Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
Hi there, Sounds like you are doing and have so much to help your little guy. I was just curious to know if they have done a pcr to determine if there is a mycoplasma? I know you are treating presumptively with Doxy for this, but it would be good to know. My guy, Rumi had a pcv of 8 three days after we got him from the SPCA - he did have a mycoplasma and was also diagnosed with felv and fiv as well as immune mediated hymoltic anemia. He is still with us 2 + years latter. We gave him doxy, 10 mg of prednislone a day and a gastro protectant. His PCV climbed very slowly over the course of 3 weeks. The transfusions were necessary even though I remember feeling like we were pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it. We crossed our fingers and prayed that the doxy and pred would eventually seal up the hole. We started LTCI a year latter (wish I had started sooner) when he went IFA (in the bone marrow) positive. I live in Canada and the internists we were working with were very negative about LTCI and had me sign a statement acknowledging that they did not recommend using it.6 months latter we had him tested again and he was IFA negative!!! I have used Dr. Donna Spector as a consultant . She is extremely competent - consults with upwards of (40 vets a day) and she recommended the LTCI. You can check out her website - she will look at all the medical records, do a phone consult with you and also talk to/make recommendations to your vet. I find her to be a wonderful combination of very sharp and compassionate as well as affordable. She has often picked up on things that other vets have missed and I continue to run lab results by her Terry Beardsly, director and discoverer of LTCI is also very approachable. He has lots of documented cases of cats responding very quickly in terms of PCV numbers ( in a couple of days). Perhaps you can give him a call at Tcyte (800 483-2104 ext 88) and get his recommendations. His wife Gale does the ordering end of things and they have shipped to my vet same day. I kind of figure at this point you don't have a lot to lose. Hope this is helpful and I will keep you in my thoughts, Sally On Friday, February 27, 2015 3:01 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ 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] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
I'd just like everyone to know how much your responses have meant to me and my sick little boy. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and knowledge. The second transfusion barely made a dent in his HCT and now I come to learn that his platelet count is abysmally low. No one is feeling very positive about his chances for recovery, so we're mostly focusing on palliative care and holistic treatment at this time. He gave me a very eloquent Look and lengthy plaintive meow right after he got home from the hospital that clearly said, Mom, please don't put me through that again. I want his final days to be about love and comfort, not stress and needles, so we aren't going to try a third transfusion. He is starting to feel the illness now, spends most of the day sleeping, still has a good appetite and takes interest in the view from his perches. He's spending more time cuddling up with me; I don't know if it's because he knows now that he's unwell or he's trying to comfort mom. I try to hold it together and send peaceful vibes to him, but sometimes my emotions get the better of me. Condolences to everyone who's lost a kitty (or kitties) to this horrible disease. On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
Sally, I think I saw your post to a LTCI thread on thecatsite.com. I recall the cat's name, Rumi, because that's my boy's name :-) He wasn't tested for myco and we are doing the doxy course just in case, so hopefully that helps the situation if he's infected. The difference I see in our Rumis is that mine not only has the immune mediated response, his bone marrow isn't producing enough red blood cells. I'm not sure the LTCI can bring him back from this, as much as I wish I was wrong about that. His platelet count is so very low, as well, and I've been advised to watch him closely for signs of hemorrhaging, which can be brought on by just about anything at this point. Everything I've read indicates that LTCI will buy maybe a few more months if the condition is severe. Not sure if your Rumi was infected as a kitten or adult, but age of onset dramatically impacts odds of recovery. My guy was born with it. I've started looking into Eastern medicine to help promote healthy bone marrow function. Not sure if it can help, but I doubt it can hurt. And maybe, just maybe, if meds and holistic therapies start to make a difference, it might be worth trying the LTCI. At this point I need some evidence, no matter how slight, that his body is capable of healing. On Sun, Mar 1, 2015 at 7:56 PM, Sally Dwyer sallyldw...@yahoo.ca wrote: Hi there, Sounds like you are doing and have so much to help your little guy. I was just curious to know if they have done a pcr to determine if there is a mycoplasma? I know you are treating presumptively with Doxy for this, but it would be good to know. My guy, Rumi had a pcv of 8 three days after we got him from the SPCA - he did have a mycoplasma and was also diagnosed with felv and fiv as well as immune mediated hymoltic anemia. He is still with us 2 + years latter. We gave him doxy, 10 mg of prednislone a day and a gastro protectant. His PCV climbed very slowly over the course of 3 weeks. The transfusions were necessary even though I remember feeling like we were pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it. We crossed our fingers and prayed that the doxy and pred would eventually seal up the hole. We started LTCI a year latter (wish I had started sooner) when he went IFA (in the bone marrow) positive. I live in Canada and the internists we were working with were very negative about LTCI and had me sign a statement acknowledging that they did not recommend using it.6 months latter we had him tested again and he was IFA negative!!! I have used Dr. Donna Spector as a consultant . She is extremely competent - consults with upwards of (40 vets a day) and she recommended the LTCI. You can check out her website - she will look at all the medical records, do a phone consult with you and also talk to/make recommendations to your vet. I find her to be a wonderful combination of very sharp and compassionate as well as affordable. She has often picked up on things that other vets have missed and I continue to run lab results by her Terry Beardsly, director and discoverer of LTCI is also very approachable. He has lots of documented cases of cats responding very quickly in terms of PCV numbers ( in a couple of days). Perhaps you can give him a call at Tcyte (800 483-2104 ext 88) and get his recommendations. His wife Gale does the ordering end of things and they have shipped to my vet same day. I kind of figure at this point you don't have a lot to lose. Hope this is helpful and I will keep you in my thoughts, Sally On Friday, February 27, 2015 3:01 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
Hi, No, Bailey didn't have any kidney issues, we strongly suspected he had cancer but couldn't get a conclusive diagnosis and without knowing what type of cancer we couldn't treat him for it (as I said in my previous email, turns out he had pancreatic cancer), I truly believe he had untreated pancreatitis that turned into cancer. He became anemic during that time and was down to an HCT of 15%, by the time I got the epogen he was down to 12%, while taking the epogen his HCT went down to 10% but then started to go up. We got it up to 25%, 26% and maintained it there. Epogen is not cheap but it was well worth it. I had used procrit on my CRF kitty Fred, because at the time epogen wasn't available and we couldn't wait. He lived with CRF for 4 years and I lost him in the end at 18 years old to heart failure. Four years of fluids everyday finally caught up to him. My vet didn't think it would help either but what did we have to lose, that was one thing about her I loved, she was very willing to work with me, I researched my butt off and I am sure she got tired of hearing me say I found this on the internet and then ask her if we could try it. She almost always let me try what I had found unless she really thought it would be harmful, I think she only talked me out of something once. She is the reason we live in the town that we live in. Unfortunately she is no longer practicing here and I miss her so much, she was one of a kind, best vet ever!! I had Bailey who was positive and at one time 7 other kitties, all negative. None of the others ever became positive, they ate, slept, played and on occasion had spats together, she knew our situation and living arrangements and was fine with it. The negatives were all vaccinated and tested for the first 3 years, always negative, Bailey always positive. I lost my little Bailey in 2006. He is the last positive I've had, I had 4 positives in the 80's, long before Bailey joined the family. Back when not much was know or talked about FeLV, I had never heard of it when my guys were tested and came up positive. One of my positives back then turned negative and remained negative for the remainder of her life. I lost the other 3 to cancer and anemia, my then vet had not recommended a transfusion or anything when Frankie was checked and his HTC was 6%, he passed at home that night, I don't think she had a clue what to do for him. I learned more about FeLV then I ever wanted to know after that ... On 2/27/2015 1:26 PM, N. E. Juskowich wrote: Belinda, Was Bailey diagnosed with kidney disease or did his bloodwork indicate that anything was amiss with his kidneys? I did come across Epogen in my research, but the doctor overseeing his care following the first transfusion insisted it's only for anemia resulting from renal disease and they wouldn't administer it to him because it could potentially cause a reaction. Not sure if I can convince a different doctor to try it, but I am curious as to whether or not it could work in cats with perfectly functioning kidneys. Very sorry for your loss, btw. What a horrible disease this is. On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:41 PM, Belinda ma...@bemikitties.com mailto:ma...@bemikitties.com wrote: When my Bailey was anemic and yes it was non regenerative anemia, we tried Epogen, it kept his HCT within normal range, I have also used Procrit, when my CRF kitty was anemic. My vet didn't think it would do any good but I figured what did we have to lose except his life he lived for months until the cancer we could diagnose took him. We knew he had cancer but non of the tests or ultra sounds gave us a definitive diagnosis. After he passed my vet did a necropsy and he had pancreatic cancer which I suspected because he didn't want to eat and sometimes his tube feedings seemed to bother him. There is also something called Eprex, which I have not heard of or used. On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com mailto:nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
Looks like I got Bailey's anemia numbers all wrong (it's been a while and I'm getting old :) ), here is Bailey's story if you'd like to see it: http://felvpositivefelines.org/bailey.shtml On 2/27/2015 1:26 PM, N. E. Juskowich wrote: Belinda, Was Bailey diagnosed with kidney disease or did his bloodwork indicate that anything was amiss with his kidneys? I did come across Epogen in my research, but the doctor overseeing his care following the first transfusion insisted it's only for anemia resulting from renal disease and they wouldn't administer it to him because it could potentially cause a reaction. Not sure if I can convince a different doctor to try it, but I am curious as to whether or not it could work in cats with perfectly functioning kidneys. Very sorry for your loss, btw. What a horrible disease this is. On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:41 PM, Belinda ma...@bemikitties.com mailto:ma...@bemikitties.com wrote: When my Bailey was anemic and yes it was non regenerative anemia, we tried Epogen, it kept his HCT within normal range, I have also used Procrit, when my CRF kitty was anemic. My vet didn't think it would do any good but I figured what did we have to lose except his life he lived for months until the cancer we could diagnose took him. We knew he had cancer but non of the tests or ultra sounds gave us a definitive diagnosis. After he passed my vet did a necropsy and he had pancreatic cancer which I suspected because he didn't want to eat and sometimes his tube feedings seemed to bother him. There is also something called Eprex, which I have not heard of or used. On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com mailto:nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org mailto:Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org mailto:Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ... http://MyFundit.com/site http://FreeAnimalRescueWebsite.org http://HostDesign4U.com ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org mailto:Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
PS. Bailey never had a reaction to epogen, it can happen, but if his HCT doesn't turn around and keeps going down, he will die so when you look at it that way, you have nothing to lose and may be able to save his life. If you do find a vet willing to try it, don't be discouraged and stop it if his HCT goes down, most vets freak, thinking they are having a reaction to it, but Baileys initially went down but then started going up. I will pray for your little guy, you know him best and will make the best decision for him, that's all any of us can do! On 2/27/2015 1:26 PM, N. E. Juskowich wrote: Belinda, Was Bailey diagnosed with kidney disease or did his bloodwork indicate that anything was amiss with his kidneys? I did come across Epogen in my research, but the doctor overseeing his care following the first transfusion insisted it's only for anemia resulting from renal disease and they wouldn't administer it to him because it could potentially cause a reaction. Not sure if I can convince a different doctor to try it, but I am curious as to whether or not it could work in cats with perfectly functioning kidneys. Very sorry for your loss, btw. What a horrible disease this is. On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:41 PM, Belinda ma...@bemikitties.com mailto:ma...@bemikitties.com wrote: When my Bailey was anemic and yes it was non regenerative anemia, we tried Epogen, it kept his HCT within normal range, I have also used Procrit, when my CRF kitty was anemic. My vet didn't think it would do any good but I figured what did we have to lose except his life he lived for months until the cancer we could diagnose took him. We knew he had cancer but non of the tests or ultra sounds gave us a definitive diagnosis. After he passed my vet did a necropsy and he had pancreatic cancer which I suspected because he didn't want to eat and sometimes his tube feedings seemed to bother him. There is also something called Eprex, which I have not heard of or used. On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com mailto:nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org mailto:Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org mailto:Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ... http://MyFundit.com/site
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
Hi N.E., I lost an 8 month old FeLV+ kitten to anemia. He was at 13% PCV. It was non-regenerative. I gave him an iron supplement (Lixotinic) twice daily for about a month. He still had a good appetite and did Ok for a while, but declined, and we euthanized him about a 4-6 weeks after he first started showing symptoms of anemia (listlessness, weight loss, pale gums, scraggly fur). He was My adult cat was slightly anemic when he first got sick with FeLV. We gave him a series of 3-4 injections of LTCI T-cyte plus daily assist-feeding, and he improved after a couple of months. He now gets LTCI once a month as an immune booster (it's about $50 per shot). But, he has not had FeLV his whole life. I'm so sorry about your baby. I know the feeling of hopelessness, but try to cherish your time together now. Just being there and caring for him is already so helpful. You can also try feeding him chicken livers blended w/ a little water, to help boost his iron. Thanks for caring for him. Katherine On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ 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] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
When my Bailey was anemic and yes it was non regenerative anemia, we tried Epogen, it kept his HCT within normal range, I have also used Procrit, when my CRF kitty was anemic. My vet didn't think it would do any good but I figured what did we have to lose except his life he lived for months until the cancer we could diagnose took him. We knew he had cancer but non of the tests or ultra sounds gave us a definitive diagnosis. After he passed my vet did a necropsy and he had pancreatic cancer which I suspected because he didn't want to eat and sometimes his tube feedings seemed to bother him. There is also something called Eprex, which I have not heard of or used. On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com mailto:nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org mailto: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 -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ... http://MyFundit.com/site http://FreeAnimalRescueWebsite.org http://HostDesign4U.com ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
PS. Bailey was diagnosed at 5 months old, he was 11 years old when I lost him. On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com mailto:nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org mailto: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 -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ... http://MyFundit.com/site http://FreeAnimalRescueWebsite.org http://HostDesign4U.com ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
My cat Yang had a pcv of 13 and it does over night and she had a fever then her temp dropped below normal, she was jaundiced. she was dying and was felv + so we put her down while we held her. I hope yours has a better outcome. On Feb 27, 2015 3:42 PM, Belinda ma...@bemikitties.com wrote: PS. Bailey was diagnosed at 5 months old, he was 11 years old when I lost him. On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing listFelvtalk@felineleukemia.orghttp://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ...http://MyFundit.com/sitehttp://FreeAnimalRescueWebsite.orghttp://HostDesign4U.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] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
I have lost several leukemia positives to non-regenerative anemia. In my experience, when all other causes of anemia had been ruled out (including Hemobart), I was unable to find anything that stopped the progression. That said, I never lost hope for a miracle. I hope you have a different outcome. I watched mine closely as the hematocrit dropped and when I knew it was time, I took them to the vet. I didn't let them pass on their own as a very low hematocrit makes it difficult to carry oxygen and I didn't want them to suffer. It was very clear to us when it was time with each one. Each cat is so different and it is such a personal decision. My 2 cents, rule out all other causes of anemia. If truly non-regenerative, enjoy every minute with the kitty! Best wishes for your kitty. Amy Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??
Belinda, Was Bailey diagnosed with kidney disease or did his bloodwork indicate that anything was amiss with his kidneys? I did come across Epogen in my research, but the doctor overseeing his care following the first transfusion insisted it's only for anemia resulting from renal disease and they wouldn't administer it to him because it could potentially cause a reaction. Not sure if I can convince a different doctor to try it, but I am curious as to whether or not it could work in cats with perfectly functioning kidneys. Very sorry for your loss, btw. What a horrible disease this is. On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:41 PM, Belinda ma...@bemikitties.com wrote: When my Bailey was anemic and yes it was non regenerative anemia, we tried Epogen, it kept his HCT within normal range, I have also used Procrit, when my CRF kitty was anemic. My vet didn't think it would do any good but I figured what did we have to lose except his life he lived for months until the cancer we could diagnose took him. We knew he had cancer but non of the tests or ultra sounds gave us a definitive diagnosis. After he passed my vet did a necropsy and he had pancreatic cancer which I suspected because he didn't want to eat and sometimes his tube feedings seemed to bother him. There is also something called Eprex, which I have not heard of or used. On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich nej...@gmail.com wrote: Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's something else that can be done for my sweet little just-turned-one-year-old boy. He had a PCV of 12% and received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours. He was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75 mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection), and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred. His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have leukemia in the marrow. We did not do a bone marrow aspirate because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the severe anemia indicating this to be the case. The doctor said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy for the bone marrow to respond. Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now down to 14%. He is going to receive another transfusion. I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else that can be done at this stage? I was looking into treatment with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of time and money. I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've been willing to give it a shot. My vet is of the opinion that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is hogwash. I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't respond to the transfusion. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating necessary, but please be gentle. If nothing can be done, what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing listFelvtalk@felineleukemia.orghttp://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ...http://MyFundit.com/sitehttp://FreeAnimalRescueWebsite.orghttp://HostDesign4U.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
