You might also try mixing pumpkin with wet food to help with the diarrhea. I have cats (and a dog) that get diarrhea on antibiotics. I admire what you've taken on. Good luck with all the cats you have rescued, and welcome to the list. tonya
Gloria Lane <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: What a loving thing you've done! I do like interferon alpha, but find different vets sell it for different prices. I've found a less expensive source locally and generally give 1/2 cc daily to FELV cats that are less than 3 yrs old, or if they're sick like yours. I've been using veterinary (not grocery store) kaopectate for diarrhea lately and it's worked great - think it's good for coating the lining of the digestive tract. I started that because I ran out of Panacur, but it's working well. The latest formulation of Kaopectate that you get in the grocery and drugs stores contains an aspirin like substance that's harmful to cats. At Veterinarypartner.com, there's an article that says: "The old form of Kaopectate contained only kaolin and pectin while later forms contained attapulgite, all of which were very safe in animals due to the lack of systemic absorption. However, Kaopectate has recently developed a new formula that contains the drug bismuth subsalicylate, a drug that can be toxic to cats. " So we got some of the old formula from a vet, and it works well. Best of luck, Gloria On Feb 24, 2008, at 8:05 PM, whocares whocares wrote: To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hi, This is my first post so please bear with me. I'm posting this through email. If there's a more efficient way please let me know. 2 weeks ago I took in 7 filthy, reeking, matted, very, very ill cats from a horrific shelter in the area. All were emaciated, dehydrated, infected eyes, URI's, ear mites/infections, severe diahrea, etc.. My vet didn't think they'd make it through the first night but here they are getting healthier by the day. Some still need injectable antibiotic combos daily but they are improving. One of these had severe gingivitis - very infected teeth that had to be dealt quickly. She survived the anaesthetic and had all except 4 teeth removed (her canines were sticking sideways out of her mouth they were so infected). She had a blood panel done and she tested positive for FeLV. Her other levels correlate with the positive diagnosis. She may be up to 8 yrs old? She has a severe URI which is improving. However, she has terrible diahrea. She is on a daily injectable antibiotic combo and also gets injectable B12 and injectable B complex. I have her on probiotics and Standard Process Whole Body Support. I have Collostrum. Do you recommend it and how much should I give her? She's tiny and fragile - 4 - 5 lbs now. Do you recommend Interferon? What else can I give her? She is isolated in a very large sunny warm bathroom and very happy and very active (even a bit hyper). She has gone from NASTY cat in the beginning to sweet cuddly lap cat now. Two of the others have been tested (awaiting results) and the other 4 will have blood panels this week. Some of these new cats are isolated together and some are isolated alone. My own cats and other permanent fosters I have are fragile and don't get vaxed - can't due to auto immune diseases, severe HCM, vaccinosis, etc. so the new ones have no contact with mine. Any and all suggestions, advice would be gratefully accepted. Thanks El ---------------------------------