Hi Belinda, I do know Bailey's story well and honestly you are one of the only stories I've heard with positive results (not to say there aren't a lot more good ones out there, that's why I'm asking). Your story keeps me wondering if I should try it despite the warnings. I'm so glad you had these results with Epogen. I actually had the vet research WHY it could possibly help a leuk positive cat because of your story. I can't find one vet that can explain why it could possibly help since a leuk positive cat is normally making erythropoietin just fine on it's own. That's not to say it has never helped. She has heard of cases but said there is no biological/medical reason it should help . Does anybody know how or why it might help a cat with nonregenerative anemia?
I just want to say that the vet that told me this is most likely not flat out lying. She is a highly recommended internal med from Cornell University. She has been absolutely wonderful and has researched everything I've asked her about extensively. When I asked her about Epogen she didn't have to research it because she did have experience with it, with cats with CRF and cats without. I did A LOT of searching of all the medical facilities within hundreds of miles to find a specialist that actually deals with leukemia and treats cats with it regularly. Many vets in my area have never even seen a positive cat other than the ones they euthanize. I've lost one cat after another to leukemia and despite trying one thing after another, have never been able to bring one back from nonregenerative anemia. My cat that is currently being treated by Cornell is stable and holding his own 6 months after being diagnosed. I don't believe that would be the case without her help. I totally understand people on here feeling that most vets know nothing about leukemia but I just wanted to say that I spent A LOT of time and effort trying to locate a vet that would do the best possible job for this cat and it stings a bit to hear somebody say she is flat out lying to me or doesn't know how to use Epogen. Anyways, I don't post on here a lot and was nervous about saying anything about my fears of Epogen because I thought it might ruffle some feathers. I just couldn't at least throw it out there because I personally would feel awful if I did something to speed up how quickly this disease can take down a positive cat. I really think each person needs to do what they are comfortable with and I just wanted to throw out what I heard on the off chance it is accurate. I'd love to hear from others that have tried Epogen too. Amy --- On Wed, 3/17/10, Belinda Sauro <ma...@bemikitties.com> wrote: > From: Belinda Sauro <ma...@bemikitties.com> > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Epogen? Interfuron? > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 12:58 AM > Amy, > This vet is either flat out lying or isn't using it > correctly. > > It is very rare but a cat can have a reaction and that > reaction is that it wouldn't help and the HCT would continue > to go down, in some cases this is because the dose isn't > high enough, a few kitties need higher than the standard > dose. But of course the vets freak out and assume the > cat is having a reaction. So many vets are terrified > of this drug and it doesn't make sense, basically if it > isn't working you would be right back where you started. > It is documented that about 10% to 30% of cats would fall > into this category and of those it takes 5 months or longer > of use for this to happen. > > I know many, many people who have used it and only know of > one cat that is was suspected had this happen and I honestly > don't think that was the problem, I think that cat wasn't > getting a high enough dose. Most of these cats are CRF > but a few aren't and were anemic because of cancer or > something else. > > I've told Bailey's story more than once, he was positive, > he became anemic and once his HCT got to 20%, I decided to > try epogen, I think he was barely regenerative but honestly > it has been so long I can't remember. He did not have > kidney disease. > > By the time we got the epogen in it took a few days, he had > gone to 18% and once we started it went down to 15%, it took > about 6 weeks to get his HCT to 40% which is a little > quicker than you would like but he was fine and his HCT was > still normal at 33%, 34% 5 months later when he died of > pancreatic cancer. > > You do have to monitor the blood pressure because it can go > high, Bailey's did the opposite and got low but we had no > problems with the epogen. > > My vet has used it several times with FeLV+ cats and had > luck with it. > > -- > Belinda > happiness is being owned by cats ... > > http://bemikitties.com > > http://BelindaSauro.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
