Re: Vaccination/Treatment and Asthma question

[felv]

I, personally, have asthma AND a weak immune system, so I'm not convinced your 
theory
is correct. The main concern for cats with asthma is litter. What kind do you 
use,
and how dusty is it?

I think (from my own experience) that any time you are struggling to breathe or
coughing all the time, it takes a toll on your system. I know when my asthma is 
bad,
I tend to catch every virus that floats my way, more so than I would regularly. 
I
suppose this would carry over to cats as well. Asthma, I would assume, would 
make a
cat more likely to get FELV. My asthma makes ME more prone to get a cold, and 
asthma
is asthma, and a virus is a virus, right?

The best thing I have found for my asthma is cool, dry, clean air. It flares up 
when
I am in the bath or shower and in the summer when the air is humid, or if I get 
into
any dust or pollen (it kills me to sweep the floors). Dehumidifiers and air 
purifiers
help. Exercise helps too, believe it or not, the stronger I keep my heart lungs
through cardio exercise, the better I can breathe. Not much you can do to get a 
cat
to get a cardio work out though, unless she likes to play fetch or chase a toy 
you
can drag along the floor.

I really don't know how or if asthma would effect the reaction to vaccines. I 
would
certainly watch her closely after any vaccines, since some of the standard 
vaccines
are for protection against respiratory viruses, a system she is already having 
issues
with.

Jenn
http://ucat.us
http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html
Adopt a cat from UCAT rescue:
http://ucat.us/adopt.html
Adopt a FIV+ cat:
http://ucat.us/AWrescue/FIV/
"Saving one animal won't make a difference in the world, but it will make a 
world of
difference for that one animal."
~~~
I collect KMR kitten formula labels for Bazil, a 3 yr old special needs cat who 
must
live on a liquid diet for the rest of his life.
Bazil's caretaker collects labels and sends them to KMR, where they add up 
until she
earns a free can of formula!
PLEASE save your KMR kitten formula labels for Bazil!

If you use KMR, even just one can, please email me for the NEW address to send 
them
to!



-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.8/161 - Release Date: 11/3/2005

Re: Vaccination/Treatment and Asthma question

[Lernermichelle]

I know that cats with asthma can use inhalers-- little masks you hold over their face for them to breathe into once or twice a day, which have medicine in them.  
 
Stimulating the immune system is not necessarily bad for someone with an auto-immune response or allergies.  This is because there are 2 types of immune cells-- T cells and B cells.  B cells are the killer cells, which kill threatening invaders like viruses and bacteria.  T cells control the B cells-- tell them when to make more of themselves and when to back off.  Often when someone has an overactive immune response, it is because their B cells are out of control due to their T cells being too weak (this is what it means when they say someone has progressed from HIV+ into full-blown AIDS due to a drop in T cell count).  If you give immune supplements that stimulate T cells, this can help control over-active immune responses.  I have been told that things like Immuno-Regulin and many over-the-counter immune supplements work on T cells, not B cells, so are ok to give with over-active immune responses.  I can not say I am positive which ones do which, though.  But I think it is ok to try them, one at a time.  I would NOT give Transfer Factor to a cat with asthma, though, because it is milk-based (collustrum), and dairy increases congestion.
 
Michelle

Vaccination/Treatment and Asthma question

[Lynne Moquin]

What is the reaction or how do you deal with a cat who
has asthma, and may be FLV pos. or needs to be
vaccinated ?

Asthma cough if allergic, is an OVER active immune
response isn't it ?
Or is it just a warped immune system ?

Can you give an asthma cat Respond (nutraceutical
ginseng)
or Transfer Factor ? or do these overstimulate the
immune system ?
It would seem great to give Moducare /Moduvet which
MODERATES the immune system, calming an overactive one
and stimulating an underactive one.

How do they handle vaccine or for that matter being
exposed to FLV positive cats ?


Many thanks
Lynne







__ 
Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca