[Felvtalk] Please help! Anemic felv kitty, what can be done??

Sat Feb 28 01:15:15 CST 2015

Looks like I got Bailey's anemia numbers all wrong (it's been a while 
and I'm getting old  :) ), here is Bailey's story if you'd like to see it:

http://felvpositivefelines.org/bailey.shtml

On 2/27/2015 1:26 PM, N. E. Juskowich wrote:
> Belinda,
> Was Bailey diagnosed with kidney disease or did his bloodwork indicate 
> that anything was amiss with his kidneys? I did come across Epogen in 
> my research, but the doctor overseeing his care following the first 
> transfusion insisted it's only for anemia resulting from renal disease 
> and they wouldn't administer it to him because it could potentially 
> cause a reaction.  Not sure if I can convince a different doctor to 
> try it, but I am curious as to whether or not it could work in cats 
> with perfectly functioning kidneys.
>
> Very sorry for your loss, btw. What a horrible disease this is.
>
> On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:41 PM, Belinda <macat at bemikitties.com 
> <mailto:macat at bemikitties.com>> wrote:
>
>         When my Bailey was anemic and yes it was non regenerative
>     anemia, we tried Epogen, it kept his HCT within normal range, I
>     have also used Procrit, when my CRF kitty was anemic.  My vet
>     didn't think it would do any good but I figured what did we have
>     to lose except his life .... he lived for months until the cancer
>     we could diagnose took him.  We knew he had cancer but non of the
>     tests or ultra sounds gave us a definitive diagnosis.  After he
>     passed my vet did a necropsy and he had pancreatic cancer which I
>     suspected because he didn't want to eat and sometimes his tube
>     feedings seemed to bother him.
>
>     There is also something called Eprex, which I have not heard of or
>     used.
>
>
>     On 2/27/2015 12:21 PM, Katherine K. wrote:
>>
>>     On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, N. E. Juskowich
>>     <nej917 at gmail.com <mailto:nej917 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>         Time is of the essence for us and I need to know if there's
>>         something else that can be done for my sweet little
>>         just-turned-one-year-old boy.  He had a PCV of 12% and
>>         received a blood transfusion, his PCV went up a little, then
>>         back down, then up to 17% over the course of 24 hours.  He
>>         was put on 7.5 mg. prednisone, 25 mg. mycophenolate, 18.75
>>         mg. plavix (to prevent clots from the pred/mycophenolate
>>         combo), 25 mg. doxycycline (in case of mycoplasma infection),
>>         and 5 mg. famotidine to prevent GI issues from the pred.
>>
>>         His anemia is currently non-regenerative with two most likely
>>         potential causes: he was agglutination positive, a sign of
>>         immune mediated red blood cell destruction; he may have
>>         leukemia in the marrow.  We did not do a bone marrow aspirate
>>         because cancer would be too advanced at this stage, the
>>         severe anemia indicating this to be the case.  The doctor
>>         said it could take a few days of immunosuppressant therapy
>>         for the bone marrow to respond.
>>
>>         Two days after the PCV of 17% we had a recheck and it is now
>>         down to 14%.  He is going to receive another transfusion.
>>
>>         I need to know as quickly as possible: Is there anything else
>>         that can be done at this stage?  I was looking into treatment
>>         with TCyte (LTCI), but my vet said it would be a waste of
>>         time and money.  I'd read on a forum that a severely anemic
>>         felv kitty responded very well to the drug and I would've
>>         been willing to give it a shot.  My vet is of the opinion
>>         that I should not have bothered with this second transfusion
>>         (he had to go to emergency hospital for it) and the TCyte is
>>         "hogwash".  I'm sitting here feeling hopeless and wondering
>>         if this really is the end and what do I do now if he doesn't
>>         respond to the transfusion.
>>
>>         Any advice would be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating
>>         necessary, but please be gentle.  If nothing can be done,
>>         what can I do for him to keep him happy and comfortable? 
>>         Will he need euthanized or will he pass peacefully?
>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
>     -- 
>
>     Belinda
>     happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ...
>     http://MyFundit.com/site
>     http://FreeAnimalRescueWebsite.org
>     http://HostDesign4U.com
>
>
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>
>
>
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-- 

Belinda
happiness is being owned by cats and Emma ...
http://MyFundit.com/site
http://FreeAnimalRescueWebsite.org
http://HostDesign4U.com

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