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Q: My kitten has been diagnosed with feline infectious peritonitis. My vet said this (disease) is fatal. Then, I saw on the Internet a new cure called PI. Can you tell me more? -- S.C., Cyberspace
A: While there's some hope that Polyprenyl Immunostimulant will help cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), the jury is still out.
Many cats, particularly kittens, come down with the enteric corona virus, which is benign; kitties get better on their own. However, in a small percentage of cats, the virus mutates into an auto-immune-like fatal disease called FIP. It's always been thought that FIP is rare. However, Dr.
By next summer or fall, PI will be available to help cats with feline herpes (feline upper respiratory infections), a common problem. The drug is now being tested for FIP.
Dr.
"I'm convinced PI helps cats with feline herpes by more than merely lessening symptoms; the drug seems to actually stimulate immune response," he says. The result shortens duration and severity of (the herpes) infection. Though, many cats with herpes "have a chronic condition, and while I am hopeful the drug will affect these cats - we don't know that yet for certain."
It was Legendre and the pharmaceutical company (Sass and Sass) who together thought PI might do what no other drug has been proven to do - help cats with FIP.
PI has helped extend life for a limited number of cats with dry FIP. So far, however, the drug has had no effect for cats with wet FIP. Legendre published his pilot study, and will do more research next year.
Meanwhile, if you have a kitten diagnosed with FIP, Legendre will attempt to make the drug available, but do understand that PI is still considered experimental. Your veterinarian can contact Legendre at alegendr@utk.edu.
To learn more about FIP, check http://eepurl.com/e3EM (including links to lengthy Podcast interviews I conducted with Pedersen and researcher Dr.
Q: Someone wrote on the Internet, "Very foul-smelling cat poop, in my experience, is an indication of a Vitamin B deficiency. And chronic diarrhea also may be an indication of malabsorption in the intestines." I can't believe that a person can smell a vitamin deficiency. What do you think? -- H.C., Cyberspace
A: It's unlikely that you could sniff out a vitamin B deficiency by smelling a cat's feces, says veterinary nutritionist Dr.
Does Moser suggest that pet owners learn what their pet's poop typically smells like - so they'll be able to detect any change? Moser replies, "Let's not overdo the recommendation."
Q: The piles are disappearing from our yard, and I know where they're going. How can I stop my dog from snacking on his own droppings? I can't think of anything more gross. -- S.P.,
A: I can't tell you why some dogs enjoy eating their own excrement. This behavior isn't uncommon and can be motivated by any number of factors. For your dog, allowed to wander in the yard for hours at a time, boredom may have sparked what's now a habit.
There are all sorts of concoctions you can prepare to booby-trap you dog's droppings. Try mixing Tobasco sauce with lemon juice and drizzling it liberally over his poo. Your dog might take a taste and swear off poop-snacking forever. On the other hand, he might just sniff before swallowing in future, still scarfing down fresh droppings.
For my money, the best answer is to simply pick up after your pet.
HOME 4 THE HOLIDAYS SAVING PETS BY THE MILLIONS
"It's not rocket science," says
Should We Worry About Pets Catching H1N1
Steve Dale
The fact that a single cat came down with the H1N1 is fascinating to scientists, veterinary infectious disease researchers and human virologists, but is this truly significant at all?
2009 National Dog Show Will Spotlight Work of Therapy Dogs
Steve Dale
The National Dog Show, presented by Purina, will air in a two-hour special on Thanksgiving Day, following the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, 12 p.m. ET. Arguably, even more than the legendary parade, the dog show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, has a little something for one everyone in the family. That's a rarity on TV these days
Cat Microchipping Effort Breaks Record
Steve Dale
Breaking the Guinness record book -- or maybe it's a Garfield record book -- 59,074 cats were microchipped and enrolled in the HomeAgain Pet Recovery Program from June through August. For the second consecutive summer, HomeAgain donated $1 per cat 'chipped to the non-profit Winn Feline Foundation.
Celebrating Feral Cats
Steve Dale
Domestic cats have been living with people for around for about 10,000 years, according to recently uncovered archeological evidence. Sometimes the cats provide great benefit. Credit cats for killing rats who spread the Great Plague. Today, we know living with housecats is beneficial for our health
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Steve Dale welcomes questions/comments from readers. Although he can't answer all of them individually, he'll answer those of general interest in his column. Write to Steve at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send e-mail to PETWORLD(at)STEVE DALE.TV. Include your name, city and state. Steve's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com; he can be heard Sundays on WGN Radio, 8 to 10 p.m. CST (www.wgnradio.com to listen live), and hosts the nationally syndicated "Steve Dale's Pet World" and "The Pet Minute." He's also a contributing editor to USA Weekend
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