Re: [Felvtalk] My Nephew's FeLV Kitten

[Gloria B. Lane]

Hi MaryAnne,

I'm not as "up" on the current treatments as others, but have had FELV  
cats and been on the list for quite a few years, so thought I'd share  
some current thoughts and issues.


I've have tried different things with mine, both eastern and western  
medicine. I've used interferon alpha, really believed in that, and  
used it daily, not on and off. The herbal, Astragalus, certainly is an  
easy thing to try, and I wouldn't hesitate to talk with an alternative  
practitioner and try it.


Vitamin C is also a possibility, and I'm interested in LTCI though  
have not used it. The first FELV kitty I took in, I pulled out all the  
stops and tried traditional vet care, acupuncture, herbs, interferon,  
practitioner outside the USA, etc.  I do recommend interferon, have  
used interferon alpha quite a bit, although some say the omega would  
be better.


I've lost quite a few FELV kitties, and now have 5.  But for some  
reason, the ones I have now, have no problems.   But these kitties  
just live with no problems - go on and on.  I have 1 year and a half  
old kitty, Izzie, has seizures also - I used a homeopathic remedy  
recommended by an alternative practitioner, helped a lot but my kitty  
(Izzie) still has occasional seizures.


Keep in mind that the combo (Elisa) test - detects (I think) the virus  
in the blood, and possibly the bone marrow (1st stage, primary  
viremia).  The IFA test tells if the virus is in the bone marrow (2nd  
stage, secondary viremia).  A positive result on the Elisa means that  
kitty has the virus in the blood and it's unknown about the bone  
marrow.  A positive result on the the IFA apparently means it's a  
permanent infection - in blood and bone marrow.  I've read that cats  
can stay at the 1st stage for life, and don't necessarily go to stage  
two...but I don't know much about that.  I'm wondering if some of my  
present cats have it in the blood but hasn't gotten to the bone marrow.


The text that follows is from the Cornell brochure (not that I believe  
everything from Cornell but this seems to help clarify the tests).   
From http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/felv.html -


I understand there are two stages of FeLV infection. What are they?
FeLV is present in the blood (a condition called viremia) during two  
different stages of infection:


Primary viremia, an early stage of virus infection. During this stage  
some cats are able to mount an effective immune response, eliminate  
the virus from the bloodstream, and halt progression to the secondary  
viremia stage.


Secondary viremia, a later stage characterized by persistent infection  
of the bone marrow and other tissue. If FeLV infection progresses to  
this stage it has passed a point of no return: the overwhelming  
majority of cats with secondary viremia will be infected for the  
remainder of their lives.


How is infection diagnosed?
Two types of FeLV blood tests are in common use. Both detect a protein  
component of the virus as it circulates in the bloodstream.


ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and similar tests can be  
performed in your veterinarian's office. ELISA-type tests detect both  
primary and secondary stages of viremia.


IFA (indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay) tests must be sent out  
to a diagnostic laboratory. IFA tests detect secondary viremia only,  
so the majority of positive-testing cats remain infected for life.



Hope this helps in some way - Best of luck,

Gloria




On Nov 27, 2010, at 3:46 PM, marasm...@aol.com wrote:


Hi Everyone,

I joined the Group in order to learn as much as I could about FeLV  
because
my nephew has recently adopted an FeLV kitten. I have already  
learned so
much  from the research and resources available through this group.  
I find it
so  valuable and am greatly appreciative of all of you who have made  
this

organization's resources available to some of us Newbies.

I could really use some specific help:

1. Does anyone know of a great Vet in NYC who is knowledgeable and  
skilled
at treating FeLV? I was hoping for someone who combines Eastern and  
Western

medicine.

2. Are there any of the experimental drugs that are on the web  
site's list

that some of you have used that you think are helpful?

3. We have an excellent Chinese Herbalist doc outside of the city  
who  has

helped me with my other pets. Does it make sense to try herbs, such as
astragulus for the immune system under this doc's management?

4. I read the archived info. on LTCI and am aware of all of the  
issues.

But, has anyone had any recent success with it?

I am extremely frustrated with so many of my Vets who just throw up  
their
hands and say very little can be done.  Maybe that's true, but at  
least I
can try to help with food, supplements, etc. along with any meds.  
that might

help. This whole situation breaks my heart.

Whatever ideas, help or support any of you can provide, please know  
that I

will be extremely appreciative

[Felvtalk] Subject: Re: Spanky - fluid in chest - mediastinal tumor in chest

[Stacy Zacher]

Hi Melinda:

I am sorry about Fuji's mass but so happy she responded to chemo. What chemo 
did you give her? I recently joined the lymphoma list and for Spanky's type of 
mass (that has yet to be confirmed by biopsy) many have success with 
prednisoline and leukeran and some are using ac-11 to boost the white blood 
cells. I have a call into his oncologist/internal med specialist to see what 
she thinks about putting him on the leukeran. He is doing well on the pred - 
eating better and even ran up the stairs today which he hasn't done in many 
weeks.  
Purraying your Fuji continues to do well and thank you for sharing her story 
and success. 
Stacy and Spanky


Message: 5
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:11:24 +0900
From: Melinda Kerr 
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org

Message-ID: <255f926b-47f4-4aab-94ce-0148adf35...@me.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Stacy,

My
kitty Fuji is almost 18 months old.  In July, she was diagnosed with
FeLV and a mediastinal mass.  Very little effort was spent diagnosing
her, but the final conclusion was lymphoma because of the presence of
FeLV.  At that time, all I wanted was to make her more comfortable. 
She responded immediately to the chemotherapy treatment that she
received.  She continued to receive 4 more treatments at 10+ day
intervals over the next couple of months.  During that time she showed
absolutely no side affects. The treatments were discontinued because
her WBC count was too low (because of the FeLV) for our Japanese vet to
feel he could safely do them considering the mass was completely gone.

Since
her last treatment in September, she has had two rounds of antibiotics
for minor infections (I took her in for sneezing the first time.)  Last
week, I took her in with vomiting and discovered the mass had
returned.  Second remissions are supposed to be extremely hard to
obtain.  However, Fuji responded immediately once again to the
treatment.   A week later, she eats, plays, purrs and does everything
she did before.  She definitely acts like a more mature cat, but of
course she is.  We will follow up next week with additional blood tests
to see if she can get a second treatment.

I know every cat is
different, but I never expected to have 4+ more months with my baby. 
She is still alive and doing pretty good for an FeLV cat with lymphoma!

Best of luck to you and Spanky.

Melinda, Fuji and VooDoo


On Nov 27, 2010, at 11:35 AM, Stacy Zacher wrote:

> Hi Sharyl:
> Thanks to  you and everyone on this list for your replies and purrayers. . 
> I'm so sorry about your sweet Albert but glad you had the 1.5 years with 
> him.  
> 
>
It's been quite a week for us - Spanky went to his vet, then the
internal med specialist/oncologist and was diagnosed with a mediastinal
tumor in his chest, thus the fluids. My vets too said a few days only
if I didn't do something. So I put him on prednisolone for now and may
do a stronger round of something to try to kill the tumor. But I know
it is dicey with his FELV + status/symptoms.   I can't even think
straight...but have to try to keep helping him.  He made it through
Thanksgiving and we are taking it one day (one hour!) at a time.  
> Purrs, 
> Stacy and Spanky
> 
> 
> 
> Message: 8
> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:49:46 -0800 (PST)
> From: Sharyl 
> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Spanky - fluid in chest
> Message-ID: <948524.42923...@web36904.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> I'm so sorry to read Spanky now has this problem.  There is a Yahoo heart 
> group that may help.
> http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feline-heart/
> 
> Did
> your vet give Spanky any Lasix?  It does help reduce the fluid.  My
> sweet Albert went into CHF and was dx with severe HCM. When he went
> into CHF the vet gave him days/wks to live.   He was lasix for 1 1/2
> yrs before his little heart gave out.  
> 
> It is something to try.
> Sharyl
> 
> --- On Tue, 11/23/10, Stacy Zacher  wrote:
> 
>> From: Stacy Zacher 
>> Subject: [Felvtalk] Spanky - fluid in chest
>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
>> Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 8:58 PM
>> Hi:
>> I am crossposting this message also. 
>> I urgently need advice on my kitty, Spanky (FELV+, early
>> Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).? 
>> I noticed over the weekend and week he started feeling
>> worse and that his respiration rate
>> ?seemed to be higher than normal (he is usually about 18
> 
> 
> 


  
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[Felvtalk] My Nephew's FeLV Kitten

[MARasmuss]

Hi Everyone,
 
I joined the Group in order to learn as much as I could about FeLV because  
my nephew has recently adopted an FeLV kitten. I have already learned so 
much  from the research and resources available through this group. I find it 
so  valuable and am greatly appreciative of all of you who have made this  
organization's resources available to some of us Newbies.
 
I could really use some specific help: 
 
1. Does anyone know of a great Vet in NYC who is knowledgeable and skilled  
at treating FeLV? I was hoping for someone who combines Eastern and Western 
 medicine.
 
2. Are there any of the experimental drugs that are on the web site's list  
that some of you have used that you think are helpful?
 
3. We have an excellent Chinese Herbalist doc outside of the city who  has 
helped me with my other pets. Does it make sense to try herbs, such as  
astragulus for the immune system under this doc's management? 
 
4. I read the archived info. on LTCI and am aware of all of the issues.  
But, has anyone had any recent success with it?
 
I am extremely frustrated with so many of my Vets who just throw up their  
hands and say very little can be done.  Maybe that's true, but at least I  
can try to help with food, supplements, etc. along with any meds. that might  
help. This whole situation breaks my heart.
 
Whatever ideas, help or support any of you can provide, please know that I  
will be extremely appreciative!
 
Sincerely,
 
MaryAnne
 
 
 
 
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Re: [Felvtalk] another passing

[Gloria B. Lane]

I'm so sorry Michael - sleep soft sweet Queen Lita, 18 years old.

Gloria



On Nov 27, 2010, at 1:24 AM, Second Chance Meows wrote:

tonight we lost our queen, Lita. our very first FeLV cat, she was 18  
yrs old.
Lita started out as Pink at the SPCA. she was the house cat there  
for a few
years, and was given to me after finding out that my chemo had  
failed and what i
had would eventually kill me. This huge torte was a pissy old girl  
and would
hiss at everything. she at her best was about 20 lbs of pure joy.  
she would come
up to you and head butt you to get petted, and then jump in your lap  
and just

lay there.
Lita died at home surrounded by those who loved her, laying on my  
daughters

jacket with her by her side petting her to the end
Lita had been with us for 8 long years and had been treated for  
everything from
Uri's to arthritis, to the starting of a feline form of glaucoma,  
but she held

on and fought for all this time finally giving in to liver failure.

Safe travels across the bridge Lita. you will be missed. thank you  
for making

Second Chance possible

I know i don't send a lot of things here but we here at Second  
Chance try to do
the best we can while running a full house. Please remember that the  
smaller
rescues and homes like us do this from our own pockets. Please help  
the smaller
sanctuaries like ours continue to give love and hope to our furry  
families.


http://secondchancemeows.chipin.com/second-chance-meows-xmas-fund-raiser


Michael Johnson
Founder/Owner
Second Chance Meows
A FeLV Sanctuary




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Re: [Felvtalk] another passing

[Bonnie Hogue]

Michael
My condolensces to you on the loss of your Lita.  We all know how special an 
animal friend can be in our lives -- she was clearly special to you and your 
family.  I'm sure being at home, in familiar surroundings, with those who 
loved her was a comfort to her at her transition.
May she be engulfed in peace and bliss, and may your love for her help heal 
your heart.

Bonnie
- Original Message - 
From: "Second Chance Meows" 

To: ; 
Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 11:24 PM
Subject: [Felvtalk] another passing


tonight we lost our queen, Lita. our very first FeLV cat, she was 18 yrs 
old.
Lita started out as Pink at the SPCA. she was the house cat there for a 
few
years, and was given to me after finding out that my chemo had failed and 
what i
had would eventually kill me. This huge torte was a pissy old girl and 
would
hiss at everything. she at her best was about 20 lbs of pure joy. she 
would come
up to you and head butt you to get petted, and then jump in your lap and 
just

lay there.
Lita died at home surrounded by those who loved her, laying on my 
daughters

jacket with her by her side petting her to the end
Lita had been with us for 8 long years and had been treated for everything 
from
Uri's to arthritis, to the starting of a feline form of glaucoma, but she 
held

on and fought for all this time finally giving in to liver failure.

Safe travels across the bridge Lita. you will be missed. thank you for 
making

Second Chance possible

I know i don't send a lot of things here but we here at Second Chance try 
to do
the best we can while running a full house. Please remember that the 
smaller
rescues and homes like us do this from our own pockets. Please help the 
smaller
sanctuaries like ours continue to give love and hope to our furry 
families.


http://secondchancemeows.chipin.com/second-chance-meows-xmas-fund-raiser


Michael Johnson
Founder/Owner
Second Chance Meows
A FeLV Sanctuary




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Re: [Felvtalk] another passing

[Sharyl]

Michael and family,
I was saddened to read that Lita has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  I can see her 
now in running the show up there in those green meadows.  She had an amazing 
life with your family and know you all gained so much by having her with you.  
We all thank Lita for being the inspiration for Second Chance Meows.  

You all are in our thoughts and prayers
Sharyl  

--- On Sat, 11/27/10, Second Chance Meows  wrote:

> From: Second Chance Meows 
> Subject: [Felvtalk] another passing
> To: felvpositivec...@yahoogroups.com, felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> Date: Saturday, November 27, 2010, 2:24 AM
> tonight we lost our queen, Lita. our
> very first FeLV cat, she was 18 yrs old. 
> Lita started out as Pink at the SPCA. she was the house cat
> there for a few 
> years, and was given to me after finding out that my chemo
> had failed and what i 
> had would eventually kill me. This huge torte was a pissy
> old girl and would 
> hiss at everything. she at her best was about 20 lbs of
> pure joy. she would come 
> up to you and head butt you to get petted, and then jump in
> your lap and just 
> lay there.
> Lita died at home surrounded by those who loved her, laying
> on my daughters 
> jacket with her by her side petting her to the end
> Lita had been with us for 8 long years and had been treated
> for everything from 
> Uri's to arthritis, to the starting of a feline form of
> glaucoma, but she held 
> on and fought for all this time finally giving in to liver
> failure.
> 
> Safe travels across the bridge Lita. you will be missed.
> thank you for making 
> Second Chance possible
> 
> I know i don't send a lot of things here but we here at
> Second Chance try to do 
> the best we can while running a full house. Please remember
> that the smaller 
> rescues and homes like us do this from our own pockets.
> Please help the smaller 
> sanctuaries like ours continue to give love and hope to our
> furry families.
> 
> http://secondchancemeows.chipin.com/second-chance-meows-xmas-fund-raiser
> 
> 
>  Michael Johnson
> Founder/Owner
> Second Chance Meows
> A FeLV Sanctuary
> 
> 
> 
>       
> ___
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> 


  

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Re: [Felvtalk] Spanky - fluid in chest

[Melinda Kerr]

Stacy,

My kitty Fuji is almost 18 months old.  In July, she was diagnosed with FeLV 
and a mediastinal mass.  Very little effort was spent diagnosing her, but the 
final conclusion was lymphoma because of the presence of FeLV.  At that time, 
all I wanted was to make her more comfortable.  She responded immediately to 
the chemotherapy treatment that she received.  She continued to receive 4 more 
treatments at 10+ day intervals over the next couple of months.  During that 
time she showed absolutely no side affects. The treatments were discontinued 
because her WBC count was too low (because of the FeLV) for our Japanese vet to 
feel he could safely do them considering the mass was completely gone.

Since her last treatment in September, she has had two rounds of antibiotics 
for minor infections (I took her in for sneezing the first time.)  Last week, I 
took her in with vomiting and discovered the mass had returned.  Second 
remissions are supposed to be extremely hard to obtain.  However, Fuji 
responded immediately once again to the treatment.   A week later, she eats, 
plays, purrs and does everything she did before.  She definitely acts like a 
more mature cat, but of course she is.  We will follow up next week with 
additional blood tests to see if she can get a second treatment.

I know every cat is different, but I never expected to have 4+ more months with 
my baby.  She is still alive and doing pretty good for an FeLV cat with 
lymphoma!

Best of luck to you and Spanky.

Melinda, Fuji and VooDoo


On Nov 27, 2010, at 11:35 AM, Stacy Zacher wrote:

> Hi Sharyl:
> Thanks to  you and everyone on this list for your replies and purrayers. . 
> I'm so sorry about your sweet Albert but glad you had the 1.5 years with him. 
>  
> 
> It's been quite a week for us - Spanky went to his vet, then the internal med 
> specialist/oncologist and was diagnosed with a mediastinal tumor in his 
> chest, thus the fluids. My vets too said a few days only if I didn't do 
> something. So I put him on prednisolone for now and may do a stronger round 
> of something to try to kill the tumor. But I know it is dicey with his FELV + 
> status/symptoms.   I can't even think straight...but have to try to keep 
> helping him.  He made it through Thanksgiving and we are taking it one day 
> (one hour!) at a time.  
> Purrs, 
> Stacy and Spanky
> 
> 
> 
> Message: 8
> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:49:46 -0800 (PST)
> From: Sharyl 
> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Spanky - fluid in chest
> Message-ID: <948524.42923...@web36904.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> I'm so sorry to read Spanky now has this problem.  There is a Yahoo heart 
> group that may help.
> http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feline-heart/
> 
> Did
> your vet give Spanky any Lasix?  It does help reduce the fluid.  My
> sweet Albert went into CHF and was dx with severe HCM. When he went
> into CHF the vet gave him days/wks to live.   He was lasix for 1 1/2
> yrs before his little heart gave out.  
> 
> It is something to try.
> Sharyl
> 
> --- On Tue, 11/23/10, Stacy Zacher  wrote:
> 
>> From: Stacy Zacher 
>> Subject: [Felvtalk] Spanky - fluid in chest
>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
>> Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 8:58 PM
>> Hi:
>> I am crossposting this message also. 
>> I urgently need advice on my kitty, Spanky (FELV+, early
>> Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).? 
>> I noticed over the weekend and week he started feeling
>> worse and that his respiration rate
>> ?seemed to be higher than normal (he is usually about 18
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ___
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> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org


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Re: [Felvtalk] another passing

[a h]

I am SO SORRY for your loss. It hurts SO BAD. I wish I could speak as 
eloquently has you have for other rainbow kitties. You have given so many of us 
peace. I wish you the same and more.
Sincerely,
Alice Hanson
  - Original Message - 
  From: Second Chance Meows 
  To: felvpositivec...@yahoogroups.com 
; felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 
  Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2010 1:24 AM
  Subject: [Felvtalk] another passing


  tonight we lost our queen, Lita. our very first FeLV cat, she was 18 yrs old. 
  Lita started out as Pink at the SPCA. she was the house cat there for a few 
  years, and was given to me after finding out that my chemo had failed and 
what i 
  had would eventually kill me. This huge torte was a pissy old girl and would 
  hiss at everything. she at her best was about 20 lbs of pure joy. she would 
come 
  up to you and head butt you to get petted, and then jump in your lap and just 
  lay there.
  Lita died at home surrounded by those who loved her, laying on my daughters 
  jacket with her by her side petting her to the end
  Lita had been with us for 8 long years and had been treated for everything 
from 
  Uri's to arthritis, to the starting of a feline form of glaucoma, but she 
held 
  on and fought for all this time finally giving in to liver failure.

  Safe travels across the bridge Lita. you will be missed. thank you for making 
  Second Chance possible

  I know i don't send a lot of things here but we here at Second Chance try to 
do 
  the best we can while running a full house. Please remember that the smaller 
  rescues and homes like us do this from our own pockets. Please help the 
smaller 
  sanctuaries like ours continue to give love and hope to our furry families.

  
http://secondchancemeows.chipin.com/second-chance-meows-xmas-fund-raiser


   Michael Johnson
  Founder/Owner
  Second Chance Meows
  A FeLV Sanctuary




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