The virus is very fragile and dies when it contacts the air. I give
my guys 30 units of interferon alpha daily, to support the immune
system and keep the viral load down. I personally don't worry about
the chlorox and lysol stuff, the virus is just not that hearty. I
mixed negatives and positives at one time, as some do here, and will
again except I have fosters for the rescue, so they're not all my cats.
Many vets are really not knowledgeable about this, so offer euth. as
the 1st option. Really too bad, too.
Best of luck,
Gloria
On Aug 5, 2006, at 11:47 AM, Dee & Evan wrote:
I am the guardian from Western Pennsylvania with 10+ cats (oldest
ages 17-female & 13-male), with a newly diagnosed FeLV+ stray, now
named Smokey. I want to thank everyone for your comments of
support. I am very grateful. I am still on my quest to find a new
home or foster parent for him (if we can get him stabilized) . My
support where I live is very poor & limited. Both vets I have
talked to have given the 1st option of euthanasia because I will
"just be throwing money down the tubes" to treat him as put by one
of the vets. I even had to make the suggestion of Pet-Tenic for
him (6 days after the vet visit) after reading the Feline Leukemia
website. I am freaking out about exposure to my other 10 cats
since the vets keep telling me he is highly contageous! The
boosters on my other 10 cats are due here in August so I have a vet
coming out on Wednesday, 08/09/06 to administer the boosters. I
don't even wear the same clothes around my other cats (I place them
in a plastic bag to use again, high enough for my other cats not to
reach). I use Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, Germ-X hand sanitzier,
etc. I even go to the extreme of taking a shower after visiting
Smokey. Sometimes I have to hold the tears back at work & break
down & cry when I finally get home. I am panic stricken over this
whole situation & not sure what the right thing to do is. Smokey
has a right to a chance for life ~ I cannot chose to euthanize him
just becuase he is sick, it is not his fault. Although I do
understand there will probably be a time where there is nothing
more I can do. I have limited finances, I am not a Rockefellar,
but I am not ready to give up yet. Help! Can anyone give me some
more words of wisdom & experience? Thank you.
*_Smokey's Situation_:*
We have only "known" Smokey for less than 4 weeks.
I do not know how old he is.
As far as I can tell he is not neutured. He is too weak to even
vacinate for rabies,etc.
He is only 4 1/2 pounds. He has diarrhea (although it is somewhat
better but not anywhere close to where his stool should be). He
seems to be running a slight fever.
His appetite is very good. I wish he would drink more water so I
am going to make him homemade chicken broth. I Sub-Q 1/2 to 1 unit
of IV every other day, every day if he lets me. He is wormed ~ I
will need to worm him again in 8 days.
He is on three antibiotics (two oral liquids & one for his ears).
He had a bacterial ear infection. He is a very loving, warm soul.
I have him isolated in a bedroom from the other 10 cats. I have a
laundry basket in front of the door & a towel w/a 2x4 piece of wood
at the bottom so there is no contact with the other cats. We live
in an old farm house. So I cannot install a window air conditioner
because the electrical outlets are only two-prong, ungrounded.
There is a fan in his room.
~Dee
