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Nina,
Just a comment on the vet doing a test with all the
blood combined. It is often done this way in order to save the client
money. If the test is negative - over 90% are - you haven't
wasted the money for individual tests. Since the test was positive,
perhaps he should have then suggested individual tests.
Gary
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 11:25
PM
Subject: Re: FELV + kittens
Tonya,
I just wrote the following to Lori direct.. I
said pretty much the same things you did! I hope she joins the
list. I'm in CA, but in So Ca. I'm praying for her and those
babies!
Nina
Hi Lori,
I'm on Tonya's felv list, (btw you should
join, if you want to help those kittens: http://www.felineleukemia.org/
).
First of all, thank you so much for rescuing these babies! I'm
not sure how you'll be able to give them up, (allergies, or no allergies),
after being accepted as a furless mom!
I'm confused as to why
your vet would mix the blood samples when testing. It is not necessarily
so that every kitten in the litter will turn up positive, just because one
does, or because their mom does. I rescued a litter of felv bottle
babies and one of them tested negative, one hasn't been tested, but has
remained asymptomatic for 2 years. So if one of them is testing
positive, you're dooming both without really knowing if they both are.
You can't know for sure if these guys will continue to test positive until
they're older, especially with a "weak positive" result. I understand
the shelter's position, they don't have the room for healthy kittens and cats,
let alone those that might have a serious problem. Please join our
list! You'll meet so many wonderful, knowledgeable people who can assure
you that these guys are worth saving!
It doesn't sound like your vet
has a lot of experience with felv, (at least not from his testing
procedure). You need to find someone, if he's not, that's willing to
work with you. The first thing I'd do is ask about Interferon A, it will
help boost their immune system. There's also something called Transfer
Factor that might help with that. Instead of the KMR, if you could make
them homemade formula, it would be much better for them. I'm attaching a
recipe in case you're interested.
Please let us know what you decide.
I'm pulling for those babies and for
you!
Nina
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