Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
When I called they said they tested for the parasites that cause the hemo. They didn't tell me the name of the test. I looked at the paperwork and it says they did a Hematocrit (PCV) and Complete Blood Count (CBC). All of these tests and information is new to me because my last vet gave up on my FeLV+ kitties in October when they tested positive. Not sure what all of this means for my babies but we go back on Wednesday and I plan on asking about this again. Thank you do much for your help and info. - Original Message From: Belinda Sauro To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Mon, March 22, 2010 3:31:10 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic The hemobartonella test is very, very hard to get a positive result on, it has to be taken at the precise moment the bugs are acting up or it will give a negative result. I know more than one cat that was positive but tested negative 4 or 5 times before they finally caught it. Those cats that were put on doxy did well, those that weren't some died. I will always put a cat that is anemic for an unknown reason on doxy to be on the safe side, especially a positive cat ... just my opinion but to me it isn't worth taking the chance of losing my furkid to something that is treatable. How is haemobartonellosis diagnosed? Sometimes the organism can be seen inside cells on a blood smear. To find them, a small drop of blood is spread over a microscope slide, stained and examined under the microscope. The number of organisms in the bloodstream can fluctuate dramatically. *There can be many observed in one sample, and a sample taken two hours later may reveal none.* A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood test to detect this hemotropic mycoplasma is available. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2102&aid=293 -- 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 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
The hemobartonella test is very, very hard to get a positive result on, it has to be taken at the precise moment the bugs are acting up or it will give a negative result. I know more than one cat that was positive but tested negative 4 or 5 times before they finally caught it. Those cats that were put on doxy did well, those that weren't some died. I will always put a cat that is anemic for an unknown reason on doxy to be on the safe side, especially a positive cat ... just my opinion but to me it isn't worth taking the chance of losing my furkid to something that is treatable. How is haemobartonellosis diagnosed? Sometimes the organism can be seen inside cells on a blood smear. To find them, a small drop of blood is spread over a microscope slide, stained and examined under the microscope. The number of organisms in the bloodstream can fluctuate dramatically. *There can be many observed in one sample, and a sample taken two hours later may reveal none.* A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood test to detect this hemotropic mycoplasma is available. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2102&aid=293 -- 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] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
Right now they are both on the pred steroids. I called the vet today and she said they were both negative for the hemobartonella. So when she orignally put Brillo on doxy for a day it was before she got the negative test result for the hemo and had me take him off because of that result and because he was throwing it up. - Original Message From: Belinda Sauro To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Mon, March 22, 2010 11:35:24 AM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic Doxy is one of the best drugs for a kitty with possible hemobartonella which positive kitties seem very susceptible to. There are other drugs in the tetrocycline family but doxy is the one usually used. There is another one that is used, it starts with an *I*, I can't remember the name of it but it is stronger for kitties that don't respond to doxy or may have a problem with it. -- 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 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
My Kong has nonregen anemia and the FeLV has spread to his bone marrow. He is 3, and was diagnosed about 6 months ago. When I first took him to the vet, his rbc count was 7%. He had two blood transfusions, which helped immensely. Depending upon what your finances are like, maybe you could check into a transfusion? After that, he was put on pred and interferon (to boost his immune system). Today his rbc counts are in the normal range for a healthy cat. Don't give up. I hate when vets act like this particular variety of FeLV is an automatic death sentence. You've gotten some great ideas from the other posters who have dealt with this as well. I hope you can find a vet who is willing to try different things to save your babies. Good luck, Ashley ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
PS. Doxy tastes bad so you have to make sure they don't get a taste of it or they will be impossible to pill. It took me a while to get the hang of pilling my furkids, Fred was really bad and hard to pill, but one day I just stopped thought about how I have seen the vet do (always so easy without any problems), and pictured in my head how they hold the kitties head with the palm of their hand pretty much covering the kitties top of the head and eyes and with their thumb and forefinger one at each corner of the kitties mouth and with the other hand with the pill between the thumb and forefinger use the middle finger to flip the chin down, put the pill way back in the mouth and close the mouth and gently blow on their face, they will swallow. Of course all of this is done very quickly. Once I got that down in my head I have never had any problems pilling any cat, mine or anyone else's. -- 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] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
Doxy is one of the best drugs for a kitty with possible hemobartonella which positive kitties seem very susceptible to. There are other drugs in the tetrocycline family but doxy is the one usually used. There is another one that is used, it starts with an *I*, I can't remember the name of it but it is stronger for kitties that don't respond to doxy or may have a problem with it. -- 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] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
All kidney issue cats that become anemic are non regenerative and get epogen, it saves their lives. I know he isn't a kidney issues kitty but non regenerative is non regenerative!! -- 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] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
I would consider trying pred and doxy too. My cat is nonregenerative (has been since at least Sept). His HCT isn't that low but while trying to find out why he was anemic, he did test positive for hemobart. I had lost a cat to anemia a few months before. He was completely fine and then crashed suddenly (started eating litter). I tried to save him but he went so quickly. At that time, I didn't know to start pred and doxy. We had done bloodwork every 6 months routinely and it never showed on a smear. My vet thought that was extremely unlikely. I will always wonder if I could have saved Maverick if I had given him a transfusion along with pred and doxy but I just didn't know what I know now. I still feel that all happened to teach me something. I tested every cat in the house and all my positives except one tested positive, were treated, retested and are all negative now. They also had routine bloodwork every since months and not one had ever shown hemobart on a smear. I know my experience with anemia in kittens born with leukemia hasn't been very good but I had kittens early on and didn't know what I know now. I also always wonder if I could have saved any of them if I'd treated for hemobart. My understanding is that the type of hemobart my cats had is closely linked to the progession of leukemia. I honestly think if we hadn't treated my cats hemobart, I would have lost him like every other cat I lost to anemia. I will probably put every positive that ever becomes anemic on both meds now while trying to rule out other causes. Sending positive thoughts for Brillo and Desmond. Amy --- On Mon, 3/22/10, Crystal Proper wrote: > From: Crystal Proper > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Monday, March 22, 2010, 12:27 AM > She originally had Brillo on it for > the first day 3 weeks ago. She had him stop because he > threw it up. She also told me since it turned out to be > non reg it wouldn't make a difference...I will call tomorrow > and double check. She didn't mention trying it for > Desmond...I will ask about him tomorrow when I call > tomorrow. Thank you. > > > > - Original Message > From: Belinda Sauro > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Sent: Mon, March 22, 2010 12:12:11 AM > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic > > Has both of them been put on prenisolone and doxocycline? > When my Bailey was anemic he was put on epogen and his > anemia resolved, his bone marrow aspirate showed the virus > in his bone marrow but the epogen brought his HCT from a low > of 15% to 40% in about 6 weeks. Most vets are scared to > death to use it so don't be surprised if you get resistance > ... I am almost afraid and tired of repeating my success > with it because so many vets seem terrified of the idea of > using it and I see cat after cat die because of it. But I > promised Bailey I would, and in his honor I will continue to > try to save every furkid I can with his story so I plug on > if it doesn't work the results are the same, your > furkid will die, if it does work ... > > -- > 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 > > > > > > > ___ > 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] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
She originally had Brillo on it for the first day 3 weeks ago. She had him stop because he threw it up. She also told me since it turned out to be non reg it wouldn't make a difference...I will call tomorrow and double check. She didn't mention trying it for Desmond...I will ask about him tomorrow when I call tomorrow. Thank you. - Original Message From: Belinda Sauro To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Mon, March 22, 2010 12:12:11 AM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic Has both of them been put on prenisolone and doxocycline? When my Bailey was anemic he was put on epogen and his anemia resolved, his bone marrow aspirate showed the virus in his bone marrow but the epogen brought his HCT from a low of 15% to 40% in about 6 weeks. Most vets are scared to death to use it so don't be surprised if you get resistance ... I am almost afraid and tired of repeating my success with it because so many vets seem terrified of the idea of using it and I see cat after cat die because of it. But I promised Bailey I would, and in his honor I will continue to try to save every furkid I can with his story so I plug on if it doesn't work the results are the same, your furkid will die, if it does work ... -- 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 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
Has both of them been put on prenisolone and doxocycline? When my Bailey was anemic he was put on epogen and his anemia resolved, his bone marrow aspirate showed the virus in his bone marrow but the epogen brought his HCT from a low of 15% to 40% in about 6 weeks. Most vets are scared to death to use it so don't be surprised if you get resistance ... I am almost afraid and tired of repeating my success with it because so many vets seem terrified of the idea of using it and I see cat after cat die because of it. But I promised Bailey I would, and in his honor I will continue to try to save every furkid I can with his story so I plug on if it doesn't work the results are the same, your furkid will die, if it does work ... -- 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
[Felvtalk] Brillo and Desmond Are Anemic
Hi everyone...haven't posted on her since I lost Nibbler in November...his brothers Brillo and Desmond are now both anemic. My boys are both about 8 months now and were born with FeLV. 3 weeks ago I noticed Brillo eating his litter and I checked his gums and they were pale. Took him to the vet and his rbc count was down to 12%. She started him on steroids and the following week it jumped upto 18%. I had hope. Last week his count fell down to 9% and she said he only had a week or two left to live. Its non regenerative anemia and she said the FeLV has spread to his bone marrow. He was doing so well and then it came out of nowhere. She's having me take him in on Wednesday to see if its "time"...I am heartbroken. He has been losing about 4 ounces of weight a week because he lost his appetite even though she started him on meds a week and a half ago to increase his appetite but they don't seem to be working. He still purrs everytime hes touched and jumps onto the window perch and onto our king bed to sleep on my lap. On top of all this, I noticed his brother Desmond licking the window last week and I checked his gums and they were a little pale. I took him to the vet and his rbc was only 12%. His bloodwork came back and his anemia is regenerative (the opposite of Brillo) plus he has a good appetite and weighs about 2 1/2 lbs more then Brillo. She also started him on steroids. I take him in on Wednesday to have his rbc rechecked. I am so afraid she is going to tell me my baby Brillo needs pts. When she told me he only had 1-2 weeks left my heart fell to my stomach...I'm still not over his twin Nibbler's passing...I have never bonded with any other pets like I have with my FeLV+ kitties Nibbler, Brillo and Desmond. ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
