Thursday April 9, 1998 Part 2 20 Messages ====================================== Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 14:20:34 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Blackie... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nina, I'm so sorry to hear about Blackie. No matter how many we lose, each time we go through it, it is just as hard as the first. Please know you are in my thoughts. Nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 14:24:04 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: George is asking.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Paula, I see why it's 1/2 cc if you are giving it everyday. I am so glad George is going to have a transfusion. I am hoping it will do her a lot of good. I'm thinking of you both. Nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 21:29:25 +0200 From: Nina Organization: N/A To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Blackie... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nancy..... Thank you so much Nina -------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 14:31:25 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk Subject: Re: Stinker Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Lynn, That's wonderful news about Stinker! Nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 14:32:28 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: New addition to the FAQ sheet Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheri, I've used an antihistamine with interferon and never noticed any side effects, reactions, etc. for what it's worth. nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 16:17:08 -0400 From: Glen Zipper To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: anemia treatments: Regarding Tucker Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Linda, When you saw raw foods what exactly do you mean? Do you mean literally RAW meat and such? If so, I'd be worried about bacterial infections when his immune system is compromised by the Felv. Also, regarding Pred--Tucker is on Interferon [the typical one week on/one week off schedule] and 5mg of Pred daily [one half a pill '2.5mgs' twice a day]. A few days after we started the Pred there was a remarkable improvement, but he leveled off after a week or so. My vet said that the 2.5mgs twice a day is a small dose. Should I increase it? Glen & Tucker -------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 15:24:13 +0000 From: LawBet Organization: Home for Wayward Felines To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Receipt of Donation Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Domino,Jessie, Smokey Bernie,Pugsley,Cinders And Grandma's kids, Lucy and Abbey Little Furry Ones, Please pass on to your Mama and Grandma that I received their very generous donations by meow mail today (a very nice looking young Tom, by the way, delivered them). Would you also pass on to them that if they would give me their e-mail address (by private purr-mail, of course), I would be most happy to thank them purrsonally. Also, ya done good in talking them into giving so much! You tell your folks I recommend a special kitty treat for all of you for your good work. Larry (Head Human, Home for Wayward Felines) -------------------------------------- From: Rdmacaulay Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 17:40:26 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Re: I'm new to the list too Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Kat, Thank you much for your reply. I may have lucked out because I had a lengthy discussion with my vet (the woman one that I like) today and told her about the various treatments I'd like to try on Fitzgerald. She was going to check with the drug companies and others and call me back tonight. Cross your fingers for me. Fitz keeps looking at me as if trying to tell me something. I wish I could tell if he's in pain or unhappy or just hanging in there. I think he's become anemic too. Thanks again, Rachel -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 18:14:17 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: anemia treatments: Regarding Tucker Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nina--The problem is that any canned or dry commercially prepared food has very little nutritional value, which may be marginally OK for a young cat in optimal health. But, for a cat with a life-threatening dis-ease, these foods can cause even more health problems. Most of the "meat" in these foods is loaded with pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics. One of the preservatives, ethoxyquin, was originally developed by Monsanto as a rubber hardener and pesticide. It is now being studied as the possible cause of cancer, liver disease, immune diseases, gross birth deformities, and thyriod problems. There is NO regulation of the pet food industry, and it is legal for them to put anything they want in their food, including contaminated meat that has not passed FDA inspection. The industry has also been accused on several occasions of using the carcasses of cats and dogs from animal shelters. If you have used the same brand of cat food for a long time and noticed that sometimes the cat gets diarrhea from the food, or seems less enthusiastic about eating it, it's because the quality of the meat will vary from one batch to the next. If your cat food has propylene glycol (proply--from propane) and is an addictive sugar. It is thought to cause diabetes, hypoglycemia, overweight, tooth decay, arthritis, and cataracts. If you cannot prepare a raw food diet for your cat, at least use one that has no added salt, no BHA or BHT, no ethoxyquin, no propylene glycol, and a very low ash content. The are several acceptable products on the market. You do need to add digestive enzymes to the food, as these are destroyed (along with other vital nutrients) in the cooking process. I would also add a pet nutrtional supplement that has vitamins and minerals, and try to feed at least a little organically grown meat each day. Food that is high in nutrition may seem expensive when you first look at it, but the food is so high in nutrition that much less food is consumed by the cat. I personally feel that a good diet and nutritional supplements are the first line of defense against this terrible disease. For a list of foods that contain no harmful additives go to : www.altvetmed.com/premfood.html--for an article about commercial food go to : www.altvetmed.com/petfood.html--and while you're there look around the site, there's a list of vets that practice alternative veterinary therapy, an article on natural flea control, Back Flower Remedies, and lots of other information. Also, for more information on nutrition go to www.wysong.net--on the left screen click on "Optimal Health Program". There's a food pyramid for humans and pets. Although they are promoting their products, there is still some good information on nutrition. Or, buy the book "The Natural Remedy Book for Cats and Dogs" by Diane Stein. It's paperback, $16.95, and loaded with information. It will also make you stop and think about what you're eating, too. There are other products that can be added to Tucker's diet that may be helpful--thymic protein A, beta-1 3 D-glucan, Ambotose (see carrintonglabs.com and look for Acemannan [the sythsized injectable form of the naturally-derived Ambrotose]), as well as some herbs. Hope this helps. If you have more questions, just ask! Linda P -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 18:23:57 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: I'm new to the list too Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Rachel--There's a listing of vets at altvetmed.com---they practice convetional and alternative veterinary medicine. Might be a good place to start. Linda P -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 19:39:32 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Food Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Forgot the other website to see about pet foods. It's written by a vet that was also a USDA meat inspector. If you just finished a Big Mac, you might want to wait awhile before you read this! www.belfield.com then go to the section "Back Issue Index" and click on "Food Not Fit for a Pet"-- this article is worth the time it takes to read it. Linda P -------------------------------------- From: "Jean Wells" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Arnie update Date sent: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 17:01:20 PDT Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Arnie has to spend the night in the hospital tonight and I'm torn between being terrified that he's so sick and glad that he'll have professionals looking after him! He was refusing to eat (tho he did continue to drink water freely) and even if I put the food in his mouth he'd spit it out ( my bathroom is now decorated in the most 'lovely' brown spotches!) not to mention the throwing up if I picked him up. So he's having maybe IV's and a repeat CBC and starting on ulcer medications and maybe if his little tummie settles down some he'll start eating on his own. I'm pretty worried. The whole gang has done so well all winter, and now this! The vet is concerned about lymphoma in his stomach... any experience with that in the group? I know it's not good, but just how bad is it? And sorrow and condolences for all the losses this week. I remind myself that each of my guys is worth whatever I go thru for them, they pay me back with more love than I ever thought possible. jean ps..Steve..I've bee thinking of changing my sig file...may I quote you "THERE WILL BE CHEESECAKE!"? Maybe no-one else would know what it means, but we will. j Jean Wells wellsj@winthrop.edu Rock Hill, SC maryjean77@hotmail.com http://www.shack.org/wellsj/mostcats.htm -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 20:27:43 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Arnie update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Jean, Here's hoping for Arnie. I have just begun to do research on the immune system. It may take a while for it is so involved and complicated, but what I have found, what I suspect is, that since the Lymph system is a major part of the immune system, lymphomas are one of the most common types of cancers in felv cats. The lymph system runs thru the entire body, with a network of veins, nodes and branches. It is the "garbage dump" if you will, picking up debris and removing it. There are several places in the body that have lymph nodes. The most commonly affected in our cats are the ones on the neck. They develop large, hard knots making them look like they have the mumps. But there are such nodes all over the body. Look at them as train stations, with all the lymph veins coming to them. There is a great deal of fluid moved by this system. When that system breaks down, the fluid has no where to go, so it pools. This fluid is usually straw colored and high in proteins. I believe now, that what took my Newt and Duncan, was lymphosarcoma. But not where you usually see it, on the neck, but in the thoracic cavity, where there are three nodes. Where the nodes no longer work, the fluid builds up, as it did in their lung cavity, compresing the lungs. At this point, it is an educated guess, but it is better than the " we don't know" I got from everyone I have asked about it. So, to answer your question in a round about way, it could be lymphosarcoma, but first: Is arnie on Steroids? Steroid use can cause ulcers. You said he has not been eating. The stomach produces powerful acids to help digest food. Hydrochloric Acid is one. Put it on your skin and it will burn you, put it in a stomach with the slightlest break in the stomach lining and you have an ulcer. Be sure and rule out all other possiblities first. They have now found that most human ulcers are caused by a bacteria called H. Pylori. I don't know if cats are affected by this bacteria, but maybe someone needs to check. Our cats are immune system impaired and could be open to things that normally cats are unaffected by. We must leave no stone unturned. Keep us up to date on how you and Arnie are doing. barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 20:30:03 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: anemia treatments: Regarding Tucker Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nina, To my knowledge, malabsorption syndromes are not a complication of felv. But I have begun to learn, that nothing is out of the question with this disease. barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 20:58:55 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: I'm new to the list too Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Rachel, First, you did good, taking in two babies from the shelter, no matter what happens! I noticed you have had xrays taken. Did they get a good shot of the back and hips? Just a thought. I also see he was given cortisone shots. He will feel better, for a short time, but steroids are a quick fix. Long term, they do not address the major problem which is the Leukemia. If you can afford the CAT scan, I would give it a shot. There is always the possiblity of an injury from fall. Two cats playing don't always exercise good judgement and as graceful as they are, they sometimes hurt themselves. We just had one on the list who had to run her cat to the vet at 11pm because she fell 7 feet and injured herself. So it does happen. And a cat scan will show so much more than a simple xray. The liver enlargement could be from many things. But the liver is one of the most resiliant and healable organs in the body. Ask any alcoholic. The liver can take quite a beating and keep working. While any type of cancer is more common in felv cats, I would hold off thinking it may be liver cancer just yet. Are the whites of his eyes yellowing? Are his blood clotting tests off? (prothromin time or PT) There is a whole battery of liver function tests. ( I am responding as I read down your letter) His tail dragging? Does this mean he is dragging, not feeling good or is it really dragging? He favors his rear....Look at him, and forget he has felv. I have found, that when we know, and the vet knows, a cat is felv positive, they don't look past that for anything else. Did he slip a disc in his back? We had a cat once, who's tail was dragging. He looked normal, to us, but was in pain and seemed sick. So off to the vet. He took one look at him, felt his butt, right where the tail joins the body, and pulled! The fur and skin came right off, it was gastly. Pus just rolled out. He had gotten into a fight, got bit and had an abcess. It was totally invisable to the naked eye. Fortunately, he did not lose his tail. It would be ok to start the interferon, but I would try and pinpoint more what his problems are before starting immunoRegulin. There is also acemannan that can be considered if there is a tumor. It is wonderful he is eating, but that to will slow down as the steroids wear off. He will have to start getting more and more to have the same effect. But if he has pain from an injury, the steroids will also help with the pain, since it is an anti-inflammatory, but as it wears off, the pain comes back. We do cry alot it seems. For our own, for the others. Sometimes it never seems to end, but while we cry, more cats die, so we must work on. Good luck and keep us up to date what is happening. Barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 21:02:16 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: cha's fall Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheri, How is Cha tonight? Gave you quite a scare last night I'll bet. Hope she is ok this morning. barb -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: George is asking.... Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 18:54:21 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net My little guys must be strange. When they get their Interferon, they seem to pep up. Like an instant high. Neither have shown any signs of depression or lethargic moods. Guess I may be lucky. I may be getting another FeLV+ kitten tomorrow. He's at the vet right now with a cold. He was a stray brought into the Humane Socity where I volunteer. They take him to the vet for shots and FeLV testing. I told them to give him his vaccinations and put it on my bill. I'll start him on Interferon once I get him home. Don't think he's nuetered yet. That'll be a must. Both mine are fixed already. He's a little orange tabby about a year old, maybe a bit younger. Now I need a good name for him. Wish me luck. Cheri G., Kitty, Chaz & ? In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 21:23:10 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Congrats on the new member Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheri, Good for you taking in another one that needs you! My son has an orange tabby named Oliver. Good luck with him! He is one lucky little cat! barb -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: New addition to the FAQ sheet Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 18:58:06 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Kat, Thanks. I'll try that. He's not sneezing as much but still has spells. The vet said he would be bruised for a while and might keep sneezing until the bruising feels better. Little fall cost $52.00 at the vet. I hope I am getting a frequent customer discount. Not complaining.They are worth every penny. Cheri G., Kitty, Chaz & ? In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Blackie... Date sent: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 19:00:46 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nina, Just got on line for today. I am so sorry to hear about Blackie. He's at the Rainbow Bridge chasing butterflies and all our friends up there. Our prayers are with you. Cheri G., Kitty, Chaz & ? In memory of my little boy Mickey -------------------------------------- END