Re: Worried about Lucy
Hi Michelle, I am sorry to hear about Lucy...I hope she is doing much better now...When Inky had some flare up with the loose stool, I added oat bran to the turkey...Just mixed in about a teaspoon. It did seem to help his loose stools.. since I am behind here, did you up her pred some..That usually helped Inky, too...I am doing like you and Nina saidabout the pred and he was down to 1.25mg every few days then maybe 2.5mg, I sort of rotate it.. Anyway, I am glad to hear that she is eating some now...and hope it is just the IBD.. Our thoughts are with you two.. Kerry and Bandy Do you Yahoo!? Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Re: Worried about Lucy
Thanks, Kerry. She's eating pretty well now, though will mostly only eat broiled turkey-- she did eat a few bites of her raw food this morning while waiting for the cooked, though. She had some liquid stool again last night at 7, but it has been over 14 hours now with no stool, so I have my fingers crossed. She also did not need reglan or fluids this morning to eat, just Pepcid. I did up her pred-- to 12.5 mg/day starting 3 days ago (read online on a vet site that for moderate to severe IBD 1 to 2 mg/lb body weight is often needed, so I am doing 1.5 mg/lb)-- and she is on metronidazole and pepcid as well. I am hoping it's just an IBD flare-up and not lymphoma. All of my positives who have died (with the possible exception of one who was never really diagnosed) have died of lymphoma, and IBD often leads to lymphoma, so I get convinced that is what is happening to Lucy, but I hope it isn't. She's acting pretty normal this morning. But she is on a lot of pred, and even if she has lymphoma that could make her feel better for a while, so I don't know. How is Bandy doing? Michelle In a message dated 7/3/2006 9:16:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Michelle, I am sorry to hear about Lucy...I hope she is doing much better now...When Inky had some flare up with the loose stool, I added oat bran to the turkey...Just mixed in about a teaspoon. It did seem to help his loose stools.. since I am behind here, did you up her pred some..That usually helped Inky, too...I am doing like you and Nina saidabout the pred and he was down to 1.25mg every few days then maybe 2.5mg, I sort of rotate it.. Anyway, I am glad to hear that she is eating some now...and hope it is just the IBD.. Our thoughts are with you two.. Kerry and Bandy
Re: Worried about Lucy
Glad to hear that she is eating good again..Maybe it is the IBD..I think sometimes we have to give them those supplements/meds to get them thru a hard time..Seems to be that way for me and we just never know when it is going to happen.. Bandy got over the bad leg soreness (front and rear, right side), but now seems to be favoring the left front..I don't know what he does to get like this cause he isn't jumping anymore, at least I haven't seen it..He went over 2 wks without a temp and that is a first since last June...The worst thing now though is the ringworm..It is taking him over..and I mean all over..I haven't been able to stop it...it goes away in one place just to start in another. Last few days, it is really bad..I don't know what to do because the oral med is so bad for him...I won't use it...I have read too much bad things about it and it does say do not use in FIV kitties. and some places also says not for felv+ kitties either...Any thoughts on all this.. Should I go ahead and give him the immuno-regulin? I have it now..but we haven't started it cause of the holiday. My vet is gone til Wed.. It is once every 4 days for 3 or 4 doses, is that right?? Let me know what you think would be the best to start him on...as it might help the ringworm, too...since his immune system is so weak..I don't know what else to do.. I hope Lucy continues to improve. Kerry and Bandy Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Re: Worried about Lucy
Thanks, Kerry. Is Inky FeLV-? And did you ever have to do 10 mg/day of pred for a while to get Inky back to feeling ok and having normal stool? I would start the I-R as soon as your vet gets back. I know some people give it sub-q and it seems to work fine that way, but it is recommended that it be done IV, and even those who give it sub-q seem to start out with IV doses at first. So unless you can give an IV shot, I would wait until Wednesday and see if you can get your vet, or a tech, to administer it then. I think the regimen is every 3 or 4 days for a couple of weeks, then less frequently. I have only used it for respiratory infections, and it worked after one or two doses each time, so I never continued on a full regimen. But I think that if it is going to help you should see results within a week or two, so I would start with every 3 or 4 days, do a couple of doses on that schedule, and then revisit. Dosing varies from 1/2 ml to 1 ml. I have used 1 ml myself, but since Ginger had temporary side effects from that dosing (high fever and chills for an hour), even though Patches did not get any side effects and no other cat I have heard of using it seems to get them, I still would recommend starting at 1/2 ml. If he does fine with it, and no side effects, I might try upping the dose to 3/4 or 1 ml the second time. Or, if it seems to work well at 1/2 ml, leaving it at that. Please let us know what happens. I am almost positive that when I was first investigating I-R a few years ago someone, maybe even on this list, said that her FeLV+ cat had bad ringworm that would not go away and that I-R helped get rid of it. But I am not 100% surethat it was ringworm I am remembering about; I just really think it was. These days I archive emails like that so I can go back and check later (I have archived all of your emails aboutBandy's regimen, for instance, for future reference, and have sent them to other people on this list who have cats with fevers and anemia), but I didn't then. Sorry! Michelle In a message dated 7/3/2006 11:32:23 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Glad to hear that she is eating good again..Maybe it is the IBD..I think sometimes we have to give them those supplements/meds to get them thru a hard time..Seems to be that way for me and we just never know when it is going to happen.. Bandy got over the bad leg soreness (front and rear, right side), but now seems to be favoring the left front..I don't know what he does to get like this cause he isn't jumping anymore, at least I haven't seen it..He went over 2 wks without a temp and that is a first since last June...The worst thing now though is the ringworm..It is taking him over..and I mean all over..I haven't been able to stop it...it goes away in one place just to start in another. Last few days, it is really bad..I don't know what to do because the oral med is so bad for him...I won't use it...I have read too much bad things about it and it does say do not use in FIV kitties. and some places also says not for felv+ kitties either...Any thoughts on all this.. Should I go ahead and give him the immuno-regulin? I have it now..but we haven't started it cause of the holiday. My vet is gone til Wed.. It is once every 4 days for 3 or 4 doses, is that right?? Let me know what you think would be the best to start him on...as it might help the ringworm, too...since his immune system is so weak..I don't know what else to do.. I hope Lucy continues to improve. Kerry and Bandy
Re: Worried about Lucy
Kerry, another thought... Has the vet looked into rheumatoid arthritis for Bandy? That kind of arthritis is immune-mediated. I am wondering if that could be what is going on. I don't know if cats get it. Does he have any swelling in his leg joints when he gets sore? If so, there is also something called polyarthritis that is an immune-mediated problem, which comes from the body attacking itself. My dog Fern got that as a response to her lung cancer (they seem to go together) and needed a lot of steroids to combat it (which then gave her Cushings disease, but dogs can't handle steroids like cats can). Michelle
RE: michelle/nina/belinda/marilyn - my minnie
The vet can show you or you can easily learn I have a bunch of sub-q fluid bags that I bought for my CRF kitty, Hannibal who passed away a week ago.. I can give you some bags if you need, too. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marylyn Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2006 3:14 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: michelle/nina/belinda/marilyn - my minnie Can you learn to do the SQs at home? I did with Ebony and it is not difficult. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: l.j. crabtree To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2006 11:22 AM Subject: michelle/nina/belinda/marilyn - my minnie thank you s much girlies will have to wait until tomorrow to see if the vet has any of the science diet a/d but will try the baby meats and maybe some of the pached ground chicken. minnie has never had a huge appetite...but she does have to have some protein. i am still trying to syringe her with water/pedialite...she hates this...lol...i know i asked this before, but abouthow much water a day for a 7# cat? i have been trying to give her about 10 ml every hour or so,,,she is getting over half of it maybe more... i hate totake her int tomorrow for a sub Qshe HATES it and i don't want her to stress. do y'all think a b-12 shot might help? head bonks to one and all... LJ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.8/380 - Release Date: 6/30/2006
Kerry -- Something For Bandy's ringworm maybe???
Kerry this was on one of my other lists, thought I'd send it to you to check into for Bandy's ringworm problem, I've never used it so don't know anything about it personally. I am wondering if you can get calendula officinalis ( marigold) Medicinal Use: here from one of the many websites about calendula http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/marigold.htm Calendula heals wounds as well as internal and external ulcers. It is an antiseptic, and improves blood flow to the affected area. As an antifungal agent, it can be used to treat athlete's foot, ringworm, and candida. The tincture applied neat to cold sores encourages healing -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
michelle/minnie
ya know, i have wondered the same thing (if minnie was felv when i got her).she had her first buncha shots from the vet and then her spay i just gave her thre shots she needed from then on as i did not want to over-immunize her has she was never outdoors she was always kinda small and not robust like the rest of my bunch... she was the quitessential mouser tho!! i love her and she has just now indignantly jumped of my lap to go to the cat cave.. (under my bed)... when dr. chris comes back this week i will ask her about the meds...you are are PEACH LJ
To Julia
Julia, I'm sorry to hear that Samantha has passed. I hope you will allow the wonderful memories you have of her to comfort you while you grieve for her. :) Wendy --- Julia Hagstrom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Samantha has passed over, and she was ready to go. Julia Hagstrom On Thursday, June 29, 2006, at 06:14 PM, Marylyn wrote: Spend tonight loving her and cuddling her in your heart. You can send her all sorts of love without moving her or causing her pain. Just be with her and tell her it is alright to leave this world. That you are going to be ok. She may well decide to leave tonight on her own but she needs to know that is ok with you and .well, she is very concerned about you and your welfare. She needs permission to leave this body and needs to know that you know she will remain around in spirit. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Julia Hagstrom To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 12:20 PM Subject: Re: How is Samantha today? Thanks for your good wishes; she told me last night that she is ready to go. She is in a lot of pain, with her big eyes looking up at me, as if to say, Please, help me! I decided this morning that tomorrow is the time to let her go. I'll take her to my vet, and it will be swift and painless. She'll be free to breathe again, without working so hard at it, and will never have pain again. :( I'll be crying, but I know it's the best thing for her; I've already made the arrangements, and she'll be well taken care of. Thank you all for your support, and I will stay on the Email list, because I'm going to get another kitty right away, so as not to be alone, and reading y'all's Emails has given me an education, so I'll still need that, until I make sure my new kitty is safe from this terrible disease. Thanks! Julia On Thursday, June 29, 2006, at 06:43 AM, Marylyn wrote: She will tell you when it is time. Listen to her with your heart then do all you can to help her on her journey. That may be to do nothing or to help her leave---both are so hard. But listen to your loving cat. She is so grateful to you for all your love. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Julia Hagstrom To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:31 PM Subject: Re: How is Samantha today? Thanks, I'll talk to the vet about it; she's in such bad shape, she doesn't move unless she has to. I think her time is coming, pretty soon, as she is suffering, now, and I won't let her do that very long. I'll set her free, before I'll let her suffer much. Thanks for all the support. Julia On Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at 08:34 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Julia, I really think that a dexamethasone/depomedrol shot would make her feel much better. It can make them feel good until they are ready to go. I have seen it happen with lymphoma multiple times, as has at least one other person on this list. Michelle In a message dated 6/28/2006 3:13:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi, Wendy, Well, she's barely eating anything, in fact, she'd rather drink the Lactaid milk I give her than eat. I tried putting food in her mouth, but she doesn't want it. She's having a terrible time breathing, and can hardly stand to be held, as it makes her very uncomfortable. The vet said she thinks the tumor is taking up more space, even with the Prednisone, and that's why she's having so much trouble breathing; they hardly got any fluid out of her, the last time they drained it out. I think she will be gone soon. :( :( :( Julia image.tiff No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.5/377 - Release Date: 6/27/2006 image.tiff No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.6/378 - Release Date:
Re: Wowie Update
Rebecca, I am so happy to hear the Wowie is eating and doing better. Sounds like you have a great new vet on your hands!!! :) Wendy --- veggiepugs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thank you everyone for your kind words and words of advice on Wowie's situation. Update...I spoke with another vet who was so helpful and knowledgable and asked him about the medications some had mentioned on the list and also asked him to explain things I didn't understand. I went to see him for a second opinion. He knew and was familiar with all that was recommended. I found out that the steroids my vet had given me for wowie were Prenisolone as Kris had mentioned NOT Prednisone. She did not give him an injection of this, but instead gave him the chewable bites which he took happily. This new doctor said not to think in terms of how long Wowie has but rather to take it day by day and help him best we can. He also said he has seen FLV cats in worse condition that have bounced back so always to have hope. I liked his attitude about the whole thing and felt more comfortable talking to him and asking him everything and anything and really felt he was so helpful so I'm sticking with him. He's going to take a look at his blood test results and he wants to do a IFA test because only an ELISA was done which I don't understand because the first thing that the first vet said to me when i told her an elisa was done was that she thought an IFA would be more helpful. So why did she do an ELISA again? I'm hoping for WOwie. He is eating again and he is more talkative and more active. Not yet back to his old self, but better than he was. Thank you so much everyone for everything and let me know anything, any input, advice, thoughts etc you may have as it has thus far been SO helpful! Hugs, Rebecca Yesterday, Wowie was eating. He was also meowing again and more active. This means the __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Worried about Lucy
Kerry, Did Inky ever have a relapse where you gave extra pred but it did not kick in during the first few days? Lucy has been on 12.5 mg/day for 3 days now but is still having liquid stool (though she had one semi-solid stool yesterday, and at least her stools are far apart and not frequent). In the fall, her stools firmed up after the first day on 10 mg. I think something new is going on. Michelle In a message dated 7/3/2006 9:16:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Michelle, I am sorry to hear about Lucy...I hope she is doing much better now...When Inky had some flare up with the loose stool, I added oat bran to the turkey...Just mixed in about a teaspoon. It did seem to help his loose stools.. since I am behind here, did you up her pred some..That usually helped Inky, too...I am doing like you and Nina saidabout the pred and he was down to 1.25mg every few days then maybe 2.5mg, I sort of rotate it.. Anyway, I am glad to hear that she is eating some now...and hope it is just the IBD.. Our thoughts are with you two.. Kerry and Bandy
Re: Wowie Update (FELV friendly vet listings)
It is here register and list your vet under the FeLV Friendly vet section. http://adopt.bemikitties.com -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
For Kerry and Bandit-- calici virus
Kerry, is it possible that Bandy has Calici virus? Has he been tested for it? I did not think of it, because it generally affects kittens only, but I was just looking at Robert MacDowell's remedy for it and he says it can surface later in life if the cat is immuno-compromised. It gives kittens URI's and makes them limp, both of which have been affecting Bandy. Just a thought. Click here: `Calici Virus (Limping Kitten Syndrome/ Rhinotracheitis) Herbal Treatment - Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments. H Michelle
Re: ot: Wherefore art thou, Othello?
I've been away from the 'puter all weekend, so I don't know if anybody else suggested this, but Feliway diffusers and spray (can) help calm (some) kitties :) I use both (altho I'm a bit behind on the diffusers - $$$ ya know) but I have an IC (interstitial cystitis) kitty who is very sensitive to . basically everything, he's jumpy and somewhat skittish - HATES the 4th - and it helps - it also helps make his brother a bit less of a bully, mostly. :)[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: A bit of unpleasantness here. :-( I'm in the process of having all the babies tested and re-vaccinated since Mama Kittyis
FeVL+. Five down - Three to go. So far everyone elsehas testednegative. Well...the babiesare very sensitive to the appearance of the Pet Taxi in a room. Four of them were totally feral initially - and some of them took more than three months before I could even pet them. Eventually, they are the ones who made the decision that they wanted to live inside with me...and most of the time they are completely precious fuzzballs (as long as there are no other people). I thought getting the Pet Taxi out of the closet this morning before I went to workwould give Othello time enough to settle down. Wrong. I guess my firstmistake was actually telling him in a sweet voice this morningthat we would go laterbut it would be ok. These guys know exactly what you
are saying. He hid the minute I got it out this morning - and was hiding also when I came home this afternoon.Now Iam true to my word to the kitties that I willnever call them if it isn't something wonderful (and that is why I can herd eight cats at one time -- they come running). But - since this wasn't going to be much fun, I had to hunt him down. I finally found him and caught him - but he was so upset that he turned into a ball of teeth and claws out of sheer terror. I know he didn't mean to hurt me...I'm not too bloody but got it on the side of my head and arms LOL. I'm not worried about me at bit...you should see me when I work with my roses-- I'm just so worried about how terrified he is. I finally called the vet and told them what was going on. The male vet tech assured me that if I couldn't get him
calmed down then they really would prefer that I not bring him in todayLOL I gave the all clear after that ("All Done!")...but he's still hiding. I'm home Monday and they told me that if I can coax him to just bring him in any time. I just need to work more with himand it sounds like I need a few lessons too - even if I have been taking care of kitties over 30 years. You guys are going to think I'm nutty (that's ok :0)...but ever since I read this article (Taming Wild Cats With Tibetan Buddhist Chants ), I bought a CD of Tibetan Buddist Chants and it really does help to calm down the ferals. Hey, why not? - it's been known to tame tigers :0) I'm going to put some rescue remedy in the water too. Any othersuggestions? Insight into cat
psychology? Bandaids? I know with all the fireworks over the weekend we're probably all going to have some very jumpy cats. Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito"My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile."- Anonymous
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Re: Worried about Lucy
Michelle,if there is/are any palpable lump type things in her abdomen, a fine needle aspirate could be done as opposed to a full surgical biopsy. My Ninja developed intestinal lymphoma during her last month or two and while the mass was definitely palpable (I felt it petting her while she was on her side) it was typical of int. lymph. and wasn't a discrete mass but was riddled throughout the tissue - there were enough cells removed with the aspirate for the (experienced) lab tech to say lymphoma. Financially, surgery wasn't an option no matter what and she was already on pred (5mg bid) and phenobarb to control her seizures (poss dx meningioma) so we treated for quality of life. She was my first cat as an adult (i.e. not a family pet) and we had grown very close her last summer when I had to nurse her so carefully.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Lucy, who is positive, has had what we assume to be IBD since last October. After an initial dosing of prednisone and tapering to only 1.25 mg every 3 days, and a change to a raw food diet, she has been doing well for the last 6 months or so. However, in the last few weeks she started to get a nib of white mucous on the end of her otherwise normal bowels, and losing weight. At this point she has degenerated to having very loose stool, pretty much diarrhea (her problem is in the colon or lower intestines, so the diarrhea is never really watery or anything), not wanting to eat much of her raw food, and she is down to 8.2 pounds (normally over 9 pounds). She is acting normal, basically, besides this-- wanting to go outside, hunting (I try not to let her do that), playing, etc. Her only behavior change, besides not wanting her raw food much, is that she usually hides around the corner when Patches uses the litter box and hits her as she comes out (devil-- I try not to let her do this either), and she has stopped doing that. But she played with a string this morning and is bright eyed and bushy tailed, not dehydrated, etc. She has stopped eating her raw food before and I have had to change the kind of meat I use, so it is not the first time for that. She also has lost this much weight before, as her weight fluctuates a lot, so this is not the first time for that either. But, other than when she drank a bowl of olive oil 2 months ago (yes, unbelievable as it sounds, she did drink a bowl of oil and it did not sit well with her!) she has not had diarrhea while on raw food. I put her back up to 10 mg/day of pred yesterday. She had been at 5 for the last week. What I am worried about is intestinal lymphoma. FeLV+ cats are prone to it, as are cats with IBD, and she has both. The only way to diagnose that is with surgical biopsy where they remove a section of intestine, but they often can not distinguish even then between severe IBD and low-grade lymphoma. They treat both the same, with prednisone and an oral chemo drug called Leukeran (chlorambucil), and cats often do well for months to years on that. But they often insist on trying to do the biopsy before prescribing this regimen. I took Lucy yesterday to the local vet. He thinks I should get a biopsy at a referral center an hour away. I have not wanted to do this in the past, because it is surgery and because Lucy gets really stressed by car rides and vet visits. But I am feeling now like I should at least go talk to an internist, because I am doing everything that has worked before, and it is not working now. It could just be an IBD flare-up, which is what I hope, but it could be lymphoma, which can be quickly fatal without treatment. Of course, I called this morning to try to make an appointment, and they say they are only open for emergencies until Wednesday and I can not even talk to anyone to schedule an appointment until then. If anyone has any thoughts or opinions on what is going on and what I should do, I would really appreciate it. Nina-- I also put Lucy back on the homeopathics Darla had prescribed, also to no avail. Thanks, MichelleBarb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito"My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile."- Anonymous Do you Yahoo!? Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
