowledge here!)...Anyhoo, it occurred to me later that perhaps future cats (and dogs) may be helped because of Ewok's situation and, in a way, he'll go on (even in memory) as a result much like Simon has very much lived on through his experience and the way it's helped others like Ewok! I don't know if that makes any sense...but I just sensed a real beauty in the way our cats' lives are interconnected even though they're miles apart! And I didn't realize how difficult dex can be to obtain on good faith! That info makes me all the more grateful for my vet! I'll have to be sure to thank her, again, for all she's done for me and my boy...speaking of the devil, :) Ewok just emerged from his jaunt around the house...he wants to know everything about everything and it kinda brings a tear to my eye that we've got this time together thanks to you and Simon! I will definitely bring up CCNU (sp?) the next time I talk to my oncologist...but, for now, I'm just taking it one day at a time! :)
Re: Jen-- how is Ewok doing?
One thing I always question myself about is whether it was worth letting Simon go through the very rough days he went through at times during those two months in order to have the good days he had during that period. While he was alive it definitely seemed worth it, but since then I have questioned it at times-- I was talking to my mom today about Simon and she asked me if it was worth putting him through the 5 day hospitalization and the transfusions and the chemo for the time he had, and I was not sure. But reading about Ewok, I have no doubt that even though he has felt sick and been at the vet recently, the fun he is having now is worth it, and Simon had similar fun in his last weeks. So reading about Ewok has helped me some in that way. Chemo, when it works, can help for longer than the steroid shots. But the steroid shots make them feel so good so quickly and do not make them feel bad at all, that they are a gentler way to fight the cancer and give them quality of life, in a way. When I wonder if I put Simon through too much, it is the hospitalization and transfusions and chemo I wonder about, never the steroids. But of course without the former he would not have survived long enough to get the steroids and have all that fun in his last weeks. So I don't know. It is all so painful after they are gone, whatever we do. Love Ewok as much as you possibly can now, while he is running around being silly. Michelle In a message dated 12/21/2005 4:01:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: And I didn't realize how difficult dex can be to obtain on good faith! That info makes me all the more grateful for my vet! I'll have to be sure to thank her, again, for all she's done for me and my boy...speaking of the devil, :) Ewok just emerged from his jaunt around the house...he wants to know everything about everything and it kinda brings a tear to my eye that we've got this time together thanks to you and Simon! I will definitely bring up CCNU (sp?) the next time I talk to my oncologist...but, for now, I'm just taking it one day at a time! :)
Re: I have a cat with FIV
Do you know anything about the vaccination for FIV? Is it possible to test positive with it? She was owned at one point, no vet records though. would the western blot be still positive if she was vaccinated? Or is there another test that you know of to clear up this situation? erin On 12/20/05, Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Before you get convinced that she is really positive for FIV – I would ask the vet to send a sample to test for Western Blot – I have 6 positive cats, but 2 cats ended up being false positive – did the vet run inside snap shot test or did it send it outside? Just so that we are clear, as I understand it, for FIV to bet transmitted, it requires for a FIV positive cat to bite a negative one – and not the other way around. There is a very active support group for FIV cats, you should join the list, lots of people on the list, they mix their positives with negatives, and none of negatives have become positive for anyone and I am one of them, too. I am hoping that you will find a way to keep the kitty - Here's the address – you will need to join through yahoo – please do, you get a lot of good information from this list on FIV – not worry too much.. Most of FIV positive cats do live a normal life span if they are indoor kitties – again I have 6 FIV kitties, and they are very healthy.. and some of them are older, too. Make sure that you join the FIVcats2 not FIVcats (most of the FIVcat group moved to FIVcats2 due to the harassment posting from a couple of the list members [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of erin moody Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:00 PM To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: I have a cat with FIV Hello to all, i am new to this site, and looking for any info anyone has. My uncle reciently died and he had an indoor / outdoor cat. There was confusion as to who was first taking it in, well noone did. I drove the 45 min drive 3 times the first day to try to catch the cat. They locked it outside for 2 weeks! The neighbor helped me catch Fingers (the cat). I took it home and locked it in a spare bedroom away from my other cats. I finally convinced a family to take her in, with the exception I checked her out at the vet. Well, yesterday I found out she tested positive with FIV. I love this cat. Fingers has such a frendly personality. I know its a plus that she has extra fingers, but noone seems to want her now. I have contacted Tabbys Place which takes cat in with FIV.They won't take anymore cats due to space. I would keep her myself, but my one cat fights. If I am correct that is the only way they transmit the virus. I live in New Jersey, but am willing to do just about anything for this cat. Erin
Re: I have a cat with FIV
Erin~ That's just one of the things that bothers me about the FIV vaccine ~ once vaccinated w/ the vx., all cats will test POSITIVE for the FIV virus. I am pretty sure the cats will test positive on any of the tests. I am sure Hideyo or one of the group members who have more up to date news on the vaccine will chime in. It's a pity that in cases where a cat has no prior history, that even veterinarians still assume they have the virus. IMO, they should have addressed this before marketing the vaccine. Even if positive, FIV+ cats can live long and healthy lives. Best of luck to you Patti
From A Friend: 'WGAL.com - 8 On Your Side - Diamond Pet Food Recalled In 23 States'
Patti has sent you a story: WGAL.com - 8 On Your Side - Diamond Pet Food Recalled In 23 States the link: http://www.wgal.com/8onyourside/5600080/detail.html Message from Patti: Just thought I'd pass this on I had just bought Diamond for the ferals, and it was the maintenance, since they did not have kitten. I thought I had fussy ferals ~ they hated it, so I replaced it with the Prism Kitten. H, maybe they knew something was wrong with the food!! I WILL be returning it tomorrow. Patti
Re: I have a cat with FIV
If a cat has had the vaccine it will test positive for FIV. I'm trying to remember if there is a test that can tell the difference, if there is one, it is not any of the regular tests. Gary - Original Message - From: erin moody To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 11:36 PM Subject: Re: I have a cat with FIV Do you know anything about the vaccination for FIV? Is it possible to test positive with it? She was owned at one point, no vet records though. would the western blot be still positive if she was vaccinated? Or is there another test that you know of to clear up this situation? erin On 12/20/05, Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Before you get convinced that she is really positive for FIV – I would ask the vet to send a sample to test for Western Blot – I have 6 positive cats, but 2 cats ended up being false positive – did the vet run inside snap shot test or did it send it outside? Just so that we are clear, as I understand it, for FIV to bet transmitted, it requires for a FIV positive cat to bite a negative one – and not the other way around. There is a very active support group for FIV cats, you should join the list, lots of people on the list, they mix their positives with negatives, and none of negatives have become positive for anyone and I am one of them, too. I am hoping that you will find a way to keep the kitty - Here's the address – you will need to join through yahoo – please do, you get a lot of good information from this list on FIV – not worry too much.. Most of FIV positive cats do live a normal life span if they are indoor kitties – again I have 6 FIV kitties, and they are very healthy.. and some of them are older, too. Make sure that you join the FIVcats2 not FIVcats (most of the FIVcat group moved to FIVcats2 due to the harassment posting from a couple of the list members [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of erin moodySent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:00 PMTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: I have a cat with FIV Hello to all, i am new to this site, and looking for any info anyone has. My uncle reciently died and he had an indoor / outdoor cat. There was confusion as to who was first taking it in, well noone did. I drove the 45 min drive 3 times the first day to try to catch the cat. They locked it outside for 2 weeks! The neighbor helped me catch Fingers (the cat). I took it home and locked it in a spare bedroom away from my other cats. I finally convinced a family to take her in, with the exception I checked her out at the vet. Well, yesterday I found out she tested positive with FIV. I love this cat. Fingers has such a frendly personality. I know its a plus that she has extra fingers, but noone seems to want her now. I have contacted Tabbys Place which takes cat in with FIV.They won't take anymore cats due to space. I would keep her myself, but my one cat fights. If I am correct that is the only way they transmit the virus. I live in New Jersey, but am willing to do just about anything for this cat. Erin
Re: I have a cat with FIV
I can't believe that there isn't a known way to test. So many cats are in jeopardy due to the vaccination if the shelters don;t specially test them. Its a hard concept for me to grasp that they passed this vaccination without considering the outcome of lost or abandoned pets. ErinOn 12/21/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Erin~ That's just one of the things that bothers me about the FIV vaccine ~ once vaccinated w/ the vx., all cats will test POSITIVE for the FIV virus. I am pretty sure the cats will test positive on any of the tests. I am sure Hideyo or one of the group members who have more up to date news on the vaccine will chime in. It's a pity that in cases where a cat has no prior history, that even veterinarians still assume they have the virus. IMO, they should have addressed this before marketing the vaccine. Even if positive, FIV+ cats can live long and healthy lives. Best of luck to you Patti
Re: I have a cat with FIV
In a message dated 12/22/05 12:11:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I can't believe that there isn't a known way to test. So many cats are in jeopardy due to the vaccination if the shelters don;t specially test them. Its a hard concept for me to grasp that they passed this vaccination without considering the outcome of lost or abandoned pets. Erin Exactly my point! That's just WHY I think that this vaccine is so, "controversial". Sometimes it's all about the $$s ~ and once those $$ signs start flashing, well Patti
Re: I have a cat with FIV
theoretically, a DNA/PCR test can tell the wild virus from the vaccine strain, and i know that research is being done on refining the testing. last i heard, tho, the testing wasn't very reliable--not that PCR testing itself isn't, but that labs for some reason weren't getting consistent results sorry, can't remember better details! On 12/22/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 12/22/05 12:11:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I can't believe that there isn't a known way to test. So many cats are in jeopardy due to the vaccination if the shelters don;t specially test them. Its a hard concept for me to grasp that they passed this vaccination without considering the outcome of lost or abandoned pets. Erin Exactly my point! That's just WHY I think that this vaccine is so, controversial. Sometimes it's all about the $$s ~ and once those $$ signs start flashing, well Patti -- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892
