[Felvtalk] FW: FW: Questioning FELV diagnosis

2016-12-23 Thread Amani Oakley 
Randy

The news is good. Whatever works. I am a big believer in keeping close tabs on 
the bloodwork and adjusting the medication, depending on what the lab results 
show.

Given that Curley is eating and you are getting an improvement on the red cells 
already, I agree that the Winstrol and Doxy should help even more. Keep track 
of the blood work and adjust accordingly.

Amani

From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Randy 
Henke
Sent: December-23-16 11:02 AM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Questioning FELV diagnosis

The situation with Curly is getting a bit more complicated but in a good way. 
Her blood work a week ago showed an RBC of 9 which is critically low. White 
cell count was 3.1. After one week of Prednisone her white cell count is 3.7 
which is the low end of normal and her red blood cell count is up to 13 which 
is still very low but a very significant increase in just one week. So the 
Prednisone alone is making a big difference. We've now had two positive ELISA 
tests, a negative IFA and severe anemia that is responding well to just 
Prednisone. I am very confused. Even our vet seems surprised by the sudden 
improvement in her numbers. He thinks we should do a bone marrow biopsy for a 
definitive FELV diagnosis but I don't really want to put her through that 
procedure.
We did start the Winstrol a day ago so I would think that could only help more. 
We should be tapering down the Prednisone dose at this time but our vet now 
wants to continue the full dosage for another two weeks before running another 
CBC. And the Doxy will be started on Monday. I'm beginning to think she might 
pull out of this crisis and we might have a little more time with her.

On Tue, Dec 20, 2016 at 9:46 PM, Ardy Robertson 
> wrote:
Best of luck to you with Curly  just wanted to mention there are appetite 
stimulant pills available. One that I remember that I used with Tigger was 
Mirtazapine and I only had to give a small part of a pill every 3 days. Amani 
knows of another one but I can’t remember the name of it.

Ardy
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Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Questioning FELV diagnosis

2016-12-23 Thread Randy Henke 
The situation with Curly is getting a bit more complicated but in a good
way. Her blood work a week ago showed an RBC of 9 which is critically low.
White cell count was 3.1. After one week of Prednisone her white cell count
is 3.7 which is the low end of normal and her red blood cell count is up to
13 which is still very low but a very significant increase in just one
week. So the Prednisone alone is making a big difference. We've now had two
positive ELISA tests, a negative IFA and severe anemia that is responding
well to just Prednisone. I am very confused. Even our vet seems surprised
by the sudden improvement in her numbers. He thinks we should do a bone
marrow biopsy for a definitive FELV diagnosis but I don't really want to
put her through that procedure.

We did start the Winstrol a day ago so I would think that could only help
more. We should be tapering down the Prednisone dose at this time but our
vet now wants to continue the full dosage for another two weeks before
running another CBC. And the Doxy will be started on Monday. I'm beginning
to think she might pull out of this crisis and we might have a little more
time with her.

On Tue, Dec 20, 2016 at 9:46 PM, Ardy Robertson 
wrote:

> Best of luck to you with Curly  just wanted to mention there are
> appetite stimulant pills available. One that I remember that I used with
> Tigger was Mirtazapine and I only had to give a small part of a pill every
> 3 days. Amani knows of another one but I can’t remember the name of it.
>
>
>
> Ardy
>
>
>
> *From:* Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Randy Henke
> *Sent:* Monday, December 19, 2016 8:10 PM
>
> *To:* felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Questioning FELV diagnosis
>
>
>
> Our vet must be one of the good ones. He approved both Winstrol and
> Doxycycline even though he has never used them for FELV positive cats.
> We'll be adding those onto Curly's Prednisone as soon as we get them. So
> far she is hanging in there. She only eats Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers (about
> a small can every other day) but her weight is holding around 7 pounds.
> About a half pound below her best weight before she got sick. She still
> gets up to get drinks of water and use the litter box and she is still
> grooming herself. She wants very little social interaction which is not
> like her at all and she has very little energy, preferring to stay on the
> bed almost all of the time. Her breathing is also fairly rapid and has been
> for quite a few days.
>
> Hopefully this will be another success story for your kitty cocktail.
> We'll owe you much if it works.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 19, 2016 at 10:19 AM, Amani Oakley 
> wrote:
>
> Randy
>
>
>
> I really don’t know. I have only had experience with the pills which I
> found very effective. As a compromise option, I would take if that is the
> only way the vet will agree to proceed.
>
>
>
> Amani
>
>
>
> *From:* Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Randy Henke
> *Sent:* December-19-16 9:46 AM
> *To:* felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Questioning FELV diagnosis
>
>
>
> Hi Amani,
>
> I have a call in to our vet now about the Winstrol and Doxycycline. I've
> read that there is also the option of getting a weekly shot of Winstrol as
> opposed to the pills. If our vet balks at prescribing the pills but would
> be willing to give her the shot would it still work as well?
>
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 7:12 PM, Amani Oakley 
> wrote:
>
> Wishing you luck.
>
>
>
> Amani
>
>
>
> *From:* Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Randy Henke
> *Sent:* December-16-16 8:12 PM
>
>
> *To:* felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Questioning FELV diagnosis
>
>
>
> Thank you, Amani! I'll see what I can do to convince the vet on Monday.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 6:54 PM, Amani Oakley 
> wrote:
>
> 1 mg 2 times a day.
>
>
>
> Amani
>
>
>
> *From:* Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Randy Henke
> *Sent:* December-16-16 7:52 PM
> *To:* felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Questioning FELV diagnosis
>
>
>
> That is information that is definitely useful to me! Thanks so much! Do
> you know what dosage of Winstrol I should ask for for a 6.8 pound cat? I
> want to have as much info as possible when I talk to my vet on Monday.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 4:25 PM, Amani Oakley 
> wrote:
>
> No Randy, Winstrol is an anabolic steroid (unlike prednisone which is a
> corticosteroid) so it does not have a dampening effect on the immune
> system. What you need right now is something to stimulate red cell
> production. If your cat has FELV, then the problem is that the progenitor
> cells in the bone marrow will have been infiltrated/killed by the virus and
>

Re: [Felvtalk] Felvtalk Digest, Vol 32, Issue 54

2016-12-23 Thread kat 

Hi Bob,

 

No, it does not sound disrespectful - it sounds like you are trying to come to grips with the unfairness of it all.  There have been MANY kitties over the years that this group has been around that have succumbed before the age of 2, some never even made it to one year .

Yes, we have heard that there are various strains of the virus, and I suspect that some of them are more 'potent' than the others.  Also, a kitten's immune system is not as strong as/developed as an adult cat's, so they are more susceptible to any virus or bacteria. So besides trying to find ways to suppress the virus, it helps to find something that can boost the immune system - but I get the feeling from your other posts that you already know this. 

 

Several years ago we had a Candle Lighting ceremony for any of our kitties that have left us - it was run by one of our members - Belinda, but I believe it has 'gone global'.  If you go to our home page (http://www.felineleukemia.org/) you can click on the candle light service box on the left in the banner for more info. (some of the links no longer work, but you get the idea & the new links)

 

I wish you much peace & gentle healing for your 2 kitties.

 

Kat (Mew Jersey)

 

 

Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2016 at 7:35 PM
From: "ROBERT CHAPEL" 
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Cc: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Felvtalk Digest, Vol 32, Issue 54

I hope this doesn't sound disrespectful... but I'm perplexed at all the
talk of  whether or not an animal has or does NOT have the virus at 8,
10 and 12 years old...   If an animal has lived this long it would
appear that he/she has a much milder form of the virus or a variant
about which little is known.  In truth though your cats have
already defied he odds and despite the sadness of having them (
potentially) have several years of life curtailed you will have had them
longer than the many Healthy cats I had a a youngster when it was not
uncommon for cats to die from any number of causes well before they were
10  years old. If my boys live until 8 or 10 I will consider it
miraculous!!..   The kind of FeLV+ that REALLY concerns me is the
kind that my own boys have passed from the Queen established to
have moved into their marrow in the first 7 months of their
lives...Symptomatic from the time they were Kittens   One looking (
yes there IS a "look" severely affected FeLV+ cats can have)  very much
like a cat that simply is not going to last very long it is heart
wrenching to hold his little 5.8 lb body and feel all his ribs and
backbone despite his eating heartily He is barely a year and one
half and has already had IBD, Uveitis,Melting Corneal Ulcer, Keratitis,
Multiple bouts of  Rhinitis, He is 70% blind.  I won't go on...  If
he weren't not in obvious pain I would have put him down by now...
but... he is a good natured little boy who still loves his food and his
treats and curls up with me to keep warm because his body weight is so
low.  I can't tell you how happy it would make me to have him show
weight gain or be able to play again...( He's been able to play perhaps
one month of the time I've had him and his brother can't understand why
he can't play and still attacks him hoping to have a partner in his
games..   this is not what I expected when I adoped these boys but I
learned quickly..  may really have to foster another FeLV+ just so
the healthier one leaves my disabled one alone. I've learned
quite a lot about the variants of FeLV since coming to this group but
honestly..  when I adopted these boys I never DREAMED of their
living to 8 years old and it seems quite a lot of people here are
discussing  cats in that age range..  I'm having a hard time even
internalizing that as FeLV...    Just wondering if there are many in the
group that have cats whose lives are being curtailed at VERY young ages
by this damnable Disease!!!


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Re: [Felvtalk] Felvtalk Digest, Vol 32, Issue 54

2016-12-23 Thread Margo 
Sorry, no. Google does show it for sale, but I wouldn't be using an aloe vera product for catshttp://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/aloe-Original Message-
From: Tina Terrell 
Sent: Dec 22, 2016 10:33 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Felvtalk Digest, Vol 32, Issue 54

Hello:) Can anyone tell me where I can find Manapol or Premapol aloe?I am having amazing results but cannot find it for sale anymore.Thank you!On Dec 22, 2016 6:36 PM, "ROBERT CHAPEL"  wrote:I hope this doesn't sound disrespectful... but I'm perplexed at all the talk of  whether or not an animal has or does NOT have the virus at 8, 10 and 12 years old...   If an animal has lived this long it would appear that he/she has a much milder form of the virus or a variant about which little is known.  In truth though your cats have already defied he odds and despite the sadness of having them ( potentially) have several years of life curtailed you will have had them longer than the many Healthy cats I had a a youngster when it was not uncommon for cats to die from any number of causes well before they were 10  years old. If my boys live until 8 or 10 I will consider it miraculous!!..   The kind of FeLV+ that REALLY concerns me is the kind that my own boys have passed from the Queen established to have moved into their marrow in the first 7 months of their lives...Symptomatic from the time they were Kittens   One looking ( yes there IS a "look" severely affected FeLV+ cats can have)  very much like a cat that simply is not going to last very long it is heart wrenching to hold his little 5.8 lb body and feel all his ribs and backbone despite his eating heartily He is barely a year and one half and has already had IBD, Uveitis,Melting Corneal Ulcer, Keratitis, Multiple bouts of  Rhinitis, He is 70% blind.  I won't go on...  If he weren't not in obvious pain I would have put him down by now... but... he is a good natured little boy who still loves his food and his treats and curls up with me to keep warm because his body weight is so low.  I can't tell you how happy it would make me to have him show weight gain or be able to play again...( He's been able to play perhaps one month of the time I've had him and his brother can't understand why he can't play and still attacks him hoping to have a partner in his games..   this is not what I expected when I adoped these boys but I learned quickly..  may really have to foster another FeLV+ just so the healthier one leaves my disabled one alone. I've learned quite a lot about the variants of FeLV since coming to this group but honestly..  when I adopted these boys I never DREAMED of their living to 8 years old and it seems quite a lot of people here are discussing  cats in that age range..  I'm having a hard time even internalizing that as FeLV...    Just wondering if there are many in the group that have cats whose lives are being curtailed at VERY young ages by this damnable Disease!!!


On Thu, Dec 22, 2016 at 02:18 PM, felvtalk-request@felineleukemia.org wrote:


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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Negative IFA test (Corinne Shank)


--

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2016 19:18:06 +
From: Corinne Shank To: "felvtalk@felineleukemia.org" Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Negative IFA test
Message-ID:
        
        
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I think that there are many unknowns and that the virus can live in many forms.  I have had my cat for almost 8 years.  The last Elisa test on her before I took her in, at about 3 months, was negative (after an initial positive test).  At the time I already had a cat (1.5 yo) who was negative.  I was assured that she was negative and would not have Felv. They are both indoor cats and are not exposed to others.   So why after having her for so long,  does she now test Elisa positive and IFA negative?  Has the virus been dormant for 8 years?  I have researched on Internet and it seems that there are many unknowns.

It would have been impossible for me to separate my cats after 8 years together and the stress of keeping them apart would have been hard on them and me.  So they live together and my other cat is fine so far (he is vaccinated).

  I found the following on the website of the SNap test