Re: RE: URGENT on Michael's behalf
Hi Mike-- I've only caught bits and pieces of this thread...but judging by the symptoms that you've listed, it sounds like your little guy has lymphoma (FeLV+ cats are notoriously prone to cancer)...and seeing that it's in his chest, you'll need to act quickly (fluid can quickly build up in his chest cavity). Essentially, what you can do at this point to buy him a little more time is start him on chemotherapy (lymphomas usually respond very well to chemo) and prednisone (a steroid that will help shrink the tumor). Michelle is our resident expert on lymphoma (her cat, Simon, rebounded fantastically with aggressive treatment)! Please, do get him started as soon as you can!! If all goes well, you may want to start him on coenzyme Q10 (30 mg per day)...it does wonders for the heart!! You guys are in my thoughts...please keep us posted! Jen
Re: URGENT on Michael's behalf
Mike, Kerry has posted your emails to the list. Jen wrote this response, but didn't address it to you directly, so I'm forwarding it on. I'm in tears because I just had my Jazz put to sleep because of these same symptoms. I don't know if there is anything you can do at this point to bring him back to health. When Jen talks about Simon responding, he only bounced back for a short time, Michelle still lost him. If you do decide to treat him, you need to get an appointment with an Internist or Oncologist, (you need a specialist). Your regular vet should be able to give you a referral in your area, you could also call an emergency vet clinic and ask them for a referral. Has Michelle responded directly to you yet? As Kerry says, she's our resident expert in these matters. I am so hoping that something can be done for your sweet baby. Don't think that because you didn't find us sooner, or find out about the FelV status sooner, that you might have saved him this. It isn't true. I've known about my positive kitties status since they were kittens, have done everything imaginable to keep them healthy and I still lost my Jazz. Sometimes there's just nothing we can do. It's not uncommon for these angels to seem perfectly healthy one day, and then have these horrendous symptoms the next. I hope I haven't said anything that has upset you further, that's not my intention at all. I really do know how desperate you are for answers right now. I'm praying with all my heart that you get them very soon. Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Mike-- I've only caught bits and pieces of this thread...but judging by the symptoms that you've listed, it sounds like your little guy has lymphoma (FeLV+ cats are notoriously prone to cancer)...and seeing that it's in his chest, you'll need to act quickly (fluid can quickly build up in his chest cavity). Essentially, what you can do at this point to buy him a little more time is start him on chemotherapy (lymphomas usually respond very well to chemo) and prednisone (a steroid that will help shrink the tumor). Michelle is our resident expert on lymphoma (her cat, Simon, rebounded fantastically with aggressive treatment)! Please, do get him started as soon as you can!! If all goes well, you may want to start him on coenzyme Q10 (30 mg per day)...it does wonders for the heart!! You guys are in my thoughts...please keep us posted! Jen
RE: URGENT on Michael's behalf
Hmmm...that's really strange, I hit reply all on my last email (and his email address showed up in the to field) but his email address didn't show up once it was posted...no matter, thanks for forwarding, Nina...okay, we'll see if it works this time, otherwise I'll post directly to Mike, but I forgot to ask...Mike, did your vet do bloodwork on your cat? I just wanted to be sure that you're also not dealing with anemia (which can also wreak havoc on the heart). Jen -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nina Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 3:24 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: URGENT on Michael's behalf Mike, Kerry has posted your emails to the list. Jen wrote this response, but didn't address it to you directly, so I'm forwarding it on. I'm in tears because I just had my Jazz put to sleep because of these same symptoms. I don't know if there is anything you can do at this point to bring him back to health. When Jen talks about Simon responding, he only bounced back for a short time, Michelle still lost him. If you do decide to treat him, you need to get an appointment with an Internist or Oncologist, (you need a specialist). Your regular vet should be able to give you a referral in your area, you could also call an emergency vet clinic and ask them for a referral. Has Michelle responded directly to you yet? As Kerry says, she's our resident expert in these matters. I am so hoping that something can be done for your sweet baby. Don't think that because you didn't find us sooner, or find out about the FelV status sooner, that you might have saved him this. It isn't true. I've known about my positive kitties status since they were kittens, have done everything imaginable to keep them healthy and I still lost my Jazz. Sometimes there's just nothing we can do. It's not uncommon for these angels to seem perfectly healthy one day, and then have these horrendous symptoms the next. I hope I haven't said anything that has upset you further, that's not my intention at all. I really do know how desperate you are for answers right now. I'm praying with all my heart that you get them very soon. Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Mike-- I've only caught bits and pieces of this thread...but judging by the symptoms that you've listed, it sounds like your little guy has lymphoma (FeLV+ cats are notoriously prone to cancer)...and seeing that it's in his chest, you'll need to act quickly (fluid can quickly build up in his chest cavity). Essentially, what you can do at this point to buy him a little more time is start him on chemotherapy (lymphomas usually respond very well to chemo) and prednisone (a steroid that will help shrink the tumor). Michelle is our resident expert on lymphoma (her cat, Simon, rebounded fantastically with aggressive treatment)! Please, do get him started as soon as you can!! If all goes well, you may want to start him on coenzyme Q10 (30 mg per day)...it does wonders for the heart!! You guys are in my thoughts...please keep us posted! Jen
RE: URGENT on Michael's behalf
How about ImmunoRegulin? I read that it can be very helpful for even a crashed kitty - -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of MacKenzie, Kerry N. Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 1:36 PM To: Michael Cameron Cc: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: URGENT on Michael's behalf MIKE AND MEMBERS, UNTIL MIKE IS ON LIST, PLEASE HIT REPLY TO ALL EVERY TIME Hi all Any suggestions please for Mike--I'm forwarding this as he's not part of the list yet. See both his emails below. His kitty has just been diagnosed FeLV pos. Kitty's symptoms are: ~~short quick shallow breaths and enlarged hea[r]t. ~~the main problem seems to be a lymph node in the chest which is enlarged and is restricting his breathing ~~hasn't eaten since Sunday. Mike, is he drinking? Suggestions to get him eating--you're right to be concerned--that worked for a bit when i had the same problem with one of mine: liver shake (liver shake is a complete meal, many of us have used it, see recipe below), deli meats (eg a slice of roast beef, and honey-baked ham); plain broiled chicken; chicken broth (see recipe below); and sour cream. One of these may at least get him eating. Catnip is an appetite-stimulant. Kerry i just read your email and I'm afraid my cat seems to be in a similar situation. he has a the short quick breaths and also the enlarged heat. he was diagnosed with feline leukemia Monday morning and I'm trying to find something to do to extend our time together. the main problem seems to be a lymph node in the chest which is enlarged and is restricting his breathing. i noticed when reading your email that you made mention of dox and VO. What exactly is Dox and VO? Is it possible that they may help my cat? Thank you for your time and help. Mike-Original Message- From: Michael Cameron [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 1:46 PM To: MacKenzie, Kerry N. Subject: Re: for Michael thanks for your reply but I'm beginning to wonder if we have any hope. his breathing is still very shallow and forced and he has had a bite to eat since Sunday. he is a big treat kitty and he also loves to eat yogurt...both of which now he will not touch. His breathing came on in 3 days. prior to that he was fine, or so i thought. I find myself frustrated now because i have invested 500 dollars and two separate vets and still have little or no hope from the vets. Stitch first came to me about 6 months ago when he wondered to the front door of my new house. he had front and back dewclaw and was also neutered. he was so healthy and playful i never thought he may be infected. --- MacKenzie, Kerry N. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Michael Welcome to the group, though I'm sorry for the reason you've had to find us. I'm glad your kitty has such a caring dad. You've come to the right place--you won't find a more knowledgeable, experienced, generous-in-their-sharing-of-information, supportive, compassionate bunch of people than the folks you find here, (I joined the group when I discovered 5 of the 6 kitties I took in in December 2003 were FeLV positive and for me it's been a godsend--I truly dread to think where I would have been without the benefit of all the member support and wisdom.) I am not as experienced as other members, and others will jump in, but to answer your immediate question, dox' is the antibiotic doxycyline, and VO is the feline interferon Virbagen Omega. ~~Doxycycline is available by prescription, either in pill form, or in compound treat form. If you are able to easily give your cat pills, the pills will be easier and quicker to get. (I'm lucky enough to have one pharmacy in Chicago that makes up the compound form--my cats are also feral, so it's not possible to hold them to give them a pill--but even then it's always at least a 24-hour wait. Many other members I believe order the compound form on the net through islandpharmacy.com.) ~~VO is not so straightforwarduntil it gets FDA approval, whenever that might be, it can only be ordered from abroad through a process that requires your vet to complete an FDA form and get FDA approval before buying from England. (Extract from an earlier Nina email in reponse to a question on the price: It's been $750 per order, 3 batches per order. If we use it the way Paolo did, then it would be 1 box per protocol, (5 days of treatment duration, 1 vial per day). So one batch would actually cost one third of that.) A couple or so members including Nina have completed the process and use VO. Some of us (including myself) use human interferon which is relatively easily available and significantly less expensive--e.g. I paid $100 total for a year's supply from Walgreen and vet cost to make it up into cat-friendly form. Please see additional notes that you may find useful pulled from earlier Nina emails: I would also ask your vet about oral interferon
