Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner
I'm surprised no one has mentioned an appetite stimulant such as cyproheptadine or mirtazipine. These are awesome tools to help keep a cat eating the top quality foods it needs to rebuild its body. Also don't be afraid of an early feeding tube --if-- the cat's prognosis on the other side of the illness is good. Even with a FELV cat, some illnesses are not a sign that the cat is nearing the end. But adding slow starvation on top of illness is a path to disaster. And a feeding tube can be put in (just takes a few minutes... relatively minor surgery... anesthetia is very short) for $125 at helping hands clinic in Richmond, if u are anywhere near... awesome inexpensive clinic profiled on Good Morning America, etc. Good luck, Laurie Laurie On Sunday, April 22, 2012, Sharyl cline...@yahoo.com wrote: Anna, you've already gotten some good advice. Anemia will make her feel rotten. Treating that with nutrived could help her feel better. Or try Pet-Tinic but also give her some folic acid. I've given anemic kitties NutriVed, folic acid, Super B complex and B-12. Be sure to follow up any med with a syringe of food or water. Make sure she is eating enough food to maintain her body wt. That may mean assist feeding. There is a great yahoo group to help. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-Assisted-Feeding/ You can try some gently warmed meat baby food (no onions or garlic). It is easy to syringe feed. You can check to see if she is dehydrated by checking her gums. If they are slick she is OK. If they are tacky she is dehydrated. That will also make her feel lousy. You can give sub q fluids at home. I buy the fluids by the case from my local pharmacy. The IX sets and Terumo ultra thin wall needles are available on line. Here are some links that will help Sophia Gets Her Subcutaneous (Sub Q) Fluids http://www.tinyurl.com/63max Go here for info on sub q fluid supplies http://www.zzcat.com/CRF/supplies/index.html Hiding doesn't man this is the end. Just that Sylvia isn't feeling well. Do try to get some food into here. Sharyl From: Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 1:25 PM Subject: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner Dear all, I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. I'm under strict instructions to bring her back in if her temp rises or stays where it is. We go back on Wednesday for another round of blood work, to see if the anemia and white blood cell count are improving or getting worse. I'm a mess. I'm so worried; I broke down crying in the vet's office yesterday before the vet even came in to see Sylvia. And poor Sylvia has been hiding under my
Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner
My vet routinely prescribes Cyproheptadine .just ¼ of a pill induces appetite very quickly! I can attest to that! Natalie From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of KG BarnCats Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:48 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner I'm surprised no one has mentioned an appetite stimulant such as cyproheptadine or mirtazipine. These are awesome tools to help keep a cat eating the top quality foods it needs to rebuild its body. Also don't be afraid of an early feeding tube --if-- the cat's prognosis on the other side of the illness is good. Even with a FELV cat, some illnesses are not a sign that the cat is nearing the end. But adding slow starvation on top of illness is a path to disaster. And a feeding tube can be put in (just takes a few minutes... relatively minor surgery... anesthetia is very short) for $125 at helping hands clinic in Richmond, if u are anywhere near... awesome inexpensive clinic profiled on Good Morning America, etc. Good luck, Laurie Laurie On Sunday, April 22, 2012, Sharyl cline...@yahoo.com wrote: Anna, you've already gotten some good advice. Anemia will make her feel rotten. Treating that with nutrived could help her feel better. Or try Pet-Tinic but also give her some folic acid. I've given anemic kitties NutriVed, folic acid, Super B complex and B-12. Be sure to follow up any med with a syringe of food or water. Make sure she is eating enough food to maintain her body wt. That may mean assist feeding. There is a great yahoo group to help. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-Assisted-Feeding/ You can try some gently warmed meat baby food (no onions or garlic). It is easy to syringe feed. You can check to see if she is dehydrated by checking her gums. If they are slick she is OK. If they are tacky she is dehydrated. That will also make her feel lousy. You can give sub q fluids at home. I buy the fluids by the case from my local pharmacy. The IX sets and Terumo ultra thin wall needles are available on line. Here are some links that will help Sophia Gets Her Subcutaneous (Sub Q) Fluids http://www.tinyurl.com/63max Go here for info on sub q fluid supplies http://www.zzcat.com/CRF/supplies/index.html Hiding doesn't man this is the end. Just that Sylvia isn't feeling well. Do try to get some food into here. Sharyl From: Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 1:25 PM Subject: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner Dear all, I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. I'm under
Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner
My advice to you right now is don't give up on her. She has survived with felv for four years. Most cats that can do that have a greater chance of making it. Did you vet check for hemobartonella? Did they find the source of the infection - pneumonia, bacteremia, URI, UTI, etc? Is she on Interferon? or any supplements for immune support like whole body support by standard process or there are multiple chinese herbs for immune support. I have to tell you, I would not give up at this point. As long as there isn't a definitive indication of a bone marrow malignancy or bone marrow failure, you may just be dealing with a treatable illness. I have a felv cat that had been doing well for a few years and then developed diarrhea and was very ill. She was started on interferon alpha and improved. This was before I had her, but I have her medical records I can look up what else they did. Otherwise Laura may be able to help us here as she is familiar with her history (Bella is the cat's name) That was about four years ago. I had her on interferon for about two years after that and I stopped it about two years ago. She's in great shape now. I'll get back to you with the details of what they did for her. I know I have the file here somewhere. Jenny On Sat, Apr 21, 2012 at 12:25 PM, Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.comwrote: Dear all, I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. I'm under strict instructions to bring her back in if her temp rises or stays where it is. We go back on Wednesday for another round of blood work, to see if the anemia and white blood cell count are improving or getting worse. I'm a mess. I'm so worried; I broke down crying in the vet's office yesterday before the vet even came in to see Sylvia. And poor Sylvia has been hiding under my bed since we got home yesterday. She's not interested in cuddles or attention (which is not even a little normal for her-- most of the time, she'd spend her whole evening curled up on my lap if given the chance). She'll come out to eat (she's still interested in treats) and get a drink of water, and then she goes right back under the bed to sleep. I realize that this is instinct...when animals are very sick they have to hide to protect themselves from predators...but she's never been so adamant about being out of sight before this week. Have any of you dealt with this in a FLV+ cat before? Any advice for how to cope? Is there some other remedy I should be giving her (Lysine, pet-tinic, etc) in addition to the antibiotics while she's sick to bolster her immune system? She eats high-quality food to begin with (Wellness CORE and occasionally Wellness
Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner
I have never dealt with this problem before, but she is getting good food and vet care. Will she let you hold her? Even when my guys are sick/especially so, they like to be held close, petted and talked to softly. It seems to comfort them, make them feel secure. I do think this helps in healing. Can you find some treats to coax her into eating more? I have found that mackeral (it stinks more) does the trick. I break the fish into very small pieces and mix with a good amount of hot water (makes it smell even more) and hold them in my lap while they eat. I understand how you feel about her, my first pride and I went thru a lot together and they gave me a lot of comfort when I needed it. You want to be able to do the same for them. I think she will let you know when she is ready to go and you will also. Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com wrote: Dear all, I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. I'm under strict instructions to bring her back in if her temp rises or stays where it is. We go back on Wednesday for another round of blood work, to see if the anemia and white blood cell count are improving or getting worse. I'm a mess. I'm so worried; I broke down crying in the vet's office yesterday before the vet even came in to see Sylvia. And poor Sylvia has been hiding under my bed since we got home yesterday. She's not interested in cuddles or attention (which is not even a little normal for her-- most of the time, she'd spend her whole evening curled up on my lap if given the chance). She'll come out to eat (she's still interested in treats) and get a drink of water, and then she goes right back under the bed to sleep. I realize that this is instinct...when animals are very sick they have to hide to protect themselves from predators...but she's never been so adamant about being out of sight before this week. Have any of you dealt with this in a FLV+ cat before? Any advice for how to cope? Is there some other remedy I should be giving her (Lysine, pet-tinic, etc) in addition to the antibiotics while she's sick to bolster her immune system? She eats high-quality food to begin with (Wellness CORE and occasionally Wellness wet food). Also...how do I know when her quality of life has deteriorated to the point that euthanasia is something to consider? She's not herself now, that's for sure, but she doesn't seem to be in pain, either. When she's been in pain in the past because of her mouth/gums, she's been quite vocal about it. I just don't want her to suffer needlessly. This has been breaking my heart. Sylvia is my first cat as an adult (I'm 25 and in grad school);
Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner
As long as she is still eating, that's a good sign. Has the vet given her Convenia? That's a long-acting antibiotic that seems to keep the level of infection down until the cat's own immune system can cope. You might try a pet vitamin with iron for the anemia. I use Nutrived. It has B-complex and Iron. It brought a rescued FeLv cat back from a skinny, very anemic/high white count stray to a lunatic fatso. Don't give up. If you can, sit on the floor near the bed and pet Sylvia. Talk to her using her name or nicknames that you have given her. From: Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 12:25 PM Subject: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner Dear all, I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. I'm under strict instructions to bring her back in if her temp rises or stays where it is. We go back on Wednesday for another round of blood work, to see if the anemia and white blood cell count are improving or getting worse. I'm a mess. I'm so worried; I broke down crying in the vet's office yesterday before the vet even came in to see Sylvia. And poor Sylvia has been hiding under my bed since we got home yesterday. She's not interested in cuddles or attention (which is not even a little normal for her-- most of the time, she'd spend her whole evening curled up on my lap if given the chance). She'll come out to eat (she's still interested in treats) and get a drink of water, and then she goes right back under the bed to sleep. I realize that this is instinct...when animals are very sick they have to hide to protect themselves from predators...but she's never been so adamant about being out of sight before this week. Have any of you dealt with this in a FLV+ cat before? Any advice for how to cope? Is there some other remedy I should be giving her (Lysine, pet-tinic, etc) in addition to the antibiotics while she's sick to bolster her immune system? She eats high-quality food to begin with (Wellness CORE and occasionally Wellness wet food). Also...how do I know when her quality of life has deteriorated to the point that euthanasia is something to consider? She's not herself now, that's for sure, but she doesn't seem to be in pain, either. When she's been in pain in the past because of her mouth/gums, she's been quite vocal about it. I just don't want her to suffer needlessly. This has been breaking my heart. Sylvia is my first cat as an adult (I'm 25 and in grad school); she's outlived two serious relationships, the whole of my Master's degree work, and a major move. I'm more attached to her
Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner
What were her WBC and HCT numbers? I ask only to understand how anemic she currently is. If she is eating than she still has the desire to live, many cats will stop eating when they have given up. It is a good sign that she is eating, when they are anemic they feel very flu like and many don't eat so I am glad to hear that she is still eating. Tanya From: Lee Evans moonsiste...@yahoo.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 1:57 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner As long as she is still eating, that's a good sign. Has the vet given her Convenia? That's a long-acting antibiotic that seems to keep the level of infection down until the cat's own immune system can cope. You might try a pet vitamin with iron for the anemia. I use Nutrived. It has B-complex and Iron. It brought a rescued FeLv cat back from a skinny, very anemic/high white count stray to a lunatic fatso. Don't give up. If you can, sit on the floor near the bed and pet Sylvia. Talk to her using her name or nicknames that you have given her. From: Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 12:25 PM Subject: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner Dear all, I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. I'm under strict instructions to bring her back in if her temp rises or stays where it is. We go back on Wednesday for another round of blood work, to see if the anemia and white blood cell count are improving or getting worse. I'm a mess. I'm so worried; I broke down crying in the vet's office yesterday before the vet even came in to see Sylvia. And poor Sylvia has been hiding under my bed since we got home yesterday. She's not interested in cuddles or attention (which is not even a little normal for her-- most of the time, she'd spend her whole evening curled up on my lap if given the chance). She'll come out to eat (she's still interested in treats) and get a drink of water, and then she goes right back under the bed to sleep. I realize that this is instinct...when animals are very sick they have to hide to protect themselves from predators...but she's never been so adamant about being out of sight before this week. Have any of you dealt with this in a FLV+ cat before? Any advice for how to cope? Is there some other remedy I should be giving her (Lysine, pet-tinic, etc) in addition to the antibiotics while she's sick to bolster her immune system? She eats high-quality food to begin with (Wellness CORE
Re: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner
Hi, I am new to the list and just learning about FELK. I lost my four year old cat, Daisy to leukemia in December and then found out that one of my five cats tested positive for the virus shortly after. When my diabetic/renal cat was inappetent, I busted out pieces of a plain McDonald's hamburger, lunchmeat, cheese, tuna, any smelly cat food. fish flakes, sprinkled Fortiflora on the food, plain meat baby food and also tried boiled chicken. I am so sorry that you are dealing with all of this. Best of luck. Holly -Original Message- From: Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com To: felvtalk felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sat, Apr 21, 2012 10:26 am Subject: [Felvtalk] sick FLV+ kitty, worried owner Dear all, I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. I'm under strict instructions to bring her back in if her temp rises or stays where it is. We go back on Wednesday for another round of blood work, to see if the anemia and white blood cell count are improving or getting worse. I'm a mess. I'm so worried; I broke down crying in the vet's office yesterday before the vet even came in to see Sylvia. And poor Sylvia has been hiding under my bed since we got home yesterday. She's not interested in cuddles or attention (which is not even a little normal for her-- most of the time, she'd spend her whole evening curled up on my lap if given the chance). She'll come out to eat (she's still interested in treats) and get a drink of water, and then she goes right back under the bed to sleep. I realize that this is instinct...when animals are very sick they have to hide to protect themselves from predators...but she's never been so adamant about being out of sight before this week. Have any of you dealt with this in a FLV+ cat before? Any advice for how to cope? Is there some other remedy I should be giving her (Lysine, pet-tinic, etc) in addition to the antibiotics while she's sick to bolster her immune system? She eats high-quality food to begin with (Wellness CORE and occasionally Wellness wet food). Also...how do I know when her quality of life has deteriorated to the point that euthanasia is something to consider? She's not herself now, that's for sure, but she doesn't seem to be in pain, either. When she's been in pain in the past because of her mouth/gums, she's been quite vocal about it. I just don't want her to suffer needlessly. This has been breaking my heart. Sylvia is my first cat as an adult (I'm 25 and in grad school); she's outlived two serious relationships, the whole of my Master's degree work, and a major move. I'm more attached to her than I've ever been to an animal
