Wednesday April 8, 1998 Part 2 20 Messages ====================================== Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 10:00:28 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ernie, Larry Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan, Please don't blame yourself for Ernie. I know it's a natural response . . . I have gone through many, "What ifs" of my own. I hope in time you will come to realize that you did so much--everything possible for him. Sometimes we just have to let go . . . there's nothing more to do. I know that is very difficult and painful, but you were a wonderful mother/companion to him. He was lucky to have you! nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 11:11:19 -0500 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: Ann M Blais Subject: Susan Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hello Susan, I know what you mean about the message from Larry, I read it as least once a day. Every time one of the kitties sneezes or sleeps a bit longer or looks 'just different' I start to feel guilty about putting them all together, then I walk over to the computer and read Larry's message taped to the only open table area near the keyboard. It really does make me feel better. It has only been 10 days since I put them together, probably way to soon for any symptoms developing if they were going to, but I really feel that I made the right decision on the facts as I knew them at the time. So did you. From all your posts that I remember reading, you went above and beyond for help for Ernie. Please don't feel guilty any more, you did the best you could and you were a great loving mommy to Ernie and he knew it. Ann M -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 19:32:27 +0200 From: Pieter Organization: N/A To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Blackie... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi all... I am pretty new to this list, but my problem isn't .... I have had FeLV amongst my cats for a while and have lost almost two complete litters to it, although at times it seemed that things were getting better. Blackie, aged 1 and a half, had to be put to sleep today as she was getting sooo think she could hardly stand ..notwithstanding eating like a horse (until a day or so ago) and drinking more than enough water... I had to let her go, but it hurts so much every time.... Nina In memory of Blackie -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 16:47:05 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Blackie... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nina, We do all that we can do, and because we are human, we can do no more. Blackie had a good year and a half. His memory will live on in you. barb -------------------------------------- From: "James G. Wilson" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 17:26:18 +0000 Subject: New addition to the FAQ sheet Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi everyone, Pam, Rissa-Tai's meowmy, has graciously contributed a segment to our FeLV Information sheet concerning added nutrients and supplements to an FeLV+ cat's diet. It is a well-written piece, and I encourage everyone to give it a read. You can find it at: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/8025/ Or, as Barb has just reminded me to do, you can access this information sheet from our FeLV project web page. Take care, and happy reading. In loving memory of Vyvyan: March 20, 1988 - August 15, 1997 James G. Wilson phaedrus@ctnet.net, phaedrus69@hotmail.com, felv@angelfire.com http://www.angelfire.com/il/felv/ http://www.litchfieldil.com/members/phaedrus/ http://www.fortunecity.com//skyscraper/sterling/20/niu.html -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 20:13:31 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: George is asking.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Paula, How lucky you are to have a vet that makes house calls!! Once George has had the transfusion, consider the epogen. I don't think it helped Rissa because of her bone marrow involvement. It might be worth considering. Please keep us up to date on how George is doing. barb -------------------------------------- From: DLMLLM Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 20:27:26 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Ernie Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Susan Just heard about Ernie going to the Bridge. I'll bet Russian was there to greet him. She always was a pushy little female. She'd have to be in front. I still miss her. Take care and my prayers are with you. Linda in Ohio -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 18:48:34 -0400 From: Glen Zipper To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: anemia treatments: Regarding Tucker Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net To Whom It May Concern: My Felv+ Cat, Tucker, has now delved into the wonderful world of enemia. Other than felovite, what other alternatives are available. Right now I believe his RBC's are at 19 when minimum range is 27ish. Epogen was mentioned to me and I mentioned it to my vet. My vet said that he only had experience with epogen concerning human beings (long story). He said he'd be willing to try it, but I'd like some comments on its side-effects, proper-dosage, dangerous cross-medications, etc. As far as transfusions go--is that only for dangerously bad cases of anemia. If it is done, where does the blood come from--do I need to volunteer one of my other cats? What is the cost [just so I get an idea]? Thanks, Glen & Tucker P.S. To Steve Lackow--if your reading this, sorry for your loss. Go do something to spoil yourself, spend some money you shouldnt...it works. -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 20:30:54 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: anemia treatments: Regarding Tucker Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Glen, Epogen is used on cats. It was tried on one in our group, but that cat has bone marrow cancer and I think that may be why it wasn't as effective as hoped. Here is some info on Egogen: ONSET, PEAK, DURATION: Increase in reticulocyte count occurs within 7 to 10 days. RBC souond, hematocrit and hemoglobin increase in 2 to 6 weeks. Serum livels peak immediately after IV infusion or within 4 to 24 hours after subcutaneous administration. THE FOLLOWING IS THE HUMAN DOSES. YOUR CATS DOSE MUST BE FIGURED BY UNITS/KG. Starting dose is 50-100units/kg. IV weekly . Three times a week. is reduced when target hematocrit level is reached or if the hematocrit rises more than 4 points in any 2 wk period. FOR ANEMIA SECONDARY TO CHEMOTHERAPY: 150Units/kg, subcutaneously, three times a week for 8 wks. May be increased to 300Units/kg if response is not satisfactory after 8 wks. The side effects were the standard ones always listed: headache, Nausea, vomiting rash ect. Your vet can look it up in his PDR. No significant drug interactions. I won't fool you tho. It can be an expensive drug, but perhaps, in the interest of science, your vet will cut you a deal. Hey, it's worth a try. (be sure and delete that last sentence out if you give this to him) Good luck, barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 20:36:40 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ernie Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Linda. It's wednesday. Did Danny come home? How are things going? Let us know. Thinking of you, barb -------------------------------------- From: DLMLLM Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 21:04:38 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Chloe Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net So sorry Steve to hear about Chloe. You did all you could. We all do all we can and make them happy while we can. My Russian was a very vocal kitty. I use to meow at her and she would meow back. My husband always said I should have been a cat. Will be thinking of you. Linda In memory of Russian. -------------------------------------- From: DLMLLM Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 21:59:50 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Blackie... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Nina Sorry to hear about Blackie. We had a Blackie once. Fat fur ball we rescued who had to have her tail stubbed. When she came to us she had been in someones car engine. She was a devilish little cat. Keep your memories close and she' will always be with you. Linda In memory of Russian and my other babies. -------------------------------------- From: Rdmacaulay Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 22:19:51 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: I'm new to the list too Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I went through an interesting mix of emotions reading the different messages posted to the board in the day since I signed up. I came in the middle of some stories and the end of others. It's good to know that others out there care about their kitties as much as I do. FeLV is a cruel, cruel thing. Fitzgerald and Armstrong are my first pets ever (besides the erstwhile hamster and goldfish and even hermit crab when I was a kid) and I thought I was doing a good thing by getting them from a local Animal Rescue. I had already grown attached to them when I found out they were both felv+ (they're brothers--my husband and I couldn't bare to separate them so we took them both). They are the most precious, little, golden boys. After fighting off various colds, fleas, mites, etc. during the eight months we've had them, they had been doing well for the last two months when suddenly Fitz began dragging about and crying. He would just lay in one place all day, he couldn't jump, he wouldn't play and he would cry and wail if you picked him up or sometimes even touched him. The vet was stumped, took a CBC and chem screen, gave him a cortisone shot, etc. and sent him home. We rejoiced because he recovered and seemed his own self, but five days later he was down again. Back to the vet, more tests, more cortisone, x-rays too. Same thing after five days. We brought him back and he had another shot just two days ago and the vet wants to do another x- ray and a cat-scan and you name it, he wants to do it. (We go to an animal hospital where we're normally seen by one of three different vets. I prefer one, but can't always get her on an emergency basis). There seems to be some enlargement in Fitz's liver and they don't understand it and his white blood cell count is fine but his breakdown percentages are really weird. Now, through research on the WWW, and books, it seems to me that he might have a lymphosarcoma of the liver. Any opinions out there? The prednasone they put him on (the second visit) must be the reason for his still overly healthy appetite (he always stole food from Armstrong). But he's still not back to himself and his tail is dragging and he favors his rear and I just want to make sure I'm not putting him through unnecessary pain because I don't want to lose him. I'd like to get my vet using Immunoregulin or interferon depending if it is a lymphosarcoma, but the vets I use obviously don't have much experience and I'd have to supply them with all the information to get it started, so I need to gather as much stuff as possible. Any help would be appreciated by all four of us. Armstrong doesn't understand why his brother won't play with him anymore and it's breaking my heart. I'm crying while I write this even though I thought I was all cried out. My heart goes out to each and every one of you, whether you've lost, won, or are still fighting the battle. Perseverance all! Thank you, Rachel (& Doug &Fitz & Armstrong) P.S. Can anyone recommend a good, experienced vet in Central Jersey?? -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 18:58:57 -0400 From: Andrew Sherrod To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: George is asking.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Dear Jim (and other friends), Today my REAL vet came over to the house to take care of our new cats (momma cat, daddy cat, 4 kittens and another relative). She looked in on George and suggested (no, emphatically told us) that George needs a transfusion. The other vet that suggested it before just sounded so negative-the risk of shock, that it would only last a few days...etc. etc. . That's why we did not want to risk it. My vet was much more positive and thinks that it would benefit George. So, tomorrow at 9am I am bringing her and her friend (apricot) to the vet to have this done. Wish us luck-hey, it is a miracle that she has held on this long....she even jumped onto the window sill today to check out the birds....then she had to go to sleep again. Thanks again for the support! Paula -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 19:03:16 -0400 From: Andrew Sherrod To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: George is asking.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nancy, Is 1/2 cc per day a low dose? I have no clue why she is on that amount. Protocol, I guess. It could have been 1 cc for 7 days, then nothing for 7, then on again, then off again. I just posted a while ago that we are going to go with a transfusion tomorrow for George........thanks for your concern! Paula -------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 17:24:54 -0600 Subject: Re: Blackie... To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nina, I am so sorry about Blackie. It is very hard to lose them. We get attached the minute we make contact it seems. Sending loving thoughts, Susan -------------------------------------- To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 19:43:11 -0400 Subject: Angelina From: naohalloran@juno.com (Naomi J O'Halloran) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Irene, I'm sorry to hear of your losing Angelina. That really is a lovely name. It sounds like you did all you could to give her a good life. Now she's as healthy as can be, and watching over you. Naomi -------------------------------------- To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 19:51:28 -0400 Subject: Re: George is asking.... From: naohalloran@juno.com (Naomi J O'Halloran) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Paula, I think you made the right decision about getting the blood transfusion done. That's great that you have a vet that will come to your house! Good luck to you and the two kitties at the vet tomorrow. Let us know how everything goes. Naomi -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 18:56:12 -0500 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: Ann M Blais Subject: Rissa-Tai Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Pam, I'm so happy to hear that Rissa-Tai is doing better and eating well. What a relief that must be for you. Bet she is getting lots of hugs and kisses. I'm going to go and read that segment on the information sheet that you contributed. What a help that will be to everyone for future information. Thanks for going the extra mile for us. Ann M -------------------------------------- To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 20:02:44 -0400 Subject: Re: Rissa-Tai's progress report From: naohalloran@juno.com (Naomi J O'Halloran) Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Pam, Glad to hear that Rissa-Tai is feeling better! I'm sure you're relieved. Keep letting us know how things are going. Naomi -------------------------------------- END