Saturday March 21, 1998 Part 2 15 Messages ====================================== Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 13:59:03 +0000 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: BILL BEAMISH Subject: Positive & Negative Mixed Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, You sound like you do exactly the same thing we do. Like you, we expose a vaccinated negative cat to our positive cats only as a last resort. I feel being exposed with a 15 - 20% chance of contacting Felv in the furture is better than certain death immediately! As to the FIP - we have had cases of it here. I believe there were three. One was the dry form in a 4 month old kitten who wasn't even positive for Felv. The other two were wet forms and both cats had Felv. FIP is a horrible disease. I think its worse than either Felv or Fiv. The poor cat doesn't have a chance with it. My most recent experience with it was last October when I lost my baby, Noah. He was a tiny orphan I had to bottle feed and I kept him separate from everyone until he was 3 months old and could be tested. Well, he turned up positive for Felv but I was still optimistic that I could treat him with Interferon like my Maggie. But within two weeks of getting his test results, his stomach began to swell and I knew he had FIP, too. That poor little creature lived less than a month after that. Actually, I made the very painful decision to euthanize him. His stomach was so bloated he could barely walk. After his death, I called Cornell to find out what they thought about the danger to my other cats. I spoke with Dr. Jim Richards and he told me first of all it would be useless to test all my other cats since the test is so inaccurate and misleading. The test will show positive if the cat has been exposed to ANY coronavirus and with the amount of cats I have, most likely the tests would show positive. Then what would I do? Euthanize everybody? Certainly not! Then he said I shouldn't even consider the vaccine, since obviously I couldn't get it without the cat being tested anyway and also because they (Cornell) didn't recommend it. Now THAT really surprised me since I know some years back Cornell did research on the FIP vaccine. So that settled it for me. All I can add is, the last week of his life, Noah was so miserable being left alone, I let him come out and spend the time with the other positive cats. Now, he died on October 30th. almost 5 months ago. He exposed my other cats for a week, 5 months ago, but I have absolutely no one showing any signs of the disease. From this, I have to conclude this virus is not very contagious at all. But this is my opinion. Here I go with my long letters again! I just think some of you may want to know my personal experiences with some of these diseases. Judy -------------------------------------- From: "Helen Elizabeth Kennebeck" To: "felv mailinglist" Subject: Judy Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 08:50:13 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Judy, Your posting describing your house and your life-saving efforts is truly inspirational. I had to print it so that I could share it with others. God bless you. I would love to see this cat-haven sometime....... Liz In memory of Buddy 3-13-98 -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Welcome Judy!! Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 09:13:59 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Judy, I think it's great what you're doing. How do you find the FeLV+ cats? I have contacted every vet in the area and none calims to have any FeLV+ cats. I find that hard to believe. My vet says she may have one who needs a home. The owner isn't ready to give him up yet. Sorry. Had to stop and romp with my two little ones on the floor. They like Mom getting down to their level. Just a little hard on Mom's knees. Cheri G., Kitty & Chaz In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Hello. Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 09:15:00 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, Whre do you find Pau d'Arco? I'm willing to try anything. Cheri G., Kitty & Chaz In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Gretchen Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 09:19:55 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Ann, I live in northern Iowa. I have two kittens now thta are FeLV+. I believe these poor babies should have a life however short. I hate thinking abobut them being put to sleep just because they tested positive. There are people who do that. I'm glad Gretchen found you. She's a lucky cat. Are you traveling anywhere near here? I know that's a long way to go for a kitten. Cheri G., Kitty & Chaz In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Ernie Update Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 09:36:16 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, If you can't find what you need, let me know and I'll look for it. I live in Mason City. It's not huge but there are two health food stores here. Cheri G., Kitty & Chaz In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Judy Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 09:41:43 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Judy, Your house sounds fantastic. I have a small farm style house with plenty of room for my two to play. I would love more. Since both are FeLV+, I can only take those right now. I have contacted all the vets in the area. I call them occasionally to remind them. You and your family are great. People who do what you are doing are so special. Thank you. Cheri G., Kitty & Chaz In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 13:50:08 -0500 (EST) From: Kat To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Gretchen doing good and questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net One thing we have to remember is that NO vaccine is 100%! Not even the rabies vaccine. What has to be weighed is the potential threat of the disease (without the vaccine) vs. the stress and such (visit to the vet, etc.) getting the vaccine. I don't have any FeLV + kitties (at the moment), but the shelter I volunteer at has 3 cats that have tested positive. We have isolated the 3 from the other 50 or so, but at least the 3 can keep each other company. The other 50 haven't been retested for a while (lack of funds), but so far, they seem ok - just a few with chronic eyes/conjunctivitis, and yes, they get the felv vaccine, just to be on the 'better safe than sorry' side. Kat (New Jersey) -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 14:49:06 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Bach remedies and Pau D'Arco Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb-- go to www.holistic.com.essays/cats01.htm--there's an article there written by a DVM who has homeopathic certification, and only treats cats. It will explain everything about the remedies better than I can. I use it 1/2 hour before taking my cats to the vet (1 drop), and it works wonders). Have used it for my grandson. He was in the ER getting a spinal tap and MRI, and a 2 year old just doesn't understand. He was so panicked that I drove home and got the rescue remedy. Within 20 minutes of giving it to him he became calm and cooperative---truly Jekyll and Hyde!! One of his pediatric nurses now keeps the remedy in her pocket at all times. Cheri G., Kitty & Chaz--if you can't find the Pau D'Arco where you live, go to www.crossville-chronicle.com/warner.htm---they have wildcrafted or organic herb, and they carry both the liquid extraction, or the dried product (if you want to make your own without the alcohol). Linda P in Sacramento -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 14:53:04 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: I Forgot!! Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb-- forgot the other address---www.bachcentre.com LInda P -------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 14:23:33 -0500 (EST) From: Kat To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ernie Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, There is a supplement called 'NutriStat' that you should be able to get from a petfood store. It should be near the 'NutriCal' and the 'KMR', which BTW are also possible choices for added nutrition. Kat (New Jersey) -------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 15:09:10 -0600 Subject: Ernie, Again To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I found some Nutrical in Fairfield. I'll look for the Nutristat and the Prozyme. Ernie ate a little Nutrical. I talked to a Fairfield vet who practices holistic medicine and he said I should be putting Ernie on a raw food diet, force feeding him w/ a syringe--pureed raw chicken, for now. I am very frightened to try this. Ernie's eyes are bright but he seems so frail right now. Does anyone give their kitties raw meat? Is it as dangerous as it feels? (Excluding pork and rabbit) Thanks, Susan -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 16:28:14 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ernie, Again Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, I don't like contradicting a vet, but raw chicken can carry so many "things" like salmonela. We had someone on the list, I'm sorry I forget who, but their cat got into raw meat at a neighbors and nearly died from it. Raw calves liver I can see, but I would be nervous about chicken. Maybe we should get Dr. Myers opinion on this one. barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 16:35:41 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Positive & Negative Mixed Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Judy, I don't know a lot about FIP but I do know you are right. It is the absolute worst of the three. I would rank them. FIP, FeLV, then FIV. I have read that about 50% of FeLV cats have or get FIP. Now it's my understanding that all cats carry the coronavirus (sp) that is what makes the FeLV cats more prone to it. It is one of those lovely viruses our cats carry but most, esp if healthy and not babies, don't have a problem with. I would guess the impaired immune system gives it a green light. I find it very interesting that Cornell no longer advises giving the vaccine. If they have some new information about it I think they should share it with the rest of us. I know my vet and my brothers vet won't give it. Mine not at all and his only if demanded I think. I know the fear was that it actually activated the virus in the cat instead of stopping it. It's one vaccine I don't regret not giving my cats. barb -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Bach remedies and Pau D'Arco Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 14:46:12 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Linda P., What dose do I look for? How do I give it? I'm not very up to date on giving the kittens medicine except for what I learn here and what my vet gives. fortunately she's very up to date and willing to try anything. Cheri G., Kitty & Chaz -------------------------------------- END