Friday June 19, 1998 Part 1 20 Messages ======================================== Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 05:41:13 +0100 From: CatWoman To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Nancy-Jake's eye medicine Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net One thing, folks - if you're putting in eye drops... Unless the vet specifically forbids it because it will damage the medicine - try warming the drops to 96 degrees. (a minute in a glass of hot water should do it). Try getting some plain eyedrops of your own and see the difference between room temp and warmed drops! Diana ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 06:05:27 +0100 From: CatWoman To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Yes - I saw that. Glad to hear it. As I said - only you know your cat. I hope you and he can hang in for a long time! dg ---------------------------------------- From: "Equinox Corp." To: "'felvtalk@MailingList.net'" Subject: RE: Worried about Lefty Date sent: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 22:24:03 -0700 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Angela, Please. don't fret just yet. My EPC Beatrice(Felv+) losrt weight after Tessie died, and when she sits just like the way you describe lefty, under her coat I can see her white skin.But so far EPC is ok. probably it's nothing to get upset over. When you take Lefty in tomorrow will you get some blood work done? If yes, you'll know if Lefty is producing fresh rbc. I can understand why you're so upset though with your family vacation and all but we can all put our heads & hearts together & help you & Lefty out. And, you can always send Lefty to me while you're gone. I'd love to meet lefty & spoil him silly. Remember, I'm here for you. All you have to do is to tell me how I can help. Saliha ---------------------------------------- From: WORKPARK@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 05:28:46 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Worried about Lefty Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Angela, As I was reading your post, a couple of things came to mind. You might want to check with your vet's office and see if any of the techs live near you, and if they would be willing to take care of Lefty at your home while you are away. They will know what to look for, and can take care of him immediately. You'd have to pay them, but it would be better for him than boarding at the vet, being in a place that is home to him. If there is nobody there, maybe your vet can recommend somebody with a little more experience to house-sit for you. As far as his anemia goes, are you giving him Pet-Tinic? Or DMG? Although Rissa-Tai had been doing a little better before the DMG, her Hermatocrit went from 24% to 35% in two weeks since we started. And, although I had no luck with it, you may want to ask your vet about Epogen, and see what s/he says. It may help, although it takes a while to kick in and isn't the least expensive drug our kitties have available to them. If you're interested, I know there's some info in the archives abour epogen, or you can email me privately and I can relay our experience with it. It wasn't effective in Rissa's case, but I know that Barb has seen good results with people. Keep us informed as to the vet visit. Pam ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 06:50:02 +0100 From: CatWoman To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Jake Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Folks - our Vet-In-Training on Feline-L read that Liver Shake recipe and nearly went ballistic. Apparently raw liver is quite toxic to cats. I don't have her post here with me - but I would not feed raw liver to a cat after her messages - especially to an immuno-compromised cat. In fact, I'm thinking that even cooked liver in the moderate amounts I've used may be too much for any FeLV+... Diana ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:29:54 +0100 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: BILL BEAMISH Subject: Re: Worried about Lefty Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Dear Angela, I'm thinking of you and Lefty and hoping for good news today. I know how it is juggling husband, kids, and their many problems (and emergencies!) and the cats and their problems, too. I also can relate to going on vacation and leaving the cats when you don't want to. My husband and I are going to Seattle for a week in July and I'm just terrified something is going to go wrong while we're gone. I have so many positives and we just go day to day. An emergency could happen in a matter of hours. My two sisters are going to live here and take care of the cats while we're gone and they both are well aware of how to care for them and what to do in an emergency but I'm still scared. Please know I'm sending good vibes and prayers your way that this is something minor with Lefty and that everything goes well while you are on vacation. Let us know how the vet visit went. Judy ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:43:01 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Worried about Lefty Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Angela I hope the vet visit went well. I can relate with what you are going thru, same thing happened to us 4 years agao with the dog we had that was vey ill, We decided it was in the best intersest of the dog to board at the vets because she was extremely ill. The vet we have lives at her office so we knew that our dog was in really good hands. I know you do not want to leave Lefty at the vets, have you considered a pet sitter, they advertise all the time in the papers, or maybe your vet can recomend someone. At least that way your mind would be put at ease knowing someone with expierence is there for Lefty and Poncho. Let us know how the vet visit goes today Your in our thoughts Gina and JoAnn ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 10:40:08 -0400 From: Selena Walker To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: liver toxic to cats Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Dear Diana, Are you sure liver is toxic to cats? It's one of the few treats I fed my FeLV+ cat when he was still with us, and I did not notice any toxic effects (not to say that maybe there weren't any). Not to sound rude, but, does your vet-in-training have any references or info. s/he could share with us to validate that statement? Maybe even the post to you? Sincerely, Selena Walker swalker@rohcg.on.ca Stittsville (near Ottawa), Ontario, Canada in memory of Zackie (June 1982-November 1994) ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:47:39 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: liver toxic to cats Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net In reference to the raw liver; I had dicused it with our vet when Rubin was still alive and only thing she told us is that he may not like it being raw to try to cook it first. She did not mention about it being toxic or anything like that. Gina ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 10:27:09 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: Angela Holderby Subject: Lefty Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Well, our visit went reasonably well. Dr. Snider said that his temp was slightly high but that could be from the stress of the visit--it is always up a little. She gave me some Calvamox Drops to bring home and showed me how to mix them in case he starts to act like he's sick. We discussed the Epogen. She said that although cats with Kidney failure tend to respond well to it, the success with felv cats is much lower because once the leukemia gets into the marrow, it is less likely to be able to stimulate production of the necessary stuff. She said she wasn't saying that it wouldn't work, but it is quite expensive and I shouldn't get my hopes up too much. We didn't do any blood work yet. We are going to wait a little while and see what is going on. I am trying to go as low-cost as possible in case I do decide to use the Epogen. She said it was about $125.00 for a 3 week supply. She said she would teach me how to give the injections at home since it starts out with 3 doses per week. Lefty is acting fine. He seems to be adapting to the car ride a little better--no poop, puke or pee the last couple of trips! I even opened his carrier and he relaxed on my lap while I was driving on the way home. He is resting in the sunshine now and other than a little shedding, he seems quite normal. Dr. Snider said we are approaching the "death of the donor cells" period and we are just going to have to wait and see what happens. I am a little more calm now. I know I have done everything I can to give Lefty a chance to fight this off and at least if I lose him now, I know I have tried...Don't get me wrong, I am not giving up by any means, but right now it is more up to him than it is me. I am hoping he is young enough and strong enough to fight back for awhile. I am going to reseach the Epogen on the archives tonight and make a decision on that next week. The vet said it wouldn't be any problem at all to have my mother-in-law drop Lefty off while I am gone if anything happens. After seeing how sweet all the vets and assistants are, I think that is what I will do. If he gets too sick to stay at home, I would rather have him there with Dr. Snider. We live in a very isolated farming area and I can't imagine finding anyone who would be willing to come out here and stay for a week without charging a fortune. I think this will work. My MIL took care of him when I went away for the weekend in April and he was really sick then--he could barely walk..she even gave him water in a syringe. I think he will be okay with her. I will let you all know in the next day or two how he is doing. I may have gotten all worked up over nothing...at least that is what I am hoping. It makes me feel better to see that he is acting like he feels fine....that is probably the best I can hope for right now. Just keep us in your thoughts... Angela and Lefty & Poncho. Also, I have a friend who has a cat she adopted from a shelter in Columbus a year or so ago. This cat is a HUGE gray fur-ball. Her name is Jodi and she is the perfect house-cat. Unfortunately, this friend has a 15 year old son who just got a Black Lab Puppy and he has taught the puppy to torment Jodi. My friend says that Jodi hides from everyone who visits except me...she comes to find me when I am there. She says that Jodi can sense that I am a 'cat person'. Jodi has started to shed and is running out the door (which she NEVER did before the puppy thing started) and she is just miserable.They asked if I wanted her. She has had her vaccinations but I am just not sure. Dr. Snider said the vaccine is probably the least effective of all the animal vaccinations she has. I have seen the debate on here, but didn't pay too much attention because I never even considered getting another cat...until poor Jodi....I just don't know what to do. Could some of you who have positives and vaccinated negatives living together write to me and tell me what you think. You can write privately if you don't want to post to the whole list. I would appreciate any input. Thanks. ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 13:21:36 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Lefty Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Angela I hope Lefty is doing better, I too feel that if he gets too sick that the vets is the best place for him. And being young is defintly on his side, Rubin was much older and we knew when he got sick again that his age was against him. You are in our prayers Gina ---------------------------------------- From: meowmama@bellsouth.net Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:27:04 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Worried about Lefty Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Angela, I didn't read your post until this morning - had problems with server - but I just want you to know that we're thinking about you and Lefty and hoping that everything will be ok. These things always seem to happen at the worst times, but let's be hopeful until you know what's going on. Please let us know when you get back from the vet! (And vibes for your son too!) Hugs to you and Lefty, -- Kathy G and the 3 furries in Daytona Beach =^.^= Rusty =^.^= Smokey =^.^= Money see us at: http://cgi.gambitsys.com/homey/webdoc5.htm The Cat: Mother Nature's Masterpiece ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 13:35:18 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Lefty Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Angela In regards to your friends son's puppy, I hope that they are being careful that the pup does not hurt or even kill the cat. I know from our Labs it took 4 years before we could trust them alone with the cats. Gina ---------------------------------------- From: meowmama@bellsouth.net Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:47:06 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Jake Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Everyone, > Regarding the Liver Shake - if someone could post the recipe I'll post to the > Holisticat list and see what response comes from there. Many of the people > on the list are using raw diets and have a lot of experience. Thanks. > > > > -- Kathy G and the 3 furries in Daytona Beach =^.^= Rusty =^.^= Smokey =^.^= Money see us at: http://cgi.gambitsys.com/homey/webdoc5.htm The Cat: Mother Nature's Masterpiece ---------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:07:24 -0600 Subject: Re: Jake To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Diana, I posted that liver shake to feline-l (after Kat posted it to this list a few weeks ago), but I'm also on the holisticat list and told them about vet-in-training's neg. reaction. First of all, the liver shake was created by a vet in Hawaii and used by a vet in Arizona. Second, the shake is intended for short time use only--just to get some nutrients in the cat. It's not intended as a regular diet--just as you wouldn't feed Nutrical as the only nutritional source, but just to keep the kitty's little motor going :-) Richard Pitcairn (Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, p. 25) does advise people not to feed cats raw liver as more than 10 % of diet because of Vit. A toxicity and because the liver is an eliminative organ through which toxins pass; however the liver *is* rich in nutrients and very tasty to many cats (mine, for instance). I think Barb's suggestion of calf's liver might be the way to go and of course organic would have even less toxins... Soooo. That's the other side of the story...as I understand it. Also people on the holisticat list have used the shake w/ success. Maybe Dr. Myers can give some input on this? BTW, Diana, that is a really handy suggestion about warming the eyedrops; along w/ Lynn's suggestion, the whole process would be more comfortable (I would think) for the kits! Susan ---------------------------------------- From: katseven@pcsia.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:20:34 -0600 Subject: Re:Lefty To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Angela, Everyone is sending you such good suggestions. Here is an on-line list of pet sitters; that's about the only thing I can think of right now. Check the pet sitters online yellow pages www.petsitters.com. You might find someone in your area there. I am hoping the best for you and Lefty and Poncho. Susan ---------------------------------------- From: "Moermond, Barbara" To: "'FELVTALK@MAILINGLIST.NET'" Subject: Ninja update Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 14:16:41 -0500 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Well, Ninja had another seizure early this morning after her pilling and a scare later this morning. After the 1st one, I was waiting for some calls back once places opened and I was sitting on the living room floor with her, just keeping her company and she got up and walked onto the blanket I was sitting on and peed on it. I told her "No" and she ran into the bedroom. She is so sensitive. I feel bad when I need to tell her 'no' because she gets so scared. My vet said I could bring her in for another shot and maybe some valium, but since I don't have a car and I just broke up with my boyfriend, I would have to take a cab or something and I had to come in to work anyway. So, I am just going to watch her and hope for the best. I am still trying to get hold of the neurologist who has been working with me, but she is very hard to track down. She and I have been playing phone tag this week because I wanted to update about what happened last weekend and now I have even more to tell her and ask her about. Once again, I am wishing I could afford to do more for her. I am hoping for a quiet weekend health-wise. Wish us luck! barb+ninja ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 15:28:29 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ninja update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb Could you have the vet call in some valium at the drugstore for you to pick up? I know that our vet does that for us. Good Luck Gina ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 16:13:51 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ninja update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb Rubin was on oral valium for nearly a year, it was not much as far as mg. I belive it was around 1 mg, I am not sure. During that time he was fine never had liver problems Keep us posted Gina ---------------------------------------- From: "Moermond, Barbara" To: "'felvtalk@mailinglist.net'" Subject: another Ninja update Date sent: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 16:10:50 -0500 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Well, since I can't afford to do a complete diagnostic work-up (MRI etc) we are starting Ninja on phenobarbital as well as the prednisone. When we go in to check her hepatic function again in a week or two, I'm going to go ahead and test for toxo because we can actually treat that! Hopefully, her seizures are from toxo and not a meningioma and we can stop them!!!! Here's hoping!!! Barb+Ninja ---------------------------------------- END