Thanks for the responses. Just a note, we already use a metal water bowl, although when he was sick a few weeks back we added a ceramic bowl in our bedroom. We have now eliminated that one and will see if that helps. Don and Oliver
On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 8:35 PM, Don <mosquito.d...@gmail.com> wrote: > Just an update. I took Oliver in today as he has some pretty bad acne on > his chin and while we were there I had them do a retest (snap) FIV/leukemia > test. He was negative for both, so it appears as the first positive test > we got about a month ago was a false positive and the infection he had was > likely just another virus. We pretty much expected this once the IFC tests > were both negative but it was nice to have confirmation. > Thanks for the all the replies with advice. > Don and Oliver > > On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 8:51 PM, Don <mosquito.d...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hello. >> Our boy Oliver, has been doing well since his brothers passing due to CRF >> last Feb but in the past year or so we have seen some signs that we had >> been reading as old age (less grooming, weight loss...he just turned 15 >> this August). Thursday night he was acting lethargic and seemed to be warm >> to the touch. I dropped him off at our vet who suggest it might just be a >> virus (most of this blood panel was good, except a low white blood cell >> count, now 2% below normal HCT values since July, and a 105 F temperature). >> He suggested we might test him for leukemia and FIV as he wanted to rule it >> out even though Oliver has always been an indoor cat (he used a ELISA snap >> test...as far as we know he has never been tested for feLV or FIV). The bad >> news came later when he called to say he was positive for both. He said the >> FIV could be false if Oliver was every given an FIV vaccination (he has), >> but the other was likely true (and also explained the low white count and >> the fever, and now in retrospect some of the other issues). The vet thinks >> he may have had this all his life and is just now experiencing the >> symptoms. So now he is home and although I have read up some and don't see >> much hope, I wondered if anyone can offer any advice. We have sent the >> blood off to get the more sophisticated test but won't hear back until next >> week. >> Our vet, who is the best I have had, suggested perhaps he will last a few >> weeks or months, given that he is showing signs that his body might be >> losing the battle (low white cells, anemia). I'm trying to be optimistic, >> but with no treatments I know this is probably a battle we cannot win. >> >> Here are my questions: >> 1. We have 2 other cats who we think have had the feLV booster recently >> (they are 14 and 16 years old and got the immunization as kittens). Are >> they in danger? If they got shots as kittens would they be still safe? We >> have Oliver with his own litter box and am making sure they use separate >> water and food bowls. There is not grooming among them. >> 2. Is there anyway to know if Oliver can still fight off the virus and >> become free of it? If he did have it for 14-15 years, then why does he >> have symptoms now? If it was a recent exposure (we cannot think of any way >> he would have gotten it) then could he still be fine? >> 3. He seems fine now (no fever, eating, drinking, using the litter box, >> etc.) so is this a good sign that perhaps he is able to fight it off or is >> this just a false hope. >> 4. If the other test is positive, would anyone suggest using the LTCI >> treatment? I have not found good scientific info on it's effectiveness >> although there appear to be no major side effects. >> >> Thanks. >> Don and Oliver > > >
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