Saturday March 14, 1998 Part 1 15 Messages ====================================== From: macat@webtv.net (belinda sauro) Date sent: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 22:04:48 -0800 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Buddy's gone Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Helen, I'm so sorry to hear about Buddy, we've been losing so many in the last couple of months. Mine have been gone for years, but each new loss brings it all back again. Take care of yourself and think of Buddy as he is now, pain free, healthy, playing with the rest of our babies. All of them waiting for the day we'll all be together again, what a day that will be! I wanted to share that I've started a Memorial page also, if anyone would like to write something about their special friend, I'd be happy to post it. Everyone take care on this sad, sad, day. Belinda Happiness is being owned by cats... Come see why I'm so happy... www.geocities.com/heartland/estates/7122 -------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 05:29:04 -0600 Subject: Re: Buddy's gone To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Liz, I'm thinking of you and the generosity of spirit you've shown by reaching out to others in your grief. I am also new to this group, but already the milk of human kindness is buoying me up. I will light a candle for Buddy. Susan -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 09:11:42 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Buddy's gone Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Liz You are a wonderful "mom" to have the courage to do what had to be. Buddy was suffering with no relief in sight and you ended his and added to your own. Know always that you did the right thing. This has been a bad week but our babies are together now, waiting. Barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 12:22:47 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Hello Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, Welcome, welcome to the group. Ernie is one lucky cat to have you. We have another in the group who's cat is getting chemo as well. I'm sure she will write when she has time. Sounds like your vets are on top of things. We are always looking for vets who are willing to use these new, aggressive treatments and know how as well. If it's possible, could you ask them if we could add them to our list of vets? We are trying to compile a nation wide list for those who not so fortunate and have vets who haven't kept up with the newest ways of treating this dread disease. Yours sound like just the vets we are looking for. You have joined in a sad week. I lost my Merlin just a few days ago and we lost Buddy just yesterday. But we support each other and that makes it easier. Give Ernie lots of vitamins and love. Give us reports on how he and you are doing. Barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 12:28:46 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: (Fwd) Re: MRSA in cats? Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Jim, It is certainly possible that cats, being scavangers by nature have much tougher defenses than we have. I just read somewhere that a feral cat would have to eat 30 mice a day to survive, which is unlikey they would find that many because a mouse only is about 30 calories. So they eat garbage and what ever they can find. I sure hope so anyway that they are resistant to many of our human menaces. Lord knows they don't need anymore to deal with. Barb -------------------------------------- From: WORKPARK Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 02:43:44 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Rissa-Tai & Hemobartinella Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi all, Thanks for all the good wishes and suggestions to the parasite being Hemobartinella. The vet has checked in the past and I know the tests always came up negative. However, that does not mean she is no longer negative for Hemobart. Chuck picked up a new antibiotic today, Panmycin Aquadrops, a tetracycline liquid, and I have a feeling this parasite could be hemobart but did not turn up until this latest Protein Electrophoresis. We are going to the vet again with her tomorrow (7 times in 2 weeks, oye) to have them check the wbc and rbc counts and to possibly get another Neupogen injection. Hopefully, she is up higher again. Will post more once I know more. Pam P. S. She's really good at shredding that toilet paper! But, it always makes us smile. :) -------------------------------------- From: "Carol Gentry" To: Subject: Re: Merlin Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 10:14:29 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb- I have just come on and read about Merlin. I am so sorry but you're right. He now is in a place where there is no more pain and suffering. You have always been such an inspiration to everyone and I wish there was something I could do for you right now. I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts. In Memory of Sasha Carol from Vancouver -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 13:26:07 -0500 (EST) From: "Aaron B. Smith" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: (Fwd) Re: MRSA in cats? Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Gotta' think a mouse has more than 30 cal., at least the mice around here. Not to mention all the enzymes, minerals, & vitamins. REF:"Never Cry Wolf" book & movie. -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 12:44:13 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Hello Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, Welcome to the group! I have two FELV+ cats--diagnosed about 4 months ago. I had lost 3 to FELV when the new medicines werre not available yet. However, Jake is on interferon and immunoregulin and Panther is on interferon. Both are doing very well. I'm glad to hear Ernie will start Acemannan treatment. I've heard good things about it. Good luck to both of you and keep us updated on Ernie's condition. This is a wonderful group! Nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 12:48:40 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felv mailinglist Subject: Re: Buddy's gone Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Liz, I'm so sorry to hear about Buddy. It is very difficult to lose a beloved pet, and I know you did everything possible for him. Please know I am thinking of you and sending positive energy. Nancy -------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 12:48:48 -0600 Subject: nationwide vet list To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb (also Marilyn, Pam, Linda), Thank you for the warm welcome. What a wonderful idea to compile a list of vets for others! I will ask my vet on Monday if she minds being on the list. When Ernie first began to feel low, way back in February (it seems like an eternity ago), it was her idea to put him on Immunoregulin, an alternative treatment. I was in deep denial about Ernie--because he had been symptom free all the time I'd been taking care of him, I had begun to think he was just a carrier or--absurdly--that he no longer even carried the disease. I thought perhaps he had a rare strain that didn't react the same way or something. I had done some research and knew that some cats were thought to be immune. I had begun to believe my Ernie would be one of the lucky few and because of that I neglected the early signs and didn't do my research to give him a better chance. I took his health for granted. Now every moment is precious. I keep going in his room. (I have eight other cats who I keep separate from him--always have.) Anyhow, I began the research and found the acemannan (a derivative of aloe) treatment and showed the literature to my vet and she got right on it. She did her own calling around. I saw her the next day and she was literally bouncing she was so excited about trying this. Of course, she is an enthusiastic "bouncy" kind of person anyway. Also this was before she anesthetized Ernie for surgery (removal of lumps on head and radical amputation of his ear) and discovered he had several more lumps so she and I decided not to put him through it. Now we are doing two other kinds of chemo--which he is handling very well by the way--to arrest the cancer--the acemannan (to be given on Monday) will boost the immune system and stimulate the body to produce macrophages (sp?), cells which actually eat the cancer. I am doing some other things which I never imagined I'd be doing, too. Basically at this point I am willing to try anything as long as it doesn't make him suffer. This is a very sad week. I am so sorry about Merlin and Buddy. What do these kitties look like? They have such sweet names I want to visualize them. Wednesday night Ernie had to stay at the vet's and I was in agony. I couldn't find any consolation. So I tried to do more research and found Charlie's web site--I think you all know Charlie--I think I even read a message from his human--Rena? But seeing Charlie and reading his human's account of his last day and her pain was a rite of passage for me. I'm going on too long I think. I have never been in a group like this, and I am not sure of the etiquette in terms of length. One last thing. Ernie is a short-haired, black and gray classic tabby with green eyes. Thanks, Susan -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 12:52:48 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Rissa-Tai & Hemobartinella Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Pam, I know what the shredding is like. The other night Jake got into some paper towels and the whole house looked liked a white Christmas. I told my husband, "Now we REALLY know he's back to normal!" He's even terrorizing our littlest cat, "Little Bit." My husband always remarks at how mean Jake can be, but rest assurred, even though I feel sorry for Little Bit, I am glad he is feeling so good that he can be mean. Nancy -------------------------------------- From: "Claude Horstmann" To: Subject: MRSA Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 13:54:19 -0500 Reply-to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I'm glad that Jim put the question to Dr Myers last night. I too work with patients who are MRSA for sputum, and/or urine. We don't isolate unless the infection is cultured + and there has been no cross contamination to other patients- but I never gave a thought to my cats being at risk. Mice, 30 calories ? I'm afraid to ask where you got that juicy tidbit of information from---it seems a low figure to me. We grow BEEG mice upstate N.Y., in fact, some of the mice thumping along up here are larger than my Selena. Keep on truckin' Barb, it's so good to have your tender musings again. ..marilyn.. -------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 13:18:20 -0600 Subject: Re: Jake & Panther To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nancy, Thanks for the moral support. I am so glad Panther and Jake are responding so well to the interferon and immunoregulin. Ernie seems to be comfortable right now. He's sleeping in the sunshine on his down sleeping bag. He even purrs some when I pet him. He's also eating some (about half his normal amount) and I can even get him to play a little with his favorite toys. I am trying to write something about the three kitties you lost. I canonly think how devastating that must have been. Yes, we are very fortunate to have these new treatments. I agree. This group is terrific. Susan -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 14:50:09 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: MRSA Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Marylyn, I think they call them rats when they get that big don't they????barb :) -------------------------------------- EMD