Re: Prayers for my Dharma -- Please!!!

2006-09-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and little Dharma...I am thinking of her and sending her positive vibes. These kitties have been so lucky to have youyou have done so much for them. Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi, everyone, I wanted to ask you if you could take a moment to pray for my Dharma, as some of you may know, I found out that Dharma may have dry FIP a couple of weeks ago.. and she has been treated with feline interferon…. Over the course of weeks, she has good days and not so good days, now she really does not have an appetite much and I have been syringe feeding her.. I talked to jasmine, my AC and she mentioned to me yesterday that.. symbolically, there seems to be a big war going on between the virus and Dharma in her body – the virus seems to be stronger, but Dharma seems to be even
 stronger, and right now she is winning the battle and but taking a lot of energy from her --- Everyone, please picture my Dharma - she is 5 months old and has a tiny body, has beautiful medium hair, and she is a calico girl – please imagine or picture her protected or covered by white beam of light to her – it’s supposed to help her energy.. if you could imagine my Dharma getting many stream of white (sort of opaque, not clear and not solid white) lights and protected by the lights,, I will be so grateful if you could do this as often as you can,, or pray in words that she will be protected by angels and protected by
 these white beam of lights.. I really could use a lot of healing energy. This virus is very mean and stubborn and I could use all of your healing wish and positive energy…I lost my dearest Naomi (Dharma’s sister) and Peter in August to the same disease.. I just cannot afford to lose Dharma.. please help and support Dharma get through this and beat the disease..Sincerely,Hideyo and Dharma.. 
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Re: Vet Visit Frustration

2006-09-21 Thread kandbz_ mom
Dee, I'm sosorry to hear about your wasted vet trip. Let me tell you, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. I always felt as if Angel were treated differently because of her FeLV+ status. It is VERY frustrating and I wish vets would become more educated as far as this disease is concerned. Best of luck to you and Smokey. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you are able to find a good vet. KarenDee  Evan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hello everyone,Today I took Smokey in for what I "thought" was to be a check-up visit with bloodwork. He just finished up with his Doxy treatment 2 - 3 days ago for the Hemobart. He had blood work done about 1 week ago that was clear of any hemobart
 parasites but he was still on the Doxy during that bloodwork. First of all I didn't get the vet I request for the appointment (that I asked specifically for when I scheduled). And second of all they did nothing with Smokey but look at him. They said it was too soon to do any more blood work  spent less than five minutes with him. I mentioned that he had been off the Doxy for 2 -3 days and that it might have given the Hemobart Parasite a chance to "sneak" back in but they didn't think it was possibleyet. The only thing they did do was give him a shot that I brought with me (thought it might have been easier for them to give it to him since he was already there). If it wasn't for the shot, that I brought myself  they didn't know I was bringing, they didn't do anything with him. I could have given him the shot at home myself. But I did find out he gained about 1/2 pound. So it was a wasted trip both for the
 stress that Smokey had to go through  the $$$ involved for a pointless visit. Needless to say I'm not happy  I don't appreciate Smokey being treated like a 2nd class citizen just because he is FeLV+. I need another vet for Smokey. We live in the Clarion County, Pennsylvania area. My frustration with this area is that there are only about four vets in this area, and most are livestock vets who also see domestic pets, no specialists. Pittsburgh is about 1:15 to 1:30 hours away. State College  Erie are both about 2:30 hours away. I really don't want to travel more than an hour or so with Smokey since he hates it. Can anyone give me any vet recommendations that I may be able to contact? Both Smokey  I thank you. ~Dee 
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Re: new to FeLV

2006-09-20 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hello!I was in your position not too long ago. I adopted a beautiful siamese kitten who ended up testing postive for FeLV. The vet wanted me to euthanize her, but I couldn't. I have two other cats at home who are negative. As soon as I found out Angel was pos. I had them all eat and drink from seperate bowls. Angel ended up getting a cancerous tumor at only 5 mos. of age and she died last month. Although she was only with us for a short time, I don't regret anything about letting her have the run of the house. She was happy because she was able to be outwith us. My other two cats are still fine and have not become positive. I'm sorry I can't be of much help, but I wanted to share with you a situation where mixing a positive with negatives turned out fine. Good luck to youyou have made the right choice by not letting
 the vet PTS. KarenPeggy Ankney [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi
 All,I too am a new subscriber looking for advice. I’ve learned much about this virus in the past 12 hours because the stray cat (Scooter) that my husband and I are in the process of adopting (well, he’s adopted us really) is FeLV+. The vet called me today after I dropped him off for neutering and shots to tell me the test was positive (she repeated the test to confirm) and recommended Scooter be PTS. We can’t do that – but we have two negative (but vaccinated) cats already. We are very
 torn between putting our cats at risk and saving Scooter. So after a very difficult day of unsuccessfully trying to find a home for Scooter, we’ve decided to keep him. All the web sites say you have to keep the pos cats isolated from the neg, but I don’t see how I can do that without locking Scooter in a room for the rest of his life. Montana and Karma are indoor/outdoor cats (we have a door with magnetic-activated lock). We can
 turn the door around so Scooter can’t get out but ours can still come and go as they please but we’re going to give Scooter the run of the house, which isn’t a big house by today’s standards. I don’t know if we can keep their food separate – Montana is older and underweight so I don’t want to take away the gravity feed bowl and limit his eating. Also, Montana and Karma rarely use the litter pan, as they prefer the great outdoors, but in rainy or cold weather they use it. Scooter will have to use it, as he’s got to stay indoors for the rest of his life. From what I’ve read
 online, these aren’t the main ways that the virus is transmitted. I know grooming is a big one, but we don’t’ have a clear picture of whether they will eventually become friendly enough for that (no chance of it just yet). So my question is – what has been the experience of others in similar situations, and do you have any good advice for a couple of scared cat lovers? Something I might have missed on the other web sites that will help me keep all three cats happy and healthy as possible? Montana is about 12 years, Karma maybe 8, and Scooter probably 6 months. (Thanks everyone! I’ve enjoyed reading your posts.) -peggy 
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Re: Behavior Problems

2006-09-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
I've been a petsitter for my neighbor for 9 years now...(she is a flight attendant). As a part time job, she worked at a vet's office for many years. So, I have learned a lot about cats from her. The reason why your cat is spraying is because he is not neutered. It is not considered a behavioral problem, he is just marking his territory. If I were you, I would get him neutered right away. The sooner the better. Stephanie E Caldwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Our FELV+ has developed a very bad habit of spraying around the house. Especially in shoes. He's also started urinating at our bedroom doors when we shut them to go to bed.He's intact because I don't believe in Neutering. (He's kept away from other cats, so please don't make that a huge
 issue.)I believe he might be happier in a home where he can socialize. Is there anyone on here who can take him? You can neuter him once he's yours.My other cat is very old FIV+ with multiple problems and they don't get along. He's feeling very left out, and I'm at the end of my rope with him.Any ideas to calm his nerves, or anyone who wants a beautiful 30lb white cat?Steph 
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Re: Crackers Pix

2006-09-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
Crackers is absolutely adorable What a sweetheart! :)[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   
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To: Marylyn

2006-09-06 Thread kandbz_ mom
Is the copy of Rainbow Bridge a picture or a poem? I would love to see it. KarenMarylyn [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  My vets do that, including my alternative vet. Most of the time they enclose a copy of Rainbow Bridge. They are the greatest. The kennel I left my dogs at sent flowers when Allie Beagle left this world.If you have men who will exclude any of God's creaturesfrom the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men whowill deal likewise with their fellow man.St. Francis- Original Message - From: "wendy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: <FELVTALK@FELINELEUKEMIA.ORG>Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 6:30 PMSubject: Re: The vet I had taken Angel to... My vet sent one when Cricket died.
 All the vet techs signed it, and he did too. It made me feel good. :) Wendy --- kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: As many of you know, the vet I had originally taken Angel to wanted me to have her euthanized right away after she tested positive. I had spent weeks looking for a new vet for her and finally decided to try this one, when she became ill and needed to be seen last week. I just wanted to share that a lady from the vets office had called me last Wed. to check on Angel. I had to share the bad news and tell her I had lost Angel. Anyway, the vet himself sent me a condolence card in the mail yesterday and I really thought that was nice. I mean, how many vets take the time to do that? It was very comforting to
 me. - Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com  
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Re: To: Kelly

2006-09-06 Thread kandbz_ mom
Kelly,Thanks so much for posting that for me!Karenkelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  At 08:31 PM 9/6/2006, you wrote:Here is one link to the Rainbow Bridgehttp://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm  Is the copy of Rainbow Bridge a picture or a poem? I would love to see it. KarenMarylyn [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:My vets do that, including my alternative vet. Most of the time they   enclose a copy of Rainbow Bridge. They are the greatest. The kennel I left   my dogs at sent flowers when Allie Beagle left this world.  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: "wendy"   To:   Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 6:30 PM  Subject: Re: The vet I had taken Angel to...   My vet sent one when Cricket died. All the vet techs   signed it, and he did too. It made me feel good. :)   Wendy --- kandbz_ mom wrote: As many of you know, the vet I had originally taken   Angel to wanted me to have her euthanized right away   after she tested positive. I had spent weeks   looking for a new vet for her and finally decided to   try this one, when she became ill and
 needed to be   seen last week. I just wanted to share that a lady from the vets   office had called me last Wed. to check on Angel. I   had to share the bad news and tell her I had lost   Angel. Anyway, the vet himself sent me a condolence   card in the mail yesterday and I really thought that   was nice. I mean, how many vets take the time to do   that? It was very comforting to me.   -   Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make   PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.   __   Do You Yahoo!?   Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection
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Re: Need prayers for my Spencer please

2006-09-04 Thread kandbz_ mom
I'm sorry, Nina. You and Spencer are in my thoughts and prayers. KarenNina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi Everyone,Spencer seemed to be doing better, but last night he took a turn for the worse and I wasn't sure he'd be here this morning when I woke up. He's lost a great deal of weight and his breathing is shallow and fast. He cries now when I pick him up and he's not getting around very well. His third eyelid is back up. I can't tell if he's in pain, but he's obviously in distress. It doesn't look good. He finished with his first 5 shots of feline interferon the night before last. I had taken him off Clav after 7 days, (now I'm wondering if that was a good idea), and he's going on, I think his 6th day of Dox). I'm afraid it may be a tumor, or some sort of
 cancer. He's reminding me of Simon when he was dying of kidney failure, but there was no indication of that when we had blood work done Friday before last. I called my vet's office, but of course it's a holiday and my vets aren't there. I could bring him in as an emergency, but I don't have a lot of faith in the vet on call, (nice guy, just not sure he'd be able to help). Actually, I don't have a lot of faith that anyone would be able to help him right now. He might be more comfortable with oxygen, or with a pain reliever. I don't know if it's worth the stress of bringing him into the vet.I just can't believe he's gone downhill so quickly. I've only had him for six months and he was in such bad shape when he got here. I did suspect fiv, but not felv. I figured if he had felv, he wouldn't have pulled through as well as he did after arriving. He just blossomed here! He turned into the best hugger and was so happy to
 have found someplace to call home and feel safe, and best of all he was thrilled to find a source of never ending food! I used to have to keep giving him a spoon of food at a time when I was getting everyone's dinner ready, or he'd go and eat everyone else's food as I put it down. I'm just in such shock. It wasn't more than 2 weeks ago that he was scaling counters at a single bound. He was such and incredible athlete, I've never seen anyone move as fast or leap as high as Spence.Thanks for letting me ramble. You guys know how this goes... Please send him healing, calming thoughts and prayers. I never stop hoping for recovery, but he doesn't look good. Thanks for always being there,Nina 
	


	
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The vet I had taken Angel to...

2006-09-03 Thread kandbz_ mom
As many of you know, the vet I had originally taken Angel to wanted me to have her euthanized right away after she tested positive. I had spent weeks looking for a new vet for her and finally decided to try this one, when she became ill and needed to be seen last week. I just wanted to share that a lady from the vets office had called me last Wed. to check on Angel. I had to share the bad news and tell her I had lost Angel. Anyway, the vet himself sent me a condolence card in the mail yesterday and I really thought that was nice. I mean, how many vets take the time to do that? It was very comforting to me.  
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To: Kayte

2006-09-03 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hi Kayte and welcome to the group!I live in Arizona and for some reason most of our vets here are scared of the disease and don't really have a lot of knowledge about it. At the time, Angel had no symptoms at all. It was just the fact that she tested positive. There is no way I was going to let him euthanize her since she had no symptoms. I had brought her home and started searching the internet for information and that is how I found this wonderful group of people. I only had Angel since July, but she was such a sweet girl and as long as she was by my side, she was happy. She became ill last weekend and died on Wednesday. This disease hit her very fast..she was only 5 months old. I wish there wasa way to get our vets here more educated and up to date on this disease. It's frustrating. Good luck to you!  
  Karen[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:As many of you know, the vet I had originally taken Angel to wanted me to have her euthanized right away after she tested positive. I had spent weeks looking for a new vet for her and finally decided to try this one, when she became ill and needed to be seen last week. I just wanted to share that a lady from the vets office had called me last Wed. to check on Angel. I had to share the bad news and tell her I had lost Angel. Anyway, the vet himself sent me a condolence card in the mail yesterday and I really thought that was nice. I mean, how many vets take the time to do that? It
 was very comforting to me. that was very sweet of them. my name is kayte and i am new to this group and disease. i was wandering why did your old vet want angel to be euthanized? was she sick? i just found out Friday night my baby crackers 5yr old was pos for luekemia and my vet didn't mention anything about euthanization. i have learned a lot from all u wonderful people and am crossing my fingers crackers is a false positive or that he passes this sad disease...also i am so sorry for angels passing. 
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Re: Pics of my boys

2006-09-01 Thread kandbz_ mom
Cute furbabies! Sherry DeHaan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi all I know that some of you have seen 2 of my boys,but my newest Xander I have added to my photo albums.If you would like to have a look I will add the website at the bottom.I know everyone hears me talk about Maizee,she is the reason that I have all you wonderful people in my life now.A sad way to find new friends but I am so happy to have you all to help support me in my sanctuary volunteering.Losing those precious babies are almost just as hard as when Maizee passed.I beleve that she was in my life for only a short time to lead me to what I do now for all these other babies in need of love(thank you baby girl :) ) Ok enough of my jibberish. Lots of prayers to everyones furkids in need of them.I hope you enjoy the pics of my fur kids.  Sherry and the boyz 
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To Nina

2006-09-01 Thread kandbz_ mom
I really enjoyed your story and pictures of Molly and Flash. They were young sweeties also, so you know how I'm feeling right now. Thanks,Karen 
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Re: Lost Twinkletoes

2006-09-01 Thread kandbz_ mom
I'm sorry to hear about Twinkletoes. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I lost my Twinkletoes this morning to complications of malabsorption (not FELV related). She was 5 months. She has a sister who is also very small, and I'm trying to do some research on this condition. Does anyone know anything about it? -- Vist the Austin Siamese Rescue store and save a kitty life!http://www.cafepress.com/austinsiamese  
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Re: Smokey and family pics

2006-09-01 Thread kandbz_ mom
Cute pics!!Evan  Dee [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  We've really enjoyed looking at some of the beautiful pics folks have been sharing so wanted to show off our family as well. Smokey, our newest addition, is the one who led us to this fine group. There are two pics (dated) that we took this evening - he's looking so good - he's really come a long way. Hope all are enjoying some well deserved RR this holiday weekend. ~ Evan  Deehttp://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/paws16242/album?.dir=608e.src=""> 
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Angel

2006-08-31 Thread kandbz_ mom
I just wanted to let all of you know how much I greatly appreciate all your messages of support for Angel and I. I'm having a better day today, but not much. I am so glad I decided early on to let her have the run of the house instead of being isolated to a room. Usually, when I would be at my computer typing, she would be sitting right beside me. So, it is hard. Take care,Karen 
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Angel has gone to the bridge

2006-08-30 Thread kandbz_ mom
Thanks everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Angel died peacefullyat home. I had a feeling she didn't want to be taken to the vet to be put down. I am just so heartbroken as I had only had her for less than two months and she was only 5 months old. She seemed to be doing so good and then over the weekend, took a turn for the worse. Thanks again for all the support. I greatly appreciate it.Karen 
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Hip problems?

2006-08-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
Does anyone know if hip problems are associated with FeLV? Angel went to bed just fine and got up in the morning almost unable to walk. It's as if her legs are coming out from under her. We have an appointment with a new vet today @ 3:00. I am hoping for good news. I have no idea what could've happened to her... 
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I'm losing my Angel...

2006-08-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
Well, Angel's "hip" problem turned out to not be her hip. The vet felt a big, swollen bump near her bottom and tail. He took a syringe and drained out a bunch of white colored stuff. He looked at it under the microscope and thinks it is cancer cells. He says she is in a lot of pain and this would take some doing, including a specialist, to have anything done about it. He says even if he drains all the stuff out, it will probably come back. She has nerve damage and may never be able to walk again. I don't really care about the money or how much it costs...I am just worried about stressing her out by putting her thru a bunch of things. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes and meows like she is in pain. She is only 5 months old and I have only had her for about 6 or 7 weeks. I am just heartbroken. She is too young to be going thru this.
 Please keep us in your thought and prayers.Thanks,Karen __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: I'm losing my Angel...

2006-08-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
Phaewryn,That is my thought, exactly. I would love to keep her alive with me but I want what is best for her. The vet said she may not even be able to go to the bathroom by herself..that I may have to pick her up and put her in the litterbox and then take her out-for the rest of her life. He also recommended shaving her entire lower part because she has poop sticking in her fur every time she goes. I don't know of many human's who would want to live that way, either. She is only 5 months old and just within the last three days, she looks like she has aged at least 10 years. Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I greatly appreciate it. Karen[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 Cancer in that area doesn't have a good outcome often, as it interferes with elimination. If she's in pain, and you vet comes back with positive results for cancer, I'd consider euthanasia. You can fight it, but if she is in that much pain.. do you really want to prolong it?  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 8/25/2006 
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Question about anemia

2006-08-22 Thread kandbz_ mom
Is there any supplement that can help prevent anemia? Angel has been sleeping a lot today and I'm wondering if she is becoming anemic. Thanks,Karen 
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Re: Frustrated with Vets in AZ

2006-08-21 Thread kandbz_ mom
Kat,Thanks so much! I will send her an email! Hopefully, she can lead me in the right direction!KarenKat [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi Karen,Waaay back in the early years of this list, we had a member from Glendale,AZ (about 35 miles from you). Her name is Irene Hart and her rescue groupis AZ-HART, and I believe they do adoptions out of the PetSmart inPhoenix. She's no longer on this list, but the latest contact info Ifound was: (602) 843-4690, Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Maybe she can direct you to a good vet???Kat (Mew Jersey) 
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Re: Frustrated with Vets in AZ

2006-08-18 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hi Nina,The only thing is, the vet I originally took Angel to wanted to euthanize her. I don't think he would be very helpful with finding a specialist. His thoughts were that Angel is a "spreader", so do away with the problem. It saddens me how easily they recommend euthanasia. I am determined, so I won't stop until I find a good vet or specialist! The search is on!! Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi Karen,Ask your vet for a referral to a board certified Internist. All vets have specialty clinics that they send their patients to when there's a condition that GP medicine can't deal with. There is a much better chance that an
 Internist will be better educated on felv. The Internist might be able to recommend a GP vet for you too. Precious Pets is right, receptionists sometimes spout info when they should be keeping their mouths shut. Make sure you speak directly to a vet and educate them and the staff about felv whenever possible. I know a lot of folks on the list have been happy with an ignorant vet that was compassionate, willing to learn and willing to listen. I'm still looking for a GP vet that I can trust and count on so I understand your frustration.Ninakandbz_ mom wrote:As some of you know, I have been looking for a "good, knowledgeable" vet for Angel, who tested positive for Felv. Anyway, my sister had to take her dog to a vet today (not her usual vet, but they agreed to get her dog in pretty quickly). My sister called me after they got home
 and said she was talking to the receptionist about me looking for a vet to treat my felv pos. kitten. Right away, the lady told my sister that I need to be careful because the disease is so contagious that my other two cats can get it just from being in the same room as Angel. My sister explained to her that I feed and water them all in separate dishes and they don't play together or groom each other or anything. The receptionist said still, just them all being in the same room together can spread it. How frustrating...I am starting to think that I may have to take Angel to another state to get her a vet who knows something about this disease. LOL!! Just had to share with you all...Have a great day!Karen  Stay in the know. Pulse on the new Yahoo.com. Check it
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Re: Frustrated with Vets in AZ

2006-08-18 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hi Precious Pets,At the moment, I am not able to do rescue work...I would LOVE to, once my son is a little older! I like your ideaI will have to contact some rescue groups and see if they can recommend someone. That's a step in the right direction!Thanks,Karen"Precious Pets, Almost Home" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Dear Karen:You may want to talk to the vet personally instead. The first thing I thought was the receptionist new orfairly new? The receptionist could be uninformed! Iuse several vets all the time. I can spot the newpersonnel just by the way they handle me in differentsituations.Actually, at my favorite vet clinic for the longest Icould not stand the desk personnel. I had to
 learn toignore them because I love the vets themselves! Nowthat the desk personnel got to know me which took aconsiderable period of time, they are wonderful! Iespecially can tell when there is new personnel at thedesk there because of their attitude. I mostly lurk on this list because of the amount ofrescue work I do. There is some weeks that I can readthe messages everyday and some weeks I do not havetime to read any! Excuse me of for asking thisquestion! I do not know if you do cat rescue or not? Do you know any local volunteers for cat rescue inyour area? They may know a vet to recommend that willtreat your kitties. I have had customers from thePETsMART where we use their adoption center call me toask me what vet I use for my cats. I am more thenhappy to call them back and refer a vet according totheir cat(s) needs.I hope you find a vet soon that you will feelcomfortable and secure with
 treating your cats!Precious Pets--- kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: As some of you know, I have been looking for a "good, knowledgeable" vet for Angel, who tested positive for Felv. Anyway, my sister had to take her dog to a vet today (not her usual vet, but they agreed to get her dog in pretty quickly). My sister called me after they got home and said she was talking to the receptionist about me looking for a vet to treat my felv pos. kitten. Right away, the lady told my sister that I need to be careful because the disease is so contagious that my other two cats can get it just from being in the same room as Angel. My sister explained to her that I feed and water them all in separate dishes and they don't play together or groom each other or anything. The receptionist said still, just them all being in
 the same room together can spread it.   How frustrating...I am starting to think that I may have to take Angel to another state to get her a vet who knows something about this disease. LOL!!   Just had to share with you all...Have a great day!  Karen   - Stay in the know. Pulse on the new Yahoo.com. Check it out. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com  
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Re: Frustrated with Vets in AZ

2006-08-18 Thread kandbz_ mom
I agree with you 100%, Catatonya. After talking to this receptionist lady, my sister was a bit freaked out, so I had to explain to her that Felv is not airborne. What's frustrating is that we know how to treat human leukemia and aids, but have no clue how to treat cats. It seems silly. catatonya [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:It's so sad that the vets are so behind the times on this. It makes me so freakin' mad.  tkandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:As some of you know, I have been looking for a "good, knowledgeable" vet for Angel, who tested positive for Felv. Anyway, my sister had to take her dog to a vet today (not her
 usual vet, but they agreed to get her dog in pretty quickly). My sister called me after they got home and said she was talking to the receptionist about me looking for a vet to treat my felv pos. kitten. Right away, the lady told my sister that I need to be careful because the disease is so contagious that my other two cats can get it just from being in the same room as Angel. My sister explained to her that I feed and water them all in separate dishes and they don't play together or groom each other or anything. The receptionist said still, just them all being in the same room together can spread it. How frustrating...I am starting to think that I may have to take Angel to another state to get her a vet who knows something about this disease. LOL!! Just had to share with you all...Have a great day!Karen  Stay in the know. Pulse on
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Re: :-(

2006-08-18 Thread kandbz_ mom
LOL! That sounds like a good idea, but we had some neighbors here who were in a similar situation and they ended up being fined for allowing the cat to run loose. Crazy, huh?! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Call animal control, your cat was bitten, if you saw the dog's mouth on her. They will take the dog, and quarantine it for rabies. That should make the neighbor's think twice about letting their dog run loose! Hell, tell them the dog snapped at YOU, if no one saw to deny it, who's gonna know otherwise?PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html
 Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.3/423 - Release Date: 8/18/2006 
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Frustrated with Vets in AZ

2006-08-17 Thread kandbz_ mom
As some of you know, I have been looking for a "good, knowledgeable" vet for Angel, who tested positive for Felv. Anyway, my sister had to take her dog to a vet today (not her usual vet, but they agreed to get her dog in pretty quickly). My sister called me after they got home and said she was talking to the receptionist about me looking for a vet to treat my felv pos. kitten. Right away, the lady told my sister that I need to be careful because the disease is so contagious that my other two cats can get it just from being in the same room as Angel. My sister explained to her that I feed and water them all in separate dishes and they don't play together or groom each other or anything. The receptionist said still, just them all being in the same room together can spread it. How frustrating...I am starting to think that I may have to take Angel to another state to get her a vet who knows something about this disease.
 LOL!! Just had to share with you all...Have a great day!Karen 
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Re: Question about red gums

2006-08-11 Thread kandbz_ mom
Thanks for the link to the oral rinse! I am going to try it. Hopefully, I can keep Angel as stress free as possible! Karen[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Foster  Smith carries a good oral rinse that you can swab on (and special dentalswabs):http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14657N=2002+22759Luckily, all my cats are blessed with good mouths, so I can't advise you much on thistopic, no personal experience. Wouldn't Lysine be a good supplement for dentalconcerns too?My cats just LOVE these Feline Greenies treats, though I only give three at a timemax per cat per day, because the DOG greenies have been causing intestinal blockagesin dogs, so I don't want to take any
 chances:http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13597N=2002+22759PhaewrynPLEASE Adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!!http://ucat.us/adopt.htmlDONATE: We could really use a power saw (for construction), a digital camera (forpictures) and HOMES for CATS!-- No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/415 - Release Date: 8/9/2006 
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Question about red gums

2006-08-10 Thread kandbz_ mom
Good Morning, Everyone!I noticed last night that Angel's gums are red, but not really swollen (in several places). I was reading on the internet that Periodontal Disease is associated with Felv. Basically, everything I read said that I should brush her teeth to keep the gums healthy. Is there more to it than that? Do I need to take her to a vet for meds?Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks,  Karen 
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Re: Question about red gums

2006-08-10 Thread kandbz_ mom
Michelle,Does Petsmart carry the CoQ10 or where can I get it?Thanks,Karen[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Brushing does help. Also CoQ10 mixed into food once a day.  MichelleIn a message dated 8/10/2006 10:26:58 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:Good Morning, Everyone!I noticed last night that Angel's gums are red, but not really swollen (in several
 places). I was reading on the internet that Periodontal Disease is associated with Felv. Basically, everything I read said that I should brush her teeth to keep the gums healthy. Is there more to it than that? Do I need to take her to a vet for meds?Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks,  Karen 
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Re: Smokey

2006-08-05 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hello! I don't know if I will be of much help to you as I am pretty new to this also. My Angel kitty tested positive for Felv on July 17 and the vet wanted me to euthanize her. Luckily, I found this support group and I also have spent countless nights searching the internet for information. From what I have learned, the disease is contagious from the saliva and can't exist outside of the cats body for more than a few seconds. So, if you were holding your postive cat and he licked you, by the time you got near your negative cats, it has already died off. I understand your fear...I am also a HUGE jerms freak! LOL! But, from everything I have read, as long as they aren't all sharing food and water dishes and litter boxes, everything should be fine. Good luck to you,KarenDee  Evan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I am the guardian from Western Pennsylvania with 10+ cats (oldest ages 17-female  13-male), with a newly diagnosed FeLV+ stray, now named Smokey. I want to thank everyone for your comments of support. I am very grateful. I am still on my quest to find a new home or foster parent for him (if we can get him stabilized) . My support where I live is very poor  limited. Both vets I have talked to have given the 1st option of euthanasia because I will "just be throwing money down the tubes" to treat him as put by one of the vets. I even had to make the suggestion of Pet-Tenic for him (6 days after the vet visit) after reading the Feline Leukemia website. I am freaking out about exposure to my other 10 cats since the vets keep telling me he is highly contageous! The boosters on my other 10 cats are due here in August so I have a vet coming out on
 Wednesday, 08/09/06 to administer the boosters. I don't even wear the same clothes around my other cats (I place them in a plastic bag to use again, high enough for my other cats not to reach). I use Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, Germ-X hand sanitzier, etc. I even go to the extreme of taking a shower after visiting Smokey. Sometimes I have to hold the tears back at work  break down  cry when I finally get home. I am panic stricken over this whole situation  not sure what the right thing to do is. Smokey has a right to a chance for life ~ I cannot chose to euthanize him just becuase he is sick, it is not his fault. Although I do understand there will probably be a time where there is nothing more I can do. I have limited finances, I am not a Rockefellar, but I am not ready to give up yet. Help! Can anyone give me some more words of wisdom  experience? Thank you.*_Smokey's Situation_:*We have
 only "known" Smokey for less than 4 weeks.I do not know how old he is.As far as I can tell he is not neutured. He is too weak to even vacinate for rabies,etc.He is only 4 1/2 pounds. He has diarrhea (although it is somewhat better but not anywhere close to where his stool should be). He seems to be running a slight fever.His appetite is very good. I wish he would drink more water so I am going to make him homemade chicken broth. I Sub-Q 1/2 to 1 unit of IV every other day, every day if he lets me. He is wormed ~ I will need to worm him again in 8 days.He is on three antibiotics (two oral liquids  one for his ears). He had a bacterial ear infection. He is a very loving, warm soul.I have him isolated in a bedroom from the other 10 cats. I have a laundry basket in front of the door  a towel w/a 2x4 piece of wood at the bottom so there is no contact with the other cats. We live in an old farm house.
 So I cannot install a window air conditioner because the electrical outlets are only two-prong, ungrounded. There is a fan in his room. ~Dee 
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Re: Question about throwing off the virus and my vet's opinion

2006-08-02 Thread kandbz_ mom
Gina,When Angel tested positive on July 17, I had asked the vet the same question and he said he wouldn't even bother giving Angel another test. I was appalled. I am still looking for a "good" vet who will feel comfortable treating Angel. I will be watching to see what responses you get about what questions to ask when looking for a new vet, etc. Good luck to you.KarenGina WN [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi Everyone,A week ago when I took Pippin to the vet,I asked my vet about the upcoming second FeLV test that Pippin is going to have in September. I asked her if she agrees that cats can throw off the virus after having tested positive.She said she does not believe so, that
 she believes that cats who test negative after having tested positive are "harboring the virus" and that it can show up at any time in the future. We are going to keep Pippin regardless of her FeLV status.I dowonder if thisvet'sbelief systemcould affect the care my girl receives if she does develop symptoms.What kinds of questions should I ask on behalf of Pippin? What should I look for in a vet treating a cat with FeLV?Thank you!  Gina  No heaven wil not ever Heaven be Unless my cats are there to welcome me.--epitaph in a pet cemetery  Tiggertales ~ a site about our beloved felines   Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. 
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Re: Question about throwing off the virus and my vet's opinion

2006-08-02 Thread kandbz_ mom
That is a GOOD point! The vet that we went to said it is "unusual" for a kitten to test positive for felv...but then I brought up the point that they don't even routinely test kittens...they don't test them unless you ask for it. So, who knows how many kittens/cats actually have it and aren't tested because they have no symptoms. TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:by that logic, ANY cat who tests negative could be "harboring" the virus because who knows if they might have tested positive at some point in their lives. i'm sorry that i don't have the time right now to do the research, but it's fairly well documented that 70% of healthy adult cats exposed to the virus will throw it off. maybe someone else on the list has the citations...
   On 8/2/06, Gina WN [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Hi Everyone,A week ago when I took Pippin to the vet,I asked my vet about the upcoming second FeLV test that Pippin is going to have in September. I asked her if she agrees that cats can throw off the virus after having tested positive.She said she does not believe so, that she believes that cats who test negative after having tested positive are "harboring the virus" and that it can show up at any time in the future. We are going to keep Pippin regardless of her FeLV status.I dowonder if thisvet'sbelief systemcould affect the care
 my girl receives if she does develop symptoms.What kinds of questions should I ask on behalf of Pippin? What should I look for in a vet treating a cat with FeLV? Thank you!  Gina  No heaven wil not ever Heaven be Unless my cats are there to welcome me.--epitaph in a pet cemetery  Tiggertales ~ a site about our beloved felines Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and
 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. -- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 
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Re: Naomi has become an angel...

2006-08-02 Thread kandbz_ mom
I'm sorry to hear about Naomi. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.KarenHideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Thank you very much for all your prayers for Naomi --- she peacefully has transited to a new life last night around 10:20 pm… she was in my arms when she crossed the bridge. I knew her time was approaching and was praying that she will wait for me until I come home from work.. and she did.. I held her in my arms the entire night from the time I came home from work to until she crossed the bridge..she is such a strong soul… the whole time I was holding, she will look at in my eyes and stare at me.. and I kept telling her how much I love her,, and thank her for being a part of my life… and how much I will miss her and holding her in my arms.. and I also told her that there is nothing to worry about… we will be
 always together.. she will stay in my heart eternally.. and there is nothing that keep us apart anymore..she was walking around until the final day.. she is just amazing.. a couple of times, she stopped breathing.. and had to give her mouth to mouth to bring her back.. just because I was selfish and I wanted to extend our time together as much as possible.. and she did for me..After Naomi has one little brother, Simba and one big sister, Dharma, and they are both protective of her.. Dharma has always groomed her from the very beginning of their time together.. and took care of her so well.. when Naomi has been sick, Dharma always has come
 licked her head to make her feel better.. on the other hand,, Simba always wanted to wrestle with Naomi.. and even when she was sick.. and naomi would let him, though I sometimes, had to tell Simba not to be so rough to play.. after Naomi passed last night.. Dharma has come and still groomed Naomi and tried to take care of her.. and Simba still tried to play with her… which made me cry.. but I am sure that Naomi will connect them on spiritual level so that they will also be together even after her transition…Now, Naomi is free from a body which limited her to do many things..I love her soul and love her little body.. she is so beautiful.. I can’t express how much I am going to miss seeing her little body walking
 around, and to hold a beautiful body in my arms,, and watching her beautiful eyes… but I know that I won’t have to miss her soul because it is right besides me now no matter where I go… Naomi has taught me a lot of lessons.. she taught me not to be afraid of “pain” --- and how to deal with the pain and it’s not everyone’s intension to be here for a long time… I have become a bit stronger because of Naomi…her vitality taught me to be as strong as she is..Again, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for Naomi ---  And please (I don’t know whom I should contact directly, but..) add
 my Naomi to the rainbow bridge.. thank you..Hideyo and Naomi.. 
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Re: Prayers for my baby Naomi for her final days..

2006-07-31 Thread kandbz_ mom
I'm really sorryyou and Naomi are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi, everyone, I wanted to ask everyone one more time to send Naomi prayers and peaceful energy so that she can spend her final days peacefully without pain.. while I am trying to do what I can to save her life.. there is not much left.. she is losing her blood so quickly and very anemic.. and she is too small and can’t get her go through transfusion as she gets very stressed out at a vet.. she is sleeping comfortably right now.. but my vet and I agree that she is on the way to heaven soon.. we thought that the bet thing was to let her pass peacefully at home.. this is so hard everyone.. she is only 4 months old and she is such a precious soul.. I was so looking forward to see her grow – as I watch her, there is nothing I can do
 to cure her.. but I also believe that there is life after this life and she will be happier and heading to a better new life –I just wish I could spend for time with her.. I wish I could stay home and be with her.. as I work here, I am sending her love and prayer for her peace…… __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: To Marissa (MJ) Re: New to the List, Cats, and FeLV!!

2006-07-30 Thread kandbz_ mom
Wendy,I'm not the person you were talking to, but would you mind sending me this info for Angel? Thanks,  Karenwendy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi Marissa,My name is Wendy. I've been on this list since lastOctober and probably will never leave. The peoplehere got me through one of the hardest times in mylife when my baby Cricket was sick with anemia fromthe FeLV, and died after three weeks of trying to gethim to turn around. Everyone here is so knowledgeableand helpful, and I stick around now to try to help newpeople just like you.Your vet is right. Many cats throw the virus off, andsome just carry it around. And even if he does testpositive, there are absolutely things you can do toprolong his
 life.The two most important things to keep in mind withFeLV positives is a stress free environment and immuneboosting including food and supplements. A lot ofpeople use the Evo. I think what Maggie and Kerrysaid about mixing the old food with the new and thenslowly decreasing the old might work for your baby. It will take time. Mine are on the Evo, wet and dry,and it is great stuff. Probably the best on themarket, in my opinion. Some do the raw diet. Whatever you end up feeding him, make sure it has nograins in it. As far as supplements go, there areseveral routes you can go. Vitamin C is supposed tobe a great immune booster. Some people even claimthat it can turn positives to negatives. L-lysine(WITHOUT) propylene glycol is also good for immuneboosting, especially if he has feline herpes, whicheither can't be or isn't easy to be tested for (can'tremember). I say he might have it because
 sneezingand URI's are typical symptoms. Many cats haveherpes, so it's no big deal. The L-lysine helps agreat deal with keeping that in remission. It's kindof like cold sores for us. The lysine is greatbecause kitty won't be able to taste it. I just mixit in with the wet food. I leave out dry for mine,and feed wet in the morn and eve. I have a kitty withhyperthyroidism that gets chicken broth twice a day,which some kitties love, and cooked chicken at night. The chicken broth is just the byproduct of cooking thechicken in water. I always feed it to my sickkitties; not all eat it though.I have also compiled a sick kitty manual that has alot of good info. in it. It's good even if your kittyis not sick. I took months of posts and info. fromthis site along with personal research and combined itto make the manual. It's in glossary form andcross-referenced in a Word document. Let me know ifyou'd like
 it and I'll send it to you directly as thelist won't allow attachments.I always say people who are dog people have never beenloved by a cat. We'll see what you have to say in afew months about that. LOL. I love the name Slinky,btw.If you have ANY questions, just ask. We're here tohelp.:)WendyDallas, Tx__Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com  
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Re: New to the List, Cats, and FeLV!!

2006-07-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
Welcome! You have definitely found the right place to ask questions! I am new myself, I started posting about a week and a half ago. Unlike your vet who seemed optimistic, my vet wanted me to have Angel euthanized. I was devastated, until I found this email group. KarenMarissa Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi all. So I'm new to all of this! I recently took in a stray that was living under my boyfriend's house (his mom gave birth there and we found homes for all the kittens...one being mine. Mom still lives there and he feeds her).My family had cats when I was in high school but they were indoor/outdoor (we lived in the country) and I never bonded with them too much. They were mostly my step-mom's pets. I've generally
 been more of a dog person.But now i have this WONDERFUL, adorable little baby (about 14-15 weeks old) named Slinky. He's a gray and white DSH and the sweetest cat ever. And when I took him to the vet (last weekend...I just got him recently), he tested positive for FeLV. :(The vet said that he had about a 25% chance of "growing out of it" (or fighting it off or being a fals positive or whatever it is that causes cats to test positive as kittens and negative as adults), and about a 25% chance of having it his whole life and not being affected by it. The only "symptom" he's had is that he had an upper resperatory infection about 3 weeks ago. My boyfriend's sister took him to the vet (it was before I got him) and they gave him amoxicillan and eye drops and he seemed to recover pretty quickly. He still sneezes a fair amount, but that's it.So...I
 brought him home and I'm praying for the best. He was kind of lethargic and quiet for a couple days after the vet visit, but I assume that's probably from the trauma and the vaccinations (other than FeLV). He's been pretty much back to his normal self for a few days now. But his mom still has a TON of questions!!! My first thought was to wonder whether vitamin supplements or diet or something might help to boost his immune system and either help him fight off the virus or keep secondary infections at bay. The vet said as long as his diet is sufficient, he doesn't need them, but I'm not sure the vet is the best (I'm also new to the area, so trying to find a vet is a challenge!).I was giving him dry Purina kitten chow (it was all I knew to get) and the vet said that was as good as anything. I don't really believe him though. So I went toa natural pet food store and
 the owner gave me some canned food and some dry...all natural, no grains (innova evo). But he won't eat it. He won't touch the dry food at all! And the canned he'll only eat if it's the only option...and he won't really even eat it if I mix it with the purina. Ugh!I also bought a vitamin powder and something to help his digestive track (which he isn't too crazy about). But I'm a little leary of using those. Some articles I found online said that vitamin C would help him (esp. since he's only eating dry food right now), but others said too much could cause crystals in his urine, etc. Some articles/websites said to only give him canned, others say raw, others say a mixture. Everything contradicts itself What am I supposed to do???I love this little guy so much and I know he's totally dependent on me to make the best decisions for his care. But I
 don't know what those are!!! I'm doing my best to educate myself, but since so much of the information is contradictory, it's hard. Is there anything I can do to help prolong his life? They're going to retest him in about 6 months the vet said. Other than the upper resperatory infection, he's had ear mites (gone now) and he now has tape worm which they'll treat him for in 2 weeks when I go for his next round of vaccinations. But beyond that, he's healthy, energetic, playful, and seems to have a healthy appetite.Anyway...positive thoughts and prayers would be appreciated! But I could REALLY use some advice/perspectives/information to help me make the right decisions!!!Thanks in advance! I'll be praying for all your special kitties.Slinky's Mom (MJ)p.s. Sorry this is so
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Re: New to the List, Cats, and FeLV!!

2006-07-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
Many of the people here will be able to answer your questions. This isa great board. After the vet walked up to me and told me that Angel tested positive, he said I may want to think about euthanizing her. I said, "Can't we wait and give her the second test?" He said "there probably isn't much point because when a kitten tests positive the results are not likely to change with the second testI consider her not only a carrier, but a spreader!"So, I am looking for a new vet...one that will feel comfortable treating her. Good luck to you and I'm sending prayers your way, also!Thanks,KarenMarissa Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Thanks! Yes, it did seem
 that at least the vet was fairly positive. Told me to try not to worry about it too much. He said about 25% of the time, they "grow out of it", about 25% of the time, they have it all their lives with no affects, about 25% of the time they have it for several years before they start having symptoms, and about 25% of the time they start having symptoms fairly quickly. So I'm hoping for the first (or even second) 25%!!!Thanks for the welcome. I've been so confused and frustrated!!! I hope I'll get some good advice on the list.Thanks again and good luck with Angel!! Sending prayers and positive vibes your way.MJkandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Welcome! You have definitely found the right
 place to ask questions! I am new myself, I started posting about a week and a half ago. Unlike your vet who seemed optimistic, my vet wanted me to have Angel euthanized. I was devastated, until I found this email group. KarenMarissa Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi all. So I'm new to all of this! I recently took in a stray that was living under my boyfriend's house (his mom gave birth there and we found homes for all the kittens...one being mine. Mom still lives there and he feeds her).My family had cats when I was in high school but they were indoor/outdoor (we lived in the country) and I never bonded with them too much. They were mostly my step-mom's pets. I've generally been more of a dog person.   
 But now i have this WONDERFUL, adorable little baby (about 14-15 weeks old) named Slinky. He's a gray and white DSH and the sweetest cat ever. And when I took him to the vet (last weekend...I just got him recently), he tested positive for FeLV. :(The vet said that he had about a 25% chance of "growing out of it" (or fighting it off or being a fals positive or whatever it is that causes cats to test positive as kittens and negative as adults), and about a 25% chance of having it his whole life and not being affected by it. The only "symptom" he's had is that he had an upper resperatory infection about 3 weeks ago. My boyfriend's sister took him to the vet (it was before I got him) and they gave him amoxicillan and eye drops and he seemed to recover pretty quickly. He still sneezes a fair amount, but that's it.So...I brought him home and I'm praying for the best. He
 was kind of lethargic and quiet for a couple days after the vet visit, but I assume that's probably from the trauma and the vaccinations (other than FeLV). He's been pretty much back to his normal self for a few days now. But his mom still has a TON of questions!!! My first thought was to wonder whether vitamin supplements or diet or something might help to boost his immune system and either help him fight off the virus or keep secondary infections at bay. The vet said as long as his diet is sufficient, he doesn't need them, but I'm not sure the vet is the best (I'm also new to the area, so trying to find a vet is a challenge!).I was giving him dry Purina kitten chow (it was all I knew to get) and the vet said that was as good as anything. I don't really believe him though. So I went toa natural pet food store and the owner gave me some canned food and some dry...all
 natural, no grains (innova evo). But he won't eat it. He won't touch the dry food at all! And the canned he'll only eat if it's the only option...and he won't really even eat it if I mix it with the purina. Ugh!I also bought a vitamin powder and something to help his digestive track (which he isn't too crazy about). But I'm a little leary of using those. Some articles I found online said that vitamin C would help him (esp. since he's only eating dry food right now), but others said too much could cause crystals in his urine, etc. Some articles/websites said to only give him canned, others say raw, others say a mixture. Everything contradicts itself What am I supposed to do???I love this little guy so much and I know he's totally dependent on me to make the best decisions for his care. But I don't know what those are!!! I'm doing my best to
 educate myself, but since so much of the information is contradictory, it's hard. Is there anything I can do to help prolong his life? They're going to retest him in about 6 months the vet said. Other than the upper resperatory 

Re: New to the List, Cats, and FeLV!!

2006-07-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
I know it's a long shot, but if anyone knows ofa good, felv friendly vet in Arizona, please let me know! I'm gonna start calling them out of the phone book!! TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:good time to remind everyone to post their vet's names/contact info for newbies needing to find medical care that goes beyond, "euthanize!".www.adopt.bemikitties.comand everyone, add yourself to our frappr map, too!: http://www.frappr.com/felvtalk/(i'm gonna make someone a great secretary someday)MC  --
 MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 
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Re: New to the List, Cats, and FeLV!!

2006-07-28 Thread kandbz_ mom
Thank you for the link!!! There is one on the list that is not too far from me!! I am going to call them and go from there! Thanks again!KarenTenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:http://www.aafponline.org/find_results.php?name=city=Anystate=AZcountry=Anyzipcode=Submit=Submit that's from the American Assn of Feline Practitioners, and while there's no guarantee they're gonna be FeLV-friendly, there's probably a better chance than working with non-cat-specialists!On 7/28/06, kandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I know it's a long shot, but if anyone knows ofa good, felv friendly vet in Arizona, please let me know! I'm gonna start calling them out of the phone book!!   TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote: good time to remind everyone to post their vet's names/contact info for newbies needing to find medical care that goes beyond, "euthanize!".www.adopt.bemikitties.comand everyone, add yourself to our frappr map, too!: http://www.frappr.com/felvtalk/(i'm gonna make someone a great secretary someday)MC  -- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 Do you Yahoo!?Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta. -- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 
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Thanks Everyone!!

2006-07-20 Thread kandbz_ mom
I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone in this support group! It has only been a few days since I found out that Angel tested positive for felv. At first, I had no clue what to do. I'm glad I didn't listen to the vet. I had even founda website where you ask a vet a question and pay $8 for the answer. Two vets had emailed me back and said I either need to have Angel euthanized or give her away. I was heartbroken. Then, I came across your group and I actually feel like I can take care of her and give her what she needs, thanks to all your kind responses. I'm sure in the days to come I will have a bunch more questions. Hope you don't get tired of me!! grin Thanks so much,Karen   
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Re: Our Clack is gone

2006-07-20 Thread kandbz_ mom
I'm sorry to hear your news. I will keep you in my prayers.KarenTim Lyons [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hey everyone,I know it hasn't been that long ago that I reported that we had lost our Miss Kitty to FeLV. Now, not even a month later we've lost Clack. He was 12 years old and I'm pretty sure he was negative. He lived outside with his brother Click.He was acting a bit abnormal yesterday and this morning. I went out to give him some canned food that he dearly loves and he ran off into the woods away from me. When I got home tonight, he was lying on his side under our van with his mouth open panting. I thought he was already gone, but he was still breathing. I rushed him to the vet and they told us that he was not responding to the oxygen, that he had a mass in his chest and that his pupils weren't responding to light. They recommended PTS since they didn't think he would make it overnight.This has happened so suddenly. I'm numb with shock. Clack and his brother, Click, arrivedas small kittens when their mom showed up in our yard. They were all feral, but we managed to tame
 Mama Kitty and Click. We were never able to hold Clack or scratch behind his ears until tonight.I held him and told him that it was OK if he needed to go. We're pretty sure that he waited until we got home and made sure that he was some place we could see him. He could have just gone off into the woods to die.This is never easy. We'rehaving him cremated. Now he's with his mother at Rainbow Bridge. She passed away a few years ago very suddenly. Now Click is left without his brother and Mama.Could you please add Clack to the Candlelight Service as a non positive? He was a black
 kitty with a white spot on his chest.Thanks so much for listening. This group has been there for me a lot in the past 3 years (since I discovered you all after we rescued Miss Kitty  her kittens). 
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I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing
 EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her??  Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
Thanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi there,I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering.You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet.I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen.If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have
 contracted it.Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope.Thanks,Kelley- Original Message -From: kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 amSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The  lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested  positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she  tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I  may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could  wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said  we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does  have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe
 has no symptoms and is  just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats  tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been  tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When  you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely  give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You  would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be  testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are  going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all  three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still  learning about this disease from reading things on the internet.  Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.  Thanks.  __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired
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RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
What types of food do you all recommend? Should I be feeding her dry, canned or both? She eats whatever is put in front of her, but especially likes the canned food. Is IAMS a good brand or should I get something better? Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:You will get more than these responses—you’ve come to a great place w. some very knowledgable people with first hand experience!First off, I think you might consider changing vets to someone who is much more current and familiar with FELV—there is absolutely no reason to euthanize a cat because its FELV+! That’s a very dated protocol! 
   I had 4 cats—one tested pos for FELV when she was 4 and she’d been around the other cats her whole life (2 of the younger ones had come in as kittens). They all tested neg and I just get them a yearly FELV vaccine. They had not received vaccination prior to my Tucson testing pos.Now I have 2 FELV + adult cats and 3 adult neg that just live all together. My vet, who cares for a number of FELV cats in his practice, is not particularly concerned about mixing. It is not an easy disease for an adult cat to get—its not airborne and the virus dies in seconds when exposed to the air! My cats all ate out of the same dishes, groomed each other, shared toys, shared litter boxes.Also, its still possible for kitten to throw off the virus over the coming weeks/months. You may want to wait some time before doing the IFA, the lab test.  
   SO,don’t panic… more folks will give you a whole more details… we’ve all been in your situation and it will work out. Just maybe, start calling other vets to see who in your area is more familiar with FELV…  Chris  [EMAIL PROTECTED]  -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kandbz_ momSent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:42 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVThanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Hi there,I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering.You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet.I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen.If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it.Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope.Thanks,Kelley- Original Message -From: kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006
 10:08 amSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The  lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested  positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she  tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I  may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could  wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said  we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does  have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is  just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats  tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been  tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When  you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely
  give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You  would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be  testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are  going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all  three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still  learning about this disease from reading things on the internet.  Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.  Thanks.  __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around  http://mail.yahoo.com  Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. 
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RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hello! No, actually, her vet told her to wait and get the kitten tested again. What's funny is, I usually do not go to this vet...he was recommended by two of my sisters. He was nice, but didn't want to "waste time" on a kitten that could be sick."Rosenfeldt, Diane" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Ihopetheladywhohasthiskit'sbrotherdoesn'tgotothesamevet. Diane R.  From:
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:45 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVI have been on this list for a few years and I can tell you that you have come to the right place for expert answers about felv. Young kitten can throw off the virus and test negative. If she is healthy now I wouldn't even consider euthanasia. This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged.They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient.  If you have received this   transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission from   your system.  In addition, in order to
 comply with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to   inform you that unless we have specifically stated to the contrary in writing, any advice we   provide in this email or any attachment concerning federal tax issues or submissions is not   intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to avoid federal tax penalties.   
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Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
By any chance, would anyone know of a good vet in AZ?? I live in Mesa, but would be willing to travel to Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, etc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hello and welcome!I'm very glad you listened to your heart and didn't euthanize. Your baby may throw off this virus yet -- and even if she doesn't, chances are that she may have a good quality of life and even live a long time! Some FeVL+ cats never present symptoms. There is a lot you can do to help ensure that she has the best possible chancesfeeding her a healthy diet...staying attentive to how she feels so that you can get her treatment at the first signs of illness...keeping her environment clean and giving her lots of love. With FeVL+ kitties...it's often their susceptibility to other diseases that presents the most problem since the virus tends to weaken their immune system. Keeping her healthy, happy, and stress free will go a long way.We don't always agree on treatments or protocols on this group - but you won't find a nicer bunch of people or anybody who cares more. It's a great place for information and moral support.Glad you found us!elizabeth*Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.*  -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSent: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:01 AMSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVHello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her??  Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks.  __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com   Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free. 
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Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
Sheila, thanks for your message! It gave me a reason to be optimistic! I was reading an article yesterday that Vitamin C supplement may help cats with felv. Is there any truth to that?[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I have been on this list for a few years and I can tell you that you have come to the right place for expert answers about felv. Young kitten can throw off the virus and test negative. If she is healthy now I wouldn't even consider euthanasia. Many of us here have Cats who live long and healthy lives. I have had several who have lived to there teens and some who die young ,but it is always worth it to give them a chance. I don't separate my positives from negatives,but some of us do . I'm not as knowledgeable as some of
 our members all I can tell you is to love her and feed her good quality foodkeep her away from other sick kitties. You'll soon be hearing from others about supplements that will keep her immune system strong. Listen to what they have to say .There are many here who I trust more than my vet,because I have had vets tell me to put to sleep several cats before that have gone on to live long happy lives. My Charlie Brown is 14 years old felv positive and healthy as can be. My vet wanted to put him to sleep years go and I said no and I am so glad I did. Welcome to the group. Sheila in SC 
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Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
Maggie,Thanks so much for your message! By reading all the responses on here, I now know that I made the right decision by not allowing the vet to euthanize Angel. I kept telling my mom how I couldn't live with myself if I allowed a kitten with no symptoms to be killed. Angel is such a sweet kitty...while we were waiting for the vet to come in the room, she jumped in the chair with me and laid on my lap. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement!Karen[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Welcome!  I've only been on this board a little over a month, so I don't have a lot of practical advice to give you. I can tell you that my kitten was diagnosed at 6 months after being sick off and on from the time I got her at 4
 months. The vet believes she contracted it from her mother. I went through a lot of tears and agonizing in the beginning too. At first there were some family members and friends who said I should euthanize Lucy to keep her from endangering her sister Izzie, who was negative at the time,somesaid to separate them,others said I should start her on various drug treatments. Four weeks ago I was told Lucy was days away from death, I just gave her antibiotics, love, and her sister spent lots of time with her, and she bounced back. When Lucy was diagnosed as positive her sister Izzie tested negative but I decided to keep them together. Izzie is now positive, but there is no way to know if the first negative was a false negative or if she actuall y did contract it in the time after I made the decision to keep them together.When Izzie was diagnosed two weeks ago I went through the tears again - with the added guilt of wondering if deciding to keep them
 together was the right decision or not. Last night, when it finally cooled down a bit, my girls spent the eveningtrying a new cat foodwith shrimp, crab, and sardines, thenrunning laps around my place, and then woke me up at 3 am to show me that they had taken the drain capoff the bath tub and dropped four of their toy mice down the pipe - they desparately wanted me to get the mice out for them. In other words, they were kittens being kittens - and while I may have cursed them at 3:00 by 3:01 they had me laughing. What I have come to realize is that there is a ton of information out there and lots of opinions - it is great to hear them all, but to make your own decisions. I stand by my decisions, because I see the way they love each other and love their time together. I truly believe that they would rather be together for a shorter time on this earth than apart for a longer time. So my advice is this,
 collect information, seek advice and opinions, and then make a choice and stick t o it with no regrets or recriminations. I am so glad I didn't euthanize Lucy, so glad I didn't separate them, and so glad they know they can count on me at 3:00 am to rescue their toy mice. I don't know what to expect- they could be gone by a year, or last several more. It is frustrating not knowing, but for now I'm just enjoying their company. Good luck to you and your kitty! Maggie __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
Hi, Nina!Thanks for your message! My name is Karen and my kittens name is Angel. What brand and type of food do you feed your felv cats? I want to make sure I get Angel ona good one that will benefit her.Thanks,KarenNina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Thank Goodness you didn't listen to that vet! How ridiculous is that, to not want to "waste time" on a kitten, that doesn't happen to be showing symptoms, but will most likely be sick sometime down the road?! What exactly did he go to vet school for? I hate to think about vets like that out there, giving antiquated advice to people that might not be as caring as you, who might not follow their heart and start looking for answers. He needs to be educated,
 but for now, you need to find yourself a different vet. Start looking for a board certified Internist that will be versed in anything that you may run up against. Developing a relationship, or at least knowing where you can go, before you need a specialist, will save time and give you some peace of mind. Why was your baby's, (what's her name?), brother tested? Is he sick? Try to make sure whoever adopted the brother and the other kits from the litter know that there are ways to help keep them healthy and that felv is not necessarily the death sentence some still believe it to be. Tell them to join our list!As to your fears for your other cats... They are both adults, and if I'm understanding you correctly, they've both been vaccinated for felv at least once in their lives. They probably are just fine, (quick, say a prayer!). My negs and pos were all mixed in our household for months before we discovered that
 there was felv in the house. Everyone remained together and the negs never turned up pos. Most people don't realize just how prevalent felv is. It's all around us, all the time. Most healthy adult cats either get it and clear it, or don't get it at all. It's kittens, geriatrics, or sickly cats that have a problem with felv because of their weakened or immature immune systems. They're the ones that end up at the vet's and when they don't get better, they are tested for felv. That's probably why some vet's are so pessimistic about it, by the time they discover it, the poor kitty is in dire shape. If I were you, I'd get your other two cats tested, just so you know what you're dealing with. Felv is like aids in that it weakens the immune system and allows other secondary, or "opportunistic" illnesses to take hold. These other diseases, that an otherwise healthy cat would not be as susceptible to, can wreak havoc,
 (they are also more prone to the same things that all of us live in danger of, like cancers). That's why taking an aggressive approach to health care, (don't wait to see if they get better on their own when they are sick), doing your best to eliminate stress, and boosting their immune system with sups and quality food, is so important.Welcome to our group, (what's your name btw?),Ninakandbz_ mom wrote: Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady  I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive.  We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive  for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think  about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the  other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she  came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am
 just  heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever.  I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3  yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't  automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a  "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test  unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease  spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my  other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would  I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case??  I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the  internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.  Thanks. 
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Question about food/feeding

2006-07-19 Thread kandbz_ mom
I'm just wondering what brand of food would be the best to feed Angel. She is 15 weeks old and tested positive for felv. I looked at the Petsmart website but didn't find anything specific. Thanks,Karen 
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