Saturday January 17, 1998 Part 1 15 Messages ====================================== From: AskforArt Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 12:30:53 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Thanks for the advice Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Cheryl, If you are close to a good health food store try to get some alcohol-free extract of Reishi mushroom (ganoderma lucidum). It is a potent anti-viral, and is currently being tested on HIV patients in clinical trials in Europe. The brand I use is made by Nature's Answer. I have been using it for my cats and family for about a year now with very good results (shorter flu or cold). It is not toxic in any size dose, and does not react with pharmeceuticals meds. The anti-viral herbs may help, since it does not stimulate the immune system and instead attacks the virus. Good luck, Linda P. -------------------------------------- From: "Carol Gentry" To: Subject: Sasha Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 09:57:38 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net To all of you that were so helpful with advice and info, I want to thank all of you. Sasha died last night at 1:30 AM. I really don't know why. She was doing so much better and eating like a little pig. After she got her first dose of Interferron, she was kind of listless but otherwise she seemed o.k. Last night before we went to bed I gave her some A/D since she hadn't eaten. I don't know if this triggered something or what but she couldn't seem to breath. She wasn't choking, she was gasping for air. I tried everything I knew including blowing in her mouth. But she died in my arms at 1:30 AM. I'm just sick. If anyone has any ideas as to what might have happened, please let me know. At this point, I feel it was my fault. Thanks-Carol from Vancouver -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 13:36:30 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Sasha Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Carol, My heart goes out to you. I am so sorry. I doubt it was anything you did. If it had been the interferon, which is very unlikely, the reaction would have been immediate. The trouble with felv is we just don't know. Sudden deaths are not all the uncommon. I know of several people who have said their cats seemed fine, they check them half and hour later and they are gone. You did every thing you could humanly do and had the courage to stay her when she needed you the most. My Kallie died with my arms around her as well. She was not alone. Barb -------------------------------------- From: "Carol Gentry" To: Subject: Barb Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 10:51:27 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Thank you but I can't tell you what a big hole this has left in our lives. She was so very special to us. It's not that we don't love our other kitties but Sasha was so different and so special. Thanks for all your help. It was appreciated more then you know. Carol -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 14:01:46 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Barb Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Carol, I know that hole that you speak of all to well. My dear soulmate Newton has been gone over a year and I still miss him so. All my thoughts are with you. Barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 14:11:37 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: herpes Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net My son's cat Brisco, has herpes in one eye. It is inactive now but the eye specialist said he had it as a tiny kitten. We got him, Macbeth and Duncan from the same place and they were all starving. He said early malnutrition can make them a target for it. It does not impair his vision and we were told that if he stays well fed, (he's a tub) and fairly stress free, it shouldn't be a problem for him. You can actually see it if the light hits it right.Here is a baby picture of him. It's his left eye and as you can see he looks fine. Barb -------------------------------------- From: "AZ-HART" To: Copies to: "Lynn Stickels" Subject: Re: treating "healthy" felv kitties Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 12:02:48 -0700 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Lynn, My vet told me that she does not treat FeLV+ cats that are symptom-free and otherwise healthy. Just yesterday, I took one of my FeLV+ kittens with a bad iris condition to her, and this is the first FeLV+ cat she has suggested we start on Interferon, but that is a cat with symptoms. Irene Hart Arizona Homeless Animals Rescue Team (AZ-HART) http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/azhart Email us at: azhart@sprynet.com -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 14:14:01 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: treating "healthy" felv kitties Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Irene, Can you describe the iris condition to me? Merlin's eye is doing some very strange things. I am curious if it is the same thing. Barb -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 13:31:47 -0500 From: albobo To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Thanks for the advice Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Linda and All, Was interested to read about the Reishi mushroom being a potent anti=viral. I have two kitties with herpes - a viral disease that manifests in their eyes and can flare up at any time. Am wondering if this might help them to keep the flareups down. Anyone on the list familiar with this disease or the Reishi????? > Kathy G and the 3 Furries in Daytona Beach =^.^= - Rusty =^.^= - Smokey =^.^= - Money See us at: http://cgi.gambitsys.com/homey/webdoc5.htm The Cat: Mother Nature's Masterpiece! -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 13:38:10 -0500 From: albobo To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Sasha Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Carol I'm so sorry to hear about your precious Sasha!! Please don't blame yourself - you did more than most people would have done. It was just her time to go - and be comforted in the fact that she knew you were trying to help her and that she knew how much you loved her. Take care of yourself - and know that your baby is safe and happy at the Bridge! My thoughts are with you! > > Kathy G and the 3 Furries in Daytona Beach =^.^= - Rusty =^.^= - Smokey =^.^= - Money See us at: http://cgi.gambitsys.com/homey/webdoc5.htm The Cat: Mother Nature's Masterpiece! -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 13:27:42 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Suggestions for inactivity? Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheryl, I've been busy lately so I haven't been able to take as much time with this page as I would like to, so please forgive me if I don't recall too much info about Copley. My Jake began with 2 shots of Immunoregulin a week along with Interferon. I noticed his biggest improvement when he was started on this protocol. Also, I don't know how you feel about using Prednisone--it may help with his bloodwork and therefore, his lethargy. Jake was started on a small dose which didn't prove large enough. So we "upped" it. Once he had shown much improvement from the former two drugs, we lowered it to 2.5 mg. every other day. While it will be 2 more weeks before I have his bloodwork done again, he seems to be maintaining--eating well, playing, etc. For my two cents worth I believe Prednisone can do one of two things: it can help as a temporary measure until something more safe can "kick in" and (2) if used forever, I do know it can extend the cat's life but also compromise his immunity. It's a judgement call. I use it because I hope I can get Jake eventually off it completely. But I also supplement in other ways: vitamin C, Pet-Tinnic (which is an iron supplement--do you use anything like this for Copely). I also use tiny bits of raw liver daily and occasionally a litely cooked organic egg yolk--when I can, some greens. I also put a tiny bit of liquid vitamin C in their water bowls twice daily--they might not get much but anything helps! Good luck--I would think about discussing with your vet the possibility of 2 immunoregulin shots. Please be realistic but remember also: Miracles CAN and DO happen! I think my vet is rather surprised that Jake has done so well. I was considering euthanasia in early December and now I have hopes that he will last much, much longer--maybe long enought to experience a NEW DRUG and protocol. My thoughts are with you! Nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 13:32:45 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Merlin Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, I don't blame you for hesitating about using Prednisone. I will keep you informed as to Jake's progress and my hopes of getting him off it. I've also heard Korean White Gingseng and caraway seeds have been known to stimulate appetite. At any rate, my thoughts are with you and Merlin. Happiness is having cats OWN us! Nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 13:42:35 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Sasha Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Carol, I am so sorry to hear about Sasha. Please do not think you did anything wrong; it was just her time. I'm sure she knew how much you loved her and cared for her and that you were trying to help her right up until the end (and WE ALL are aware of how much you did in spite of obstacles). I know this is very sad for you. Please allow yourself to morn her, but remember in the end she is in a more peaceful place, running around with other kitties, looking forward to the day she will see her beloved companion again. Thinking of you, Nancy -------------------------------------- From: "AZ-HART" To: Copies to: "Newtanator" Subject: Iris problem in "Topaz" the FeLV+ kitten Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 12:55:17 -0700 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, In early December, my little "Topaz", a lovely snow-white blue-eyed FeLV+ kitten, developed what looked like a pinkish liquid leaking into her iris, and the eye was inflamed. The vet I took it to said she had irisitis and something else I can't pronounce. When intial treatment didn't help, "Topaz" was put on Trifluridine eye drops ($50 a bottle), 3-4 times a day (every 6 hrs). She was also on Amoxi (1cc * twice daily). And on Baby asperin (make sure it is baby ASPERIN, not tylenol-like pain reliever, which is toxic to pets). The dose of baby asperin recommended by the first vet (1/2 tablet twice a day) was denounced as far too much by the second vet, who put her down to 1/2 baby asperin every 3 days). (I took the kitten in to be spayed, but when Vet2 heard of the baby asperin, she said she couldn't spay her yet, as the asperin in those doses may cause the blood not to clot.) Things seemed to be going OK with the inflamation going down, but the "leaking" iris still persisted. Interferon was mentioned at that time, but not pursued. Last Thursday 1/8, "Topaz" suddenly developed a very watery eye, with an awful cloudy haze covering that bad eye. I thought she was going to lose her eye to infection! I took her in Friday 1/9. My regular vet wasn't there, but that vet recommended adding BNP with cortisone (ointment) to her eye as well (2-3 times a day). She remained on the Trifluridine and the Amoxi and baby asperin. Yesterday, Friday 1/16, my regular vet saw "Topaz". "Topaz's" bad eye was better, but there was a new problem in the eye, a mass called Fibrogen, possibly granuloma. It looks like a transparent "cloud mass" in the iris. The protein in the clear part of our blood produces Fibrogen in an effort to form scars, the body's reaction to help heal itself. Fibrogen causes blood to clot. The Vet also said Fibrogen mass is a sign there may be some mild form of FIP going on, as FIP causes an increase in Fibrogen. I know this may be confusing, but these are the notes I took at the Vet's yesterday. At this point, the Vet recommends starting Topaz on Interferon, which she hopes to get in Monday. In the meantime, the Vet has prescribed the following for "Topaz": Atropine (eye drops) once daily for 2 weeks (it dilates the pupils) Amoxicillin drops (1cc * twice daily) Prednisone (5 mg) tablets * 2 daily for 7 days, then 1* daily for 1 week. discontinue the baby asperin. (the vet did not mention whether to continue the Trifluridine and BNP w/cortisone, I have a call in to her) I do need to mentioned to the Vet, however, that in People, one would never take a steroid such as prednisone with Interferon. Interferon boosts the immune system, and steroids suppress the immune system. They are in complete contridiction to one another. So, Barb, a long story about the iris problems of "Topaz" the FeLV+ kitten. I hope some of this is useful to you and "Merlin". Irene Hart Arizona Homeless Animals Rescue Team (AZ-HART) http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/azhart Email us at: azhart@sprynet.com -------------------------------------- From: "Carol Gentry" To: Subject: Nancy Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 12:16:40 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Thank you Nancy. I have to believe that she is in a much better place and chasing butterflies and waiting for me. She was such a special little thing and she has left a great big hole in our lives. It was so strange, last night all the kitties had to say goodbye to her. They each came up to the little tub I had her in and all got on the edge to look at her as if to say goodbye. I put her in a plastic tub with her favorite blankets so she would at least be warm on her journey. Since we're only going to be in this house until May or June, we're keeping her in the shop until we move and then we'll find a special place for her. Thanks again for all your support. Carol from Vancouver -------------------------------------- END OF PART 1: SEE PART 2 AT: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/9801172.txt