[Felvtalk] urgent question on FELV tests/vax
Seeking advice and best places to shop. In addition to a small phydically isolated of FELV+ cats, I care for a large colony of cats. These are all fixed, all previously tested negative and mostly adult. They range from friendly to full feral. A few were FELV vaccinated a couple years back. One previously negative diabetic cat has fallen ill and just re-tested positive, after a host of other tests and treatments over the last two months. I don't have the money to test and vax everyone at the vet. So I am looking for the most cost efficient way to test and vax. Is it possible to buy snap tests and do them myself, using a blood drop from the ear? (similar to getting blood for blood glucose testing). Is special equipment required to run the test? Best source for bulk test kits? Where are the cheapest vaccines? I have seen 10 dose FELV only vials on sale for $69 at California Pet but if anyone knows a better source for single doses or multi dose vials, I'd appreciate it. Is there any data/studies to indicate that a single dose conveys protection for cats over 6 more? I recall reading on cat info.org that FVRCP single dose can convey longterm immunity for cats over 4 months. My understanding is that multiple doses are needed because of potential maternal derived immunity interference with vaccines, at least for FVRCP. Thanks in advance. Kg ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] urgent question on FELV tests/vax
In terms of testing, you can buy bulk tests, I think my group paid about $12/test when we did, but we had to buy $400 worth. I think you need to take blood from a vein. We never bought our own again. Since they live together, you can ask the vet to do batch tests. Our vet does that with kittens from the same litter. You can see if your vet will do adults living together. They mix the blood of up to 3 or 4 together and then do a test with that. If it's negative then they are all negative. If it's positive, you need to then test those cats individually to see whose blood the antibodies came from. There is some controversy over whether this is something vets should be doing. But I think in your case it might be a good option. For vaccinations, do you mean FVRCP (distemper, rhino, calici) which is what you wrote, or do you mean FeLV vax? Because the answer is different depending which you meant. Michelle -Original Message- From: KG BarnCats kgbarnc...@gmail.com To: felvtalk felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sat, Jan 11, 2014 10:27 am Subject: [Felvtalk] urgent question on FELV tests/vax Seeking advice and best places to shop. In addition to a small phydically isolated of FELV+ cats, I care for a large colony of cats. These are all fixed, all previously tested negative and mostly adult. They range from friendly to full feral. A few were FELV vaccinated a couple years back. One previously negative diabetic cat has fallen ill and just re-tested positive, after a host of other tests and treatments over the last two months. I don't have the money to test and vax everyone at the vet. So I am looking for the most cost efficient way to test and vax. Is it possible to buy snap tests and do them myself, using a blood drop from the ear? (similar to getting blood for blood glucose testing). Is special equipment required to run the test? Best source for bulk test kits? Where are the cheapest vaccines? I have seen 10 dose FELV only vials on sale for $69 at California Pet but if anyone knows a better source for single doses or multi dose vials, I'd appreciate it. Is there any data/studies to indicate that a single dose conveys protection for cats over 6 more? I recall reading on cat info.org that FVRCP single dose can convey longterm immunity for cats over 4 months. My understanding is that multiple doses are needed because of potential maternal derived immunity interference with vaccines, at least for FVRCP. Thanks in advance. Kg ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] urgent question on FELV tests/vax
Hi KG I'm not sure I understand, so bear with me. Is the newly positive cat from the colony? If so, what are your plans, depending an the results? How many cats are you talking about? I went thru the same dilemma last year, and it was not easy. Short version, I talked to my Vet, and did a LOT of research about vaccinating and testing. For the group of cats that were living with the positive cat, her opinion on vaccinating them was that ship has sailed. They'd been together for more than 2 years, so she felt any transmission would have already occurred. She did want to test them, but I declined. Couldn't see the benefit. Of course, when anyone gets sick, they will be tested, as I now handle the +'s differently. They remain separate from the other groups. I have added two cats to the group, both were vaccinated, twice, before introduction. I would vaccinate twice, 3 weeks apart. I have not found any source that indicates that a single vaccine in an adult is enough, but that may be a judgment call. The Snap takes three drops of blood per test, so you need to be able to draw blood. Ear nicks probably won't do, unfortunately. http://www.drugs.com/vet/snap-combo-felv-ag-fiv-antibody-test-kit.html The well tests say they can be done with saliva, which might be easier, but I have read they are not always as accurate that way. Assure http://www.amazon.com/Synbiotics-ASSURE-Leukemia-Virus-Antigen/dp/B00061MOCU Both are available at Revival; http://www.revivalanimal.com/?ic_location=headeric_name=homelogo but may be cheaper elsewhere. Has the newly positive cat been re-tested? I'd wait a month and test again, at least. False positives can occur. I did vaccinate everyone who might come into casual contact, because that was much cheaper than re-testing AND vaccinating. I wish you the best. I thought I had a houseful of confirmed negative cats, and then this. Heartbreaking. Margo -Original Message- From: KG BarnCats kgbarnc...@gmail.com Sent: Jan 11, 2014 10:26 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: [Felvtalk] urgent question on FELV tests/vax Seeking advice and best places to shop. In addition to a small phydically isolated of FELV+ cats, I care for a large colony of cats. These are all fixed, all previously tested negative and mostly adult. They range from friendly to full feral. A few were FELV vaccinated a couple years back. One previously negative diabetic cat has fallen ill and just re-tested positive, after a host of other tests and treatments over the last two months. I don't have the money to test and vax everyone at the vet. So I am looking for the most cost efficient way to test and vax. Is it possible to buy snap tests and do them myself, using a blood drop from the ear? (similar to getting blood for blood glucose testing). Is special equipment required to run the test? Best source for bulk test kits? Where are the cheapest vaccines? I have seen 10 dose FELV only vials on sale for $69 at California Pet but if anyone knows a better source for single doses or multi dose vials, I'd appreciate it. Is there any data/studies to indicate that a single dose conveys protection for cats over 6 more? I recall reading on cat info.org that FVRCP single dose can convey longterm immunity for cats over 4 months. My understanding is that multiple doses are needed because of potential maternal derived immunity interference with vaccines, at least for FVRCP. Thanks in advance. Kg ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
