Thursday August 6, 1998 20 Messages ======================================== From: Qpeee@aol.com Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 03:11:39 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Copies to: Qpeee@aol.com Subject: Re: Ear Cleanings and ear mites Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi Cheri G.and the Four Fur Kids, Speaking of cleaning ears, I've always wrapped kitty with a large towel so all that shows is the head. It's a bit upsetting to them, but only momentarily. Most important though is that there is a relatively new med. which my vet has used for my kitties for the ear mites. It's an IM shot and completely rids kitty of those nasty , bothersome varments in just a few short days. . .it's been over 3 yrs. now and none of my 3 kitties has developed any more mites. Also , their ears have remained relatively clean. Before this shot, I messed with all sorts of yukky creams, liquids, etc., and never had much luck. I don't know the name of the med off-hand, but perhaps your vet would know. Otherwise, I could probably find out the name if you'd like. Good Luck Colleen ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 08:09:34 -0400 (EDT) From: Kat To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ear Cleanings and ear mites Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Colleen, By any chance was the shot Ivermectin?? I haven't had to go this route yet, but I've spoken with a few people who do rescue work with feral cats, and they swear by these shots - 1 shot and you're done. Kat (New Jersey) ---------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Ear Cleanings and ear mites Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 07:14:41 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Colleen, The vet said the ear mites are gone. The problem is bacteria and yeast. I took him in yesterday and they cleaned and medicated the ears. I'll keep medicating the ears until next week. Then he'll go again. The cleaning medicine foams and drives him crazy. The vet pputs it on a cotton ball and then puts that in his ear,folds the flap down and rubs it. I'll try that. the towel didn't work at all. He goes absolutely crazy. He was panting and his little heart was beating so fast. I felt so sorry for him. Cheri G. and the four fur balls ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 10:40:19 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: three ring circuits Subject: RE: Ester C Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net FINALLY, at long last, I've found the vitamin C I was looking for. Someone on this list mentioned Ester C which the man at the health food store said was great as it was easy on digestion.What I found was 500 mg ( it also has calcium in it I believe - 5mg of calcium ascorbate ) and I crushed it up and gave Hershey about 1/3 of it last night. So far so good.... NO diarrhea. I mixed it into some chicken baby food ( of course with NO onion powder ) and he lapped it right up. :-) Does anyone know how long I should give this to him???? Is it like Echinacea where you just do it for 10 days and then quit?????? Debby, & the HBG (the HairballGang) ---------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 17:25:43 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ear Cleanings and ear mites Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I stopped by my vets today and asked him about it, it is that I....stuff. I can't remember how to spell it. It is actually Cow worming medicine! It is very cheap and can be given orally also. It is used "off label" as many meds are and is not actually approved for use in cats or dogs but vets have been doing it for years. I would like to smack him actually. I have been fighting mites forever. With 18 of them, it's not an easy job chasing them all around trying to put stuff in their ears. It's amazing how just the smell of the stuff can clear a room! All I have to do is weigh them all and let him know what they are and I can get it. Wish I would have known that before. Thanks so much who ever mentioned it. You're a godsend. barb ---------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 17:30:04 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: A new member with questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cary, Didn't want you to think I haven't seen your letter. Got a storm roaring in and better get off the computer, but have printed out your letter and will go over it, over supper. Hopefully storm will pass quick. barb ---------------------------------------- From: Qpeee@aol.com Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 19:13:52 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ear Cleanings and ear mites Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Yes, Ivermectin, I remember the name. It sure took care of any and all ear mites in my three that had them horribly. . . one so bad that he didn't even want anyone touching him anywhere on his head. I guess it was that tender, poor kitty. He was a stray too. Great stuff! ---------------------------------------- From: Qpeee@aol.com Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 19:18:50 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Ear Cleanings and ear mites Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheri G, Gosh, that sounds awful for the poor baby. Did you ask vet if med (or substitute) came in a cream instead. Maybe kitty could handle a cream easier. The foam must be dreadful for him. Wishing you Luck. Colleen ---------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 19:49:25 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: A new member with questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cary, All peaceful here, for the moment. First, what tests have been done? Just the ELISA? or has an IFA or PCR test been done. While bone marrow asprites can be very informative, if an effected bone is not used, it will show negative. Tho FIV has similarities, if the other cat didn't have FeLV, he could not have given it to her. FIV, yes, but not FeLV. Now, it is possible that Molly has been harboring it for years, showing no symptoms, but I have to be honest, it strikes me as odd that if that is the case, she didn't give FeLV to the other. It would seem to me that the other cat, already comprimised, would have caught it from her. Of course, he may have and if you didn't retest, may not have known. Anyway, It is possible that the steriods have helped her produce RBC's. Short term use has been found to be benificial in FeLV cats. They have also been used to stimulate appetite. But long term use, since they suppress the immune system, has to be weighed against the good they are doing. NEVER stop them suddenly. They must be weaned off of them slowly. We have on cat on the list that must stay on them because he has seizures without them. I must say, that is quite a jump in a short time. And it is very encouraging her Reticulocyte count is up. This is the final maturing stage for an RBC and are released into the bloodstream at this point. Their life expectancy at this point is a little over 120 days. A low count of Retic's indicates bone marrow dysfunction. So that is good news all around. With the aglutinating problem, I doubt, unless you have her carefully typed and crossmatched and have blood sent from a lab (there are labs that do this for cats) it would be risky. For those who are wondering, aglutinating means the blood cells are sticky, forming clumps. This was probably a reaction to the first blood transfusion. Cats, like people, have different blood types. The Epogen takes about 6 wks to start showing up in the lab work. One problem with this drug. It is a hormone replacement, Erythropoietin, put out by the kidneys. The kidneys are very oxygen sensitive and since RBCs carry O2, they are very sensive to anemia also, so they crank out this hormone to stimulate the production of RBCs. If Molly's kidneys are functioning normally, the added Epogen, may be a waste of money. You can have her tested for the level of this hormone at the Un. of Penn. It costs $75. If the hormone level is low, the drug will help. If it is normal or high, then adding more probably will not help. The test is an Erythropoietin level. If you want the numbers I can get them for you. I know I have them somewhere.... Is it a mutated FeLV virus? I know they have found several different strains. I know our list leader, Jim has been researching some of these. I haven't, so maybe he can jump in on that one. It is always possible she doesn't have it all but something else. Has Molly been tested for a little bugger called Hemobartinella? This is a nasty little thing that lives off RBCs and of course, makes the cat very anemic. Very anemic cats act and are, very ill. There are other similar problems, depending on where you live. Some of the desert states have their own set of problems with blood parasites. Most are treatable, there are a couple that aren't tho. ImmunoRegulin. This has been a topic of more discussion on this list than you will know. So to make sure there is no misunderstanding, there is no scientific research, no vast studies have been done on the use of ImmunoRegulin for the treatment of FeLV. Now with that disclaimer said...I have used it with good success. I am now using it in conjuction with a product called CoEnzyme Q10 and Thymus hormone on my Ariel. Tho she has not been sick, she tested positive twice and has been positive about 2 years. I received a letter from a girl who used this on her positive cat. He had tested positive even on the IFA test. He is now negative. Is this the cure we have been looking for? I wish I could say it was, but I can say this. She has been on it about 2wks now and is running and playing and in general much more active than she was. So something is happening, exactly what, I don't know yet and won't know for at least 6 more wks. If you want to try it, while it is better to get it IV, one half cc, twice a week, it can be given at home, using an insulin needle, under the skin. If it is very stressful for her to go to the vets, that might be a good option for you, and cheaper to. Way back when, when Ariel was first diagnosed with it, I ran her thru a course of ImmunoRegulin. Her lymph nodes were the size of peanuts and I was fearful of lymphosarcoma. After about a week, they went down and have never returned. Other folks have used it with good luck also and I will let them relate their stories to you. I also have some articles by vets who are now using it for the most dreaded of cat diseases, FIP. How old is Molly? We have so many things that can help with her anemia. Pet Tinnic among others. You will be hit with a lot of information. But it sounds like you have a good handle on her health and wellbeing. You are lucky to have each other! And it sounds like you have a vet that is really on top of things. We have a vet list for folks that are looking for vets that will agressively treat FeLV. Would your vet be interested in being added to that list? barb ---------------------------------------- From: "zimmerman" To: "felvtalk" Subject: Re: ear cleaning Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 16:54:55 -0400 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hey Cheri, If you need to restrain your cat by yourself they are less likely to panic if you let their hind feet on the floor or table. You can firmly wrap a towel around their chest (but they can still move their head) or grab them by the scruff & lift them off their front paws (this doesn't hurt them, but kind of has a paralyzing effect). Of course this leaves you 1 handed, but it works for simple quick things. Hope your fur ball likes this way better. Beth ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 17:50:06 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: Angela Holderby Subject: Re: Ear Cleanings and ear mites Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I am going to mention this to my vet next week as well. Jodi (my negative cat) is due for her immunizations and she has mites too. I checked her health history and she was treated SEVEN times last summer for this condition. I used the same stuff I always use and it did nothing for her. I want some of this stuff, too!!!!!!! Angela. (& Poncho and Jodi) ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 14:53:34 -0700 From: Cary Zeitlin Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: A new member with questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Thanks, Barb, I look forward to hearing from you after the storm passes. BTW, Molly's red count this morning is 22, up from 8 last Friday and 13 on Monday. Her reticulocytes are way up, too. Cary ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 16:55:22 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: vit. c Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nan, Your pet might have Pet-Tinnic or a veterinary supply store. Nancy ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 17:01:56 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: RE: Ester C Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Debby, I would give the Vit. C. forever and every day. I give Jake 250-500 mg. per day--mostly sodium ascorbate but with a little ascorbic acid with bioflavonoids in it. I put it all in a gelcap and shove it down his throat. I know that sounds rude, but it is the ONLY way Jake will take his medicine. I always give him a treat though along with his regimen which is twice a day. Occasionally (about 1 or 2 x a week) I skip it so as to give him a break. Nancy ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 17:04:21 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: A new member with questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cary, Am so happy to hear Molly's blood work is improving--13 to 22 is quite a jump! Nancy ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 15:13:38 -0700 From: Cary Zeitlin Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: A new member with questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Thanks, Nancy. Everybody's fairly amazed. Also, the vet said her blood is autoaglutinating much less than it was last Saturday, probably due to the Dexamethasone. Cary ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 19:57:24 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: three ring circuits Subject: RE: Ester C Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net thanks Nancy! I take it that at these levels, that Jake has never gotten diarrhea? that's what I heard could happen if the dose is too high. Meanwhile, Hershey is sneezing again.. wish I knew if it was allergies or what.... so maybe this will help him... guess only time will tell... and he's going back in on the 12th of this month to be retested now for the 3rd time with the FIP ELISA test.... gulp! > > Debby, & the HBG (the HairballGang) ---------------------------------------- From: "Claude Horstmann" To: Subject: Fw: vaccines: Barb Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 20:03:39 -0400 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net -----Original Message----- From: Claude Horstmann To: Claude Horstmann Date: Thursday, August 06, 1998 8:02 PM Subject: Re: vaccines: Barb Hi Cary, Welcome to the list, I went digging through old messages trying to find this one in particular, mainly because you asked about a mutated strain... and this explains that the research seems to be showing a possibility of 6 ! The other notables here will chime in with their experiences re: Epogen, and Prednisone, and we will all hope for your Mol to pull through this crisis. peace & light, ..marilyn.. -----Original Message----- From: Claude Horstmann To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date: Wednesday, April 01, 1998 10:48 PM Subject: vaccines: Barb Barb- A Dr Thompson has been investigating the effects of FeLV for the past 2 years at the Univ of Florida.. so far he's found SIX different DNA patterns, implying a possible six different strains of the virus. He has classified each persistently infected cat by the gene structure of its feline leuk virus. There seems to be a critical change in a key gene known as the "envelope gene" and all we can do is PLEASE STAND BY while this research continues. Apparently, immunity does exist in nature... I remember reading about the odd dilation too, but it was not in a book, it was on a FAQ sheet here on the web... and of course, I can't find it now either but will keep looking. ..marilyn.. ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 17:35:03 -0700 From: Cary Zeitlin Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: A new member with questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, Thanks for the massive and encouraging info! I am just about out the door here so no time for a real response -- but I will get back to this over the weekend. One note, well, two: Molly is about 9, and she did show hemobart a few weeks ago. At that point we switched to doxy and there has been no more hemobart found. One last thing, her autoaglutinating was much less today. More later, Cary ---------------------------------------- END