Friday March 27, 1998 Part 1 15 Messages ====================================== From: "AZ-HART" To: Subject: Annual Shots: Necessary or not? Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 16:15:11 -0700 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, You bring up an interesting point. I would, however, always get annual shots for a cat for their 3in1 or 4in1 shot and FeLV (for the FeLV negative cats). And even though Rabies is NOT a problem in Maricopa County (Phoenix, AZ), I always get the Rabies Vaccination, too, for cats, which is done once the first year, then again the second year, whereby the second shot thereafter is good for 3 years (here in Arizona). But it would not be hard to believe that the push for shots may have something to do with the money the shots givers make. We always use a shots clinic for our shots, thereby avoiding the terribly gouging we got when we used to take them to a vet to do it. The advantage of getting them done at a vet, of course, is the annual checkup, which is a good baseline to have a professional look over your pet and say all is well or suggest something the pet may need (typically, dental or ears cleaned or dog's nails trimmed or pet overweight problem). But if your pet is healthy, you can give your own shots (except Rabies, which must be given by a licensed vet in AZ) or go to a low-cost clinic, and I feel it's a safer bet than not doing shots annually. Until I feel confident that NOT vaccinating every year is safe, I would be reluctant not to do annual shots. Irene Hart Arizona Homeless Animals Rescue Team (AZ-HART) http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/azhart Email us at: azhart@sprynet.com -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 01:26:48 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ernie Update Cyprohepatadine Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Carrington Labs sells an aloe-based product for people who get mouth sores from radiation therapy. You can buy it over the internet. Linda P -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 01:38:58 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Titch update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Try wild game--duck, pheasant, or free range chicken, served raw. Or ostritch, if you can find it--the "gamey" smell should help. Linda P -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 00:29:22 -0600 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: Ann M Blais Subject: Barb Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Barb, Your kitties are so lucky to have you for a Mom. Yes, I know the decision is not an easy one and hopefully nothing bad will happen if my kitties are put together. I am so grateful to have you and others on this list for support at this time. I have been feeling 'lighter' inside since getting on this list and hearing from so many of you about your experiences with your kitties. Oh yes, about Jim and the computer, please count me in on whatever is planned. Ann M. -------------------------------------- From: "Helen Elizabeth Kennebeck" To: "felv mailinglist" Subject: Susan and Ernie Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 06:54:01 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, What wonderful news about Ernie!!!! I love reading posts like yours. All I can say is, "Enjoy, enjoy!!" Liz In memory of Buddy 3-13-98 -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 08:00:36 -0500 (EST) From: Kat To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Animal Communicators Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Ann, There is a list of interspecies communicators on the net at: http://www.cyberark.com/animal/communic.htm One of my friends uses Dawn (in NY) but I don't know about any of the others. Kat -------------------------------------- From: "Helen Elizabeth Kennebeck" To: "felv mailinglist" Subject: shots Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 07:08:15 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I have a felv- kitty, but just lost my felv+ kitty a couple of weeks ago. I had Samantha ( negative) tested last year in April when Buddy was diagnosed with felv. Samantha does not go outside and does not have contact with other cats. She may get a couple of cat roommates in August, but only after they have been thoroughly checked out. My question is this: Do Samantha need to continue to get the felv shots??? I've read differing opinions. Of course, I will consult my vet. I feel that this group has a great "collective knowledge" and was hoping for some input. Thanks for everything. Liz In memory of Buddy 3-13-98 -------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 07:56:58 -0600 Subject: re: shots & Ernie To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi, Liz, Thanks for wishing us well. (Ernie seems like he's going to have another good day.) Other group members who clearly know more than I (but I'm learning!) have pointed out pros and cons of vaccinations (heavy on the pro side, for obvious reasons). Here's my story: I just got a new job (after working "part-time" (full time w/ no benefits, etc.) for a couple years.) Right after I got the job, I began carting all my cats to the vet for their shots (all of 'em, including FIP) which I skipped last year. Right after this, Ernie became sick and then developed fibroid sarcoma (not related to vaccines because in different sites). While researching for Ernie, I came across some scary info about fibroid sarcomas being caused by the aluminum in vaccines. That's why vets give the shots (are supposed to anyway) in four different areas, and never in the back of the neck anymore. Since then I have been paying close attention to a small vaccine-related lump on my oldest cat, Pete (FeLV-). It has stayed the same size or is smaller, but it is still nerve-racking, and if I had known what I know now I probably would think hard about getting those the vaccines. (All my other cats are indoors only, too, and have been kept separate from Ernie.) I also think that what other group members have said about spacing out the vaccines so that they are not all given in one visit makes sense. I will definitely NOT be getting the FIP vaccination for them again after what I've been reading here. I will re-read some articles on the Vaccine-related sarcomas--there are many preventative measures to take which I will have to make sure my vet is following--before I will have my cats vaccinated again. (I just did a search to locate the info and didn't save the address.) What about Ann's idea about using Interferon to boost immunity in a negative cat? That sounds interesting to me.... hmmm. This group has really got me thinking. Take care Liz; it's good to hear from you, Susan -------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 08:08:44 -0600 Subject: Re: Ernie, Ann To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hello, Ann, Thanks for the support. I have been reading all your posts and learning from all the questions you are asking. I like your idea about the Interferon boosting immunity. It sounds like you are going to become the FeLV enlightener in your area, spreading the good word about the new breakthroughs. I hope so. I have never encountered a vet who recommended euthanasia for a healthy FeLV+ cat, neither here (Iowa), nor in Alabama (four or five vets, two healthy FeLV+ cats, Archie and Ernie). I guess I've been lucky. Hey, I'm checking out that animal communicator's site, too. It's a wild, wild world. Ciao (Miaow in Italian)--Susan -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:12:38 +0000 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: BILL BEAMISH Subject: Re: (Fwd) Re: FIP Prevention wise? Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Barb, It was me who spoke to Cornell about the FIP vaccine. I spoke with Dr. Jim Richards, who is the director of the Feline Health Center. Cornell did research on the vaccine before it was released in 1991. Dr. Richards did not recommend the vaccine because he said the studies showed it did not effectively prevent FIP. He didn't tell me it was dangerous, although I've heard that it can be. If you want to read Cornell's information on FIP, here's the address: http://web.net.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/fip.htm In this article, Cornell doesn't tell you not to get the vaccine - they tell you to discuss with your vet whether your cat should get it. Hope this helps. Judy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:38:35 +0000 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: BILL BEAMISH Subject: FIP Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Oh, Barb, I forgot to mention this and to me, it's VERY important! Remember I told all of you I had my cat Fluffy in to the vet last Friday because she was pretty sick. She is 13 years old, has been exposed to all my FELV+ cats for 12 years now. In examining Fluffy, my vet called and asked if I wanted her to retest for Felv/Fiv and I said okay. Well, she turned up negative for both, so the Felv vaccine has worked for her, thank God. Anyway, the vet also took a FIP test and sent it out. If she had asked me, I probably would have said no but now I'm glad she didn't ask. She called yesterday and said that test also came back negative! I wouldn't be so excited about this but I think I also told everyone about my cat, Bruce, who was supposed to be euthanized 5 years ago because he supposedly tested positive for FIP, according to the older vet, and owner of the clinic I go to. Bruce and Fluffy (and everyone else) have lived together for 5 years now. What do I conclude from this? I WOULD say it seems Bruce never had FIP and my vet made a mistake. BUT, Noah, a Felv+ kitten, spent his last week, last October, with everybody else and he had obvious signs of FIP. His belly was very bloated. From this, I have to think FIP is just not as contagious as once thought, even in a felv+ household. I mean, wouldn't Fluffy have shown a positive titer on this test if Noah had passed it to anyone? Oh, BTW, Fluffy had a tooth abcess, which was infected and that's what made her so sick. She spent the weekend at the vet's, getting IV antibiotics and had surgery Monday morning. The tooth actually broke off and the root was in her gums. They drilled the root out, cleaned the rest of her teeth, she spent another night on IV antibiotics and she came home Tuesday night on oral antibiotics. She is totally back to normal now, back to begging for table food, always her weakness! -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:40:54 +0000 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: BILL BEAMISH Subject: Re: Ann and Interferon Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Naomi, my vet said the Interferon mixed in the IV bag lasts 2 months refrigerated. Every two months I just discard what is left and she mixes a new bag. -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:53:52 +0000 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: BILL BEAMISH Subject: Re: Judy Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Ann, Boy, it does help to get other people's input on things. What you said makes so much sense! Why didn't I think of it and ask my vet why I would need to wear gloves administering Interferon to my cats when people take it internally!? DUH! > I started Maggie on Interferon when she was 6 months old and then had her retested when she was a year old. Unfortunately, she was still positive. I kept her on the Interferon and will have her retested again when she is 2 - in July. Wow, wouldn't it be great if I could write to all of you and tell you she turned negative!? I'm praying for that! You really got me thinking when you said maybe giving Interferon to the negative cats to boost their immunity would keep them from getting Felv. I'm going to run that by my vet - Kathy, not the older, set in his ways, vet. We ALWAYS take pictures of our cats! My husband, Bill, says we have more cat pictures than people pictures. We also have a scanner but I don't know how to use it. I will get Bill to do it and will send some pictures if you want. Judy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:59:35 +0000 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: BILL BEAMISH Subject: Re: shots Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Liz, This doesn't apply to my situation, but my vet does not recommend Felv shots for everyone anymore, due to the problem of vaccine site cancer. She said if a cat is strictly indoors, if it isn't exposed to any other cat ( that isn't known to be Felv- ), then she doesn't recommend the Felv shot. Judy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 11:22:56 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ernie's Report Card Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, What wonderful news about Ernie! We are all pulling for him! Nancy -------------------------------------- END