Monday January 12, 1998 Part 2 16 Messages ==================================== From: "Carol Gentry" To: Subject: Weather and Sasha Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 10:37:31 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net It would be nice if the weather thing were true but it's not. We are right now getting frezzing rain and snow mixed. They say we probably won't have a break until Wednesday. Everything has come to an almost standstill. The good news is that I fed her some kitty food last night on my finger of course and she ate like a little pig. She always eats until she'll reach up with her paw and push me away. And before we went to sleep last night she pooped in her box. I told her what a good girl she was and she started meowing at me just like she knew she had done something really good. She now sleeps in our room at night and I think it helps. She has her food and water and litter box in there but she's not alone. This morning she ate some oatmeal and some lamb and rice. She also got some lovin from George and one of my other kitties, Sassy. She's usually everybodies little mother. At least now I'm more hopeful because she is eating and I know if we can't get to the vet on Tuesday she will go either Wednesday or Thursday. Again I'll keep you posted. Carol from Vancouver ------------------------------------ From: Dawn Michelle Madayag Subject: Re: reaction to immunoregulin To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 13:51:30 -0500 (EST) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I have a comment. Before you give your cat aspirin (even baby aspirin) contact your vet. The acetominophin (sp?) is EXTREMELY toxic in cats and have caused many cat deaths even when given in small amounts. I know I was one of those very ignorant cat owners that gave my Katie some liquid baby pain reliever after her spay. She was in those hospital for the next 12 hrs and on antibiotics for a couple of days. I was very lucky, she survived. Please ask your vet about this. i dont't want anybody (on this newsgroup) to make the same mistake I did. Michelle ------------------------------------ From: "Carol Gentry" To: Subject: Cheryl Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 10:57:45 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Thanks for the info on fatty acids. At this point Sasha has been eating canned kitty food from the Health Food store which is Lamb and Rice. I have given her baby food but I thought gee if I can feed her baby food on my finger, why not her cat food. The results have been good. I have also cooked her some chicken thighs and I have saved the broth. I put the chicken, skin and all in a blender and ground it up. It looks just like cat food. I will feed her this, on my finger, sometime today. The interesting thing is she doesn't eat on her own. My husband holds her and talks to her and put the food on my finger and put it in her mouth on the roof of her mouth. She'll eat this way but no other. This is how we give her the vitamins and such. Right now she's holding her own and as soon as our weather changes she is going to a new vet who is supposed to be a specialist in this field. Say a prayer and keep your fingers crossed. Carol from Vancouver ------------------------------------ From: Dawn Michelle Madayag Subject: Re: felv testing (Michelle) To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 14:05:25 -0500 (EST) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net > > Hi Michelle! > > Watch the playing with your roommate's cat carefully. An anemic cat > tires very easily. This can also be checked by looking at her gums, > moist part of her eyelids and paw pads-- if they look white or more pale > then the day before, (unless they are black, then it is more difficult), > you might want to sweep your roommate's kitty up in your arms and take > it to the vet! > > Jennifer Kleeman > Minoux Chartreux Hey Jennifer, Thanks for the message. The roommate's cat is black and I have noticed that the moist parts of the face are whiter (although I can't tell from day to day). Anyway, I can't take it to the vet. I can't afford it. I have 1 (now 2) cat and I brought in a stray and had him all fixed up and shots done (he's now healthy as a horse) and I can't give him away now becasue he's been exposed. He's also about 6 yrs old which also makes it hard for someone to adopt him. I had a home for him but they have other cats and I couldn't do that to them. Anyway, I now have 2 cats (not intentionally) but the stray has become my loverboy. He's about 14 lbs and cuddles up with me and bumps my head. Anyway I'm now quite attached to him (My other one is very independent). She likes me around but doesn't want me picking her up or petting her for long times. She's only 8 months old. Anyway, that is why I can't afford it becasue now I have to pay for FELV testing every 6 months for 2 cats in addition to regular vet maintenance. I'm only a student on a very ltd budget. That was just a little about me. You never know, once I start thinking about it, I might take hers. Wouldn't you think that the vet would notice something like this? Indigo is going every 7 something or other to get her shots. Is it common or does it normally have to be brought to the attention of the vet? Sorry to ramble on...... Michelle ------------------------------------ From: "Carol Gentry" To: Subject: Heather and Aiden Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 11:19:56 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I have only been on this Web Site about a week but one of things that I hear people say over and over is every situation is different. I have chosen not to separate Sasha from the rest of the kitties because they have all been together this long, so what's the point? Sasha is the only positive one out of five and the others are all negative and have been immuned. As long as I keep testing them to make sure there aren't any problems and I can make sure they have all their shots, I see no need to separate. At night I do separate her from the others but she is in my bedroom and not alone. I did keep her alone for a couple of nights but after reading everyone else theories on this, I now put her in our room. The only reason I do this is she has her own litter box and I don't want her using the other kitties box and I have cat, Sissy, with a real attitude and I'm a little leary what she might try to do to Sasha , so it's for Sasha's safety also. She settles right down when it's bedtime and is doing fine. When I got our first kitty, Sissy, it only took me a couple of days before I realized that Sissy was lonely so I went back to the Pet Store and got her sister, Sassy. We got George about six months later because someone had dumped at an Apartment Complex I was running at the time. Sasha was also dumped at another Apartment Complex that I was running in a different state, she was about five weeks old and had tummy problems from the beginning, which are now o.k. CC the last kitty we got was from a woman that was going to dump him because she had some personal problems she needed to work out and she told us how much this cat meant to her. Yeah, right. She has never called to see how he was or much less cared. So after going through all this, I see no point in separating them. They all need each other as much as they need us. I keep comparing my kitties to my children who are all grown and on their own. I wouldn't have separated any of them so why separate my new family. (The kitties are actually much nicer) Well I didn't mean to go on about this, but I guess I just felt I needed to speak my peace. Thank God for this web site or by now I'm sure Sasha would be gone. Carol from Vancouver ------------------------------------ Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 13:44:13 -0600 (CST) From: Katherine Pauline Alexander To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: your mail Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nancy, My Tripod was diagnosed about three months ago. My vet follows a somewhat different protocol regarding Interferon. I give Tripod 1cc once a day, everyday. I give it to her orally. It comes in an IV bag and I withdraw the medicine using a syrringe (sp?). I asked him about he 7 days on and 7 days off and he said that was another protocol that some people use. Good luck!!! Kathy & Tripod ------------------------------------ From: Newtanator Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:47:23 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Drugs/upper respiratory Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Linda, Welcome!! I have used Interferon, one drop in each nostril, daily on my Merlin. It worked great. I got that information from an oncology specialist vet in Ann Arbor. (go Blue- Sorry) I don't think it matters what underlying problem they have, that is only the reason they are more prone to them, and have more trouble shaking them off. Both diseases affect the immune system. The pesky virus causing the URI is residing in their nose and sinuses, so the direct application of the Interferon (30c per cc) seems to do the trick. Merlin had been on so many antibiotics for so long he having bloody stools from them. So I stopped them and went with the interferon, and bam! It was gone withing a week and has not returned! Good luck. Barb ------------------------------------ From: Newtanator Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:48:42 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Feeding felv kitties Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Kathy, Please see my letter just written to Linda. Should explain all about URI. Barb Welcome!! ------------------------------------ From: Newtanator Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:55:00 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Lovejoy Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Kathy, I just got some A/D from my vet for Merlin. I only got two cans because I wanted to make sure he would eat it. He has been rather spoiled since he has been so sick, but he gobbled it right up. It is sort of like baby food in consistancy and high calorie. You have to get it from a vet I think, but not positive. You said you are a college student? By any chance is your state vet school at this college? Many vet schools have clinics, Mich. State has a HUGE one. It is actually cheaper than a regular vet because they have students they drag around with them. But Mich. State is excellent and they are usually on top of the newest things. As to your friends cat, it prob should be checked for FeLV just to be sure. Sneezing is a symptom, but also a symptom of lots of things. Also, look around and maybe call your humane society or animal control. They would know of any vets in the area that do spays and neuters at a discount rate. Welcome aboard! Barb ------------------------------------ From: Newtanator Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:13:40 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Quality vs. Quantity (sort of long) Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheryl, Well said. I mix mine as well. It is to long to try express why I do, but I explain it on my www site. Anyone interested in my unfortunate history with FeLV can read about it at: http://members.aol.com/newtanator/multicat.html Barb ------------------------------------ Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 11:46:17 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk Subject: re: Stinker Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Lynn, I am so happy to hear about Stinker! I know what that miracle feels like! Jake started was on interferon for 3 weeks and he didn't seem to be going anywhere but downhill. The night before he was started on immunoregulin, I asked that, if at all possible, someone (out there) intercede on my behalf and help bring about a miracle. The next morning my husband told me he had seen Jake playing for about 15 seconds with our 7-month old kitten. I thought Ray had just been imagining things . . . but it was all uphill from there! I am thrilled for you . . . AND Stinker, of course! Nancy ------------------------------------ Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 12:18:36 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Sasha Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheri, Sometimes (what sometimes?--all the time) when I'm at the grocery store, I have to chuckle because it seems most of what is in my cart is for the kitties: regular dry and wet cat food, "special, more expensive" catfood (for treats for Jake and Panther to reward them for taking their vitamins); lots of litter since I change entirely their litter and wash their pans out with bleach weekly; baby food & tuna (for when they're not eating); vitamins galore, etc., etc. etc! I sometimes wonder what the clerk thinks! Usually at the end of the cart will be a pizza or some fruit--for us humans! Hope all goes well with your kitties' shots and interferon. My vet always warns me that the shots can make cats lethargic for a day or so. Also, as I understand it, interferon works very subtlely. Although after the first time I gave it to Panther, (about an hour later), he got off the couch, came down to the floor (where my husband and I were laying watching T.V.), let out one of his wonderful meows and curled up to be petted. This was the first time in weeks he seemed to want attention! After that his improvement was slower and I guess, looking back it was probably just a coincidence, but it did seem miraculous at the time. Incidentally, I've been meaning to mention an antihistamine called "Cyprohepatadine" that my vet gives as an appetite stimulant. They discovered it originally for dogs who weren't eating and were being boarded. I use 1/4 tablet every 12 hours. While I don't like adding more medicines, this really works! I only have to give it once or twice and it seems to put the animal back on track as far as eating. The only side effect I've noticed has been one time when I used it for 2-3 days, Panther seemed more tired for a little bit. Cheri, I'm thinking of you and your kitties--hope all goes well! Nancy ------------------------------------ Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 12:26:22 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Heart Rate Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheryl, Someone else can handle the new medicines as far as they might affect Copley's heart rate. (I don't know) I do know that FELV can increase the heart rate. I've noticed my cats' breathing very fast at times and seeing their chests rise and fall so fast that it has scared me. About his eating a lot but not gaining weight . . . have you thought about adding enzymes to his food? There is a pet product--I think it's called K-Zyme or Viokase which comes in powder form and is used over their food. This helps the pet to absorb more nutrients and helpls them in gaining weight. I was only able to use a tiny bit of it over one of my FELV+ cat's food, but even at that, it seemed to help. ------------------------------------ Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 15:12:07 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: your mail Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Katherine, Thanks for the info on Interferon. Since there are others whose vets suggest 7 days on and 7 days off, there presumably must not be any "hard" evidence of one being better than the other. How is Tripod doing? Nancy ------------------------------------ Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 15:29:42 -0600 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: Cheryl DeSantis Subject: Re: Heart Rate Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net At 12:26 PM 1/12/98 -0600, you wrote: >Cheryl, > >About his eating a lot but not gaining weight . . . have you thought about >adding enzymes to his food? There is a pet product--I think it's called >K-Zyme or Viokase which comes in powder form and is used over their food. >This helps the pet to absorb more nutrients and helpls them in >gaining weight. Iwas only able to use a tiny bit of it over one of my FELV+ cat's food, but >even at that, it seemed to help. > Thanks for the info! Just what I need to keep on top of things. - Cheryl DeSantis Account Executive Bradmark, Inc. 4265 San Felipe Suite 800 Houston, TX 77027 800-621-2808 http://www.bradmark.com ------------------------------------ Date sent: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 16:41:07 -0500 (EST) From: Kat To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Sasha Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi all, I've been 'lurking' for a while - just reading and learning SOOOO much! I personally don't have any FeLV+ kitties, but the shelter I volunteer at has 3 right now that have tested positive - and about 40 others that have been exposed - but haven't been tested, due to lack of funds, etc. (Long story to follow some other time...) Anyway, I wanted to add that (people) Valium will also stimulate cats to eat. My vet had mentioned this to me once, and I thought it rather interesting. Kat Mundell (from NJ) ------------------------------------ END OF PART 2: fIND PART 3 AT: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/9801123.txt