Actually, what I should have said was to find another vet. Find one that knows more about FeLV and knows that it is not an automatic death sentence. Find one that knows about the different types of tests and is open minded about FeLV and treating FeLV.
“I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn’t….the pain which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking further.” – Mark Twain From: molvey...@hotmail.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:12:07 -0500 Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] (no subject) No - don't give up on him. It's too early to make any decisions. Just because the vet did one blood test that said he was FeLV positive that does not mean he will stay that way. The test they do in the office is a first step. An indicator that further testing is required. That's all. The vomiting could be from a lot of different things and isn't necessarily related to the FeLV. The test they do in the office can show a false positive - in other words, the test could be wrong. That does happen in a small percentage of cases. Those test are sensitive and can show incorrect results if not handled correctly. But, assuming the test is showing correct results then there are still other things to look at before making any decisions. There is a possibility that the cat can extinguish the virus. A percentage of cats that get the virus are actually able to get rid of it. A second test called an IFA test will show whether the virus has progressed to the point of no return. If that test is negative then the cat still has a chance to get rid of the virus so you should wait a couple months or so and re-test. If that test is positive then it's not likely the cat will be able to get rid of the virus so you don't need to do any further testing. But no matter what the test results are it doesn't mean you have to put him down. You can put him down when he's suffering and there's no relief for him. Euthanasia is about ending pain that cannot be treated, not ending a life because of what could or could not happen in the future. You just need to take care of him and treat his symptoms and who knows when his time will come. Like I said above, the vomiting might not even be related to FeLV. Lots of cats vomit for lots of different reasons. Now you do need to figure what's wrong and fix it because you don't want him to become dehydrated from all the vomiting. You tell that vet to figure out what's wrong and don't just assume he's throwing up because he has FeLV. I'll let others chime in but don't give up yet. Get him over this sickness and just treat him whenever he gets sick but don't assume he's going to die anytime one little thing goes wrong. Many cats with FeLV can live several years. I've heard of 8, 9 and 10 year olds that are still kicking. Actually there are some that go into their teens. If a cat contracts FeLV when it's a kitten then they don't do as well and many of them will die within the first 3 years. Not all, but a good bit. But adults seem to be able to deal with it for a long time. “I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn’t….the pain which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking further.” – Mark Twain Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:34:48 -0800 From: warden_christ...@yahoo.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: [Felvtalk] (no subject) i have a male cat bout three yrs old whom recently gotten sick he started vomininting on the second day i took him to the vet they said he had felv an that there was nothin they could do he has no fever,he weights 8 pound. just throwing up they say i will have to put him down or will soon have to burry him;( im not sure what to do i share my lil buddy with four kids what do i do do i have to give up on him????? im not ready to let him go do u have advice for me???? thank you tina an kids _______________________________________________ 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
_______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
