Re: [Felvtalk] Maggie's not acting normal, advice is appreciated
My Bailey didn't do well on the interferon either, he was lethargic and didn't eat well, he also was on the 7 on, 7 off, I finally stopped using it and he was fine for years until he passed from pancreatic cancer. Bailey was positive at 5 months of age when he found me, so pretty young too. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... http://bemikitties.com http://BelindaSauro.com ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Maggie's not acting normal, advice is appreciated
Have you thought about making her some chicken soup? Needless to say, nothing canned but a few pieces of chicken stewed/crockpoted (my favorite for Copper and Thomas) with maybe a little extra salt to make her thirsty? On Nov 15, 2009, at 6:33 PM, TANYA NOE wrote: Jenny, Thanks, Maggie is to get the interferon 7 days on and 7 days off. She is on her 3rd day off. I have gotten her to eat some today but she still hasn't had anything to drink. I have given her wet food off and on all day as opposed to her dry. Wet is usually a small amount daily but I figured it has more moisture in it so... I checked out her paw this am. No sores I can see, no swollen spots, no hot areas, though she did seem tender where her toes attach. I'm torn. Don't want her to get dehydrated. Last time she was sick we almost lost her and I am nowhere near ready for that. I know we decided her quality was more important than her quantity but she is still my baby and I love her. Anyway thanks again. Tanya --- On Sun, 11/15/09, jbero tds.net wrote: From: jbero tds.net Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Maggie's not acting normal, advice is appreciated To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 6:22 PM Hello Tanya, I can't blaim you for being nervous about odd behavior in a felv cat. Interferon can cause side effects in humans that can actually lead to cessation of treatment, they can include gastrointestinal disturbances, depression, sleep disturbances, irritability, and flu like symptoms. These are usually more mild in cats. Interferon is sometimes given three days on and three days off which can help with these side effects. The felv cat that I treatment with interferon has very mild change in appetite and energy on the days she gets the medication. With the limp, I would be concerned about infection. Inspect the paw to see if there are any swollen areas, red areas, hot areas or extremely sensitive areas. If so there is likely are infection. Usually these are fairly easly to treat with irrigation of the area and then antibiotics. Would need to see the vet for irrigation. Good luck, Jenny On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 3:04 PM, TANYA NOE wrote: Hello all, my Maggie now 1 year 5 months old has been Felv+ since birth. She is the kitten we adopted after testing her for everything under the sun to protect our 13 year old Sasha. She later became symptomatic (gingivitis, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes) and was retested and was positive. Anyway we kept her and her symptoms resolved except for the swollen lymph nodes. She has also tested positive on the IFA. Early spring she had an episode where she began hiding for a couple days, quit eating, and then began abdominal breathing. Turned out the pleural sacs around her lungs were full of fluid. She was given lasix and in a day was herself. Since then she has been a relatively healthy, happy kitty. 3 weeks ago I took her and her sister in for vaccines, exams, and blood work. They had a hard time getting blood from her (couldn't hit the vein) and she got quite stressed. The blood work was perfect and she seemed fine after we got home. We started her on Interferon a week ago. Now suddenly the last week she has been sleeping all the time under blankets (she doesn't like being covered up), not eating much (very odd for her as she is a food hound and will eat constantly if you let her), and not drinking much (she usually drinks and bathes in the pet fountain several times a day). Her temp is normal. Thursday we noticed she now is holding up her left front paw. She walks on it and the limp is mild. Any ideas? Has anyone seen any sides effects with interferon? Would it make her feel bad? I'm hesitant to run her to the Dr's. and create further stress but am really worried about her. These guys go downhill so fast sometimes I don't want to wait either. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Tanya ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Maggie's not acting normal, advice is appreciated
Jenny, Thanks, Maggie is to get the interferon 7 days on and 7 days off. She is on her 3rd day off. I have gotten her to eat some today but she still hasn't had anything to drink. I have given her wet food off and on all day as opposed to her dry. Wet is usually a small amount daily but I figured it has more moisture in it so... I checked out her paw this am. No sores I can see, no swollen spots, no hot areas, though she did seem tender where her toes attach. I'm torn. Don't want her to get dehydrated. Last time she was sick we almost lost her and I am nowhere near ready for that. I know we decided her quality was more important than her quantity but she is still my baby and I love her. Anyway thanks again. Tanya --- On Sun, 11/15/09, jbero tds.net wrote: > From: jbero tds.net > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Maggie's not acting normal, advice is appreciated > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 6:22 PM > Hello Tanya, > I can't blaim you for being nervous about odd behavior in a > felv cat. > Interferon can cause side effects in humans that can > actually lead to > cessation of treatment, they can include gastrointestinal > disturbances, > depression, sleep disturbances, irritability, and flu like > symptoms. These > are usually more mild in cats. Interferon is > sometimes given three days on > and three days off which can help with these side effects. > > The felv cat that I treatment with interferon has very mild > change in > appetite and energy on the days she gets the medication. > > With the limp, I would be concerned about infection. > Inspect the paw to see > if there are any swollen areas, red areas, hot areas or > extremely sensitive > areas. If so there is likely are infection. > Usually these are fairly easly > to treat with irrigation of the area and then > antibiotics. Would need to > see the vet for irrigation. > > Good luck, > > Jenny > > On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 3:04 PM, TANYA NOE wrote: > > > Hello all, my Maggie now 1 > year 5 months old has been Felv+ since > > birth. She is the kitten we adopted after testing her > for everything under > > the sun to protect our 13 year old Sasha. She later > became symptomatic > > (gingivitis, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes) > and was retested and > > was positive. Anyway we kept her and her symptoms > resolved except for the > > swollen lymph nodes. She has also tested positive on > the IFA. > > Early spring she had an > episode where she began hiding for a couple > > days, quit eating, and then began abdominal breathing. > Turned out the > > pleural sacs around her lungs were full of fluid. She > was given lasix and in > > a day was herself. Since then she has been a > relatively healthy, happy > > kitty. > > 3 weeks ago I took her and her > sister in for vaccines, exams, and blood > > work. They had a hard time getting blood from her > (couldn't hit the vein) > > and she got quite stressed. The blood work was perfect > and she seemed fine > > after we got home. We started her on Interferon a week > ago. Now suddenly the > > last week she has been sleeping all the time under > blankets (she doesn't > > like being covered up), not eating much (very odd for > her as she is a food > > hound and will eat constantly if you let her), and not > drinking much (she > > usually drinks and bathes in the pet fountain several > times a day). Her temp > > is normal. Thursday we noticed she now is holding up > her left front paw. She > > walks on it and the limp is mild. > > Any ideas? Has anyone seen any > sides effects with interferon? Would it > > make her feel bad? I'm hesitant to run her to the > Dr's. and create further > > stress but am really worried about her. These guys go > downhill so fast > > sometimes I don't want to wait either. Any advice > would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Tanya > > > > > > > > > > ___ > > Felvtalk mailing list > > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > ___ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Maggie's not acting normal, advice is appreciated
Hello Tanya, I can't blaim you for being nervous about odd behavior in a felv cat. Interferon can cause side effects in humans that can actually lead to cessation of treatment, they can include gastrointestinal disturbances, depression, sleep disturbances, irritability, and flu like symptoms. These are usually more mild in cats. Interferon is sometimes given three days on and three days off which can help with these side effects. The felv cat that I treatment with interferon has very mild change in appetite and energy on the days she gets the medication. With the limp, I would be concerned about infection. Inspect the paw to see if there are any swollen areas, red areas, hot areas or extremely sensitive areas. If so there is likely are infection. Usually these are fairly easly to treat with irrigation of the area and then antibiotics. Would need to see the vet for irrigation. Good luck, Jenny On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 3:04 PM, TANYA NOE wrote: > Hello all, my Maggie now 1 year 5 months old has been Felv+ since > birth. She is the kitten we adopted after testing her for everything under > the sun to protect our 13 year old Sasha. She later became symptomatic > (gingivitis, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes) and was retested and > was positive. Anyway we kept her and her symptoms resolved except for the > swollen lymph nodes. She has also tested positive on the IFA. > Early spring she had an episode where she began hiding for a couple > days, quit eating, and then began abdominal breathing. Turned out the > pleural sacs around her lungs were full of fluid. She was given lasix and in > a day was herself. Since then she has been a relatively healthy, happy > kitty. > 3 weeks ago I took her and her sister in for vaccines, exams, and blood > work. They had a hard time getting blood from her (couldn't hit the vein) > and she got quite stressed. The blood work was perfect and she seemed fine > after we got home. We started her on Interferon a week ago. Now suddenly the > last week she has been sleeping all the time under blankets (she doesn't > like being covered up), not eating much (very odd for her as she is a food > hound and will eat constantly if you let her), and not drinking much (she > usually drinks and bathes in the pet fountain several times a day). Her temp > is normal. Thursday we noticed she now is holding up her left front paw. She > walks on it and the limp is mild. > Any ideas? Has anyone seen any sides effects with interferon? Would it > make her feel bad? I'm hesitant to run her to the Dr's. and create further > stress but am really worried about her. These guys go downhill so fast > sometimes I don't want to wait either. Any advice would be appreciated. > Thanks, > Tanya > > > > > ___ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Maggie's not acting normal, advice is appreciated
Tanya, I hope Maggie feels better really soon. I'm guessing that you're giving her low-dose interferon alpha? If that's the case, there doesn't *seem* to be a great possibility for side effects. When I started Ember on it, my vet told me that she might get nauseous, but that a reaction like that was rare. He said we'd have to re-evaluate our options if that happened. Thankfully, it didn't. I hope that someone else on the list can give you a better idea. Maggie will be in my thoughts and prayers. Lance On Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:04 -0800, "TANYA NOE" wrote: > Hello all, my Maggie now 1 year 5 months old has been Felv+ since > birth. She is the kitten we adopted after testing her for everything > under the sun to protect our 13 year old Sasha. She later became > symptomatic (gingivitis, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes) > and was retested and was positive. Anyway we kept her and her > symptoms resolved except for the swollen lymph nodes. She has also > tested positive on the IFA. > Early spring she had an episode where she began hiding for a couple > days, quit eating, and then began abdominal breathing. Turned out > the pleural sacs around her lungs were full of fluid. She was given > lasix and in a day was herself. Since then she has been a relatively > healthy, happy kitty. > 3 weeks ago I took her and her sister in for vaccines, exams, and > blood work. They had a hard time getting blood from her (couldn't > hit the vein) and she got quite stressed. The blood work was perfect > and she seemed fine after we got home. We started her on Interferon > a week ago. Now suddenly the last week she has been sleeping all the > time under blankets (she doesn't like being covered up), not eating > much (very odd for her as she is a food hound and will eat > constantly if you let her), and not drinking much (she usually > drinks and bathes in the pet fountain several times a day). Her temp > is normal. Thursday we noticed she now is holding up her left front > paw. She walks on it and the limp is mild. > Any ideas? Has anyone seen any sides effects with interferon? Would > it make her feel bad? I'm hesitant to run her to the Dr's. and > create further stress but am really worried about her. These guys go > downhill so fast sometimes I don't want to wait either. Any advice > would be appreciated. > Thanks, > Tanya > > > > > ___ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org -- Lance Linimon lini...@fastmail.fm ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
