06/15/2023

We received the results from the PCR test, showing the viral count of the FeLV progressive virus per ml of blood. Jasper’s viral load was 8,820,000 (stunningly high). Dr. Paul Clemens had seen one of my posts and had contacted me to share stories of the cats that he has treated and to offer his soothing support. By this time he had treated many cats with FeLife and all were thriving despite being diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. 

To date, Jasper's viral load was the second highest that Dr. Paul Clemens had seen; although the highest was more than 700,000,000 (Yes, over seven hundred million copies of the virus in just a ml of blood)! A cat has 240ml of blood, so you can imagine how intense that was. Yet, that cat is thriving to this day. We were given renewed hope that Jasper could beat this.

During the first week home, Jasper began to act as though it was painful to eat. Fearing stomatitis or gum disease I started him on some Doxycyline that I had on hand. The research states that it is a good broad spectrum treatment for the infections and blood parasites which plague FeLV+ cats. The effect of the FeLife was rapid, and Jasper was back to eating like a horse! Various inspections of his mouth showed no problems, so we aren't sure what that was about.

We continued Epogen shots, given every three days, as well as the Prednisolone. In addition to the prescriptions and the FeLife from DocClemens, I also gave him ProBoost Thymic Protein, Imuquin Immune Support, center leaf aloe in his food and/or center leaf aloe juice, and subcutaneous fluids when he got dehydrated.

To rule out parasites, I dewormed him with Ivermectin, Praziquantal and Fenbendazole (although I caution the Fenbendazole because research indicates a potential risk of causing anemia).

06/20/2023

HCT 19.90% Slight drop from previous. Weight 12.3lbs Still on borrowed blood. Last Epogen shot had been given. Continuing all treatments. 

06/21/2023

First Darbepoetin alfa & iron injections were given. 

06/27/2023

HCT  jumped up to 31.6% (11.7% increase) Weight 13lbs. We credit this to the reduction of viral load from the FeLife and the Darbepoetin/iron injections the previous week. At this time, we did a second Darbepoetin and Jasper began to resume his normal activities from two years prior. We realized that he may have been fighting this for a long time and that he wasn’t just getting older (4 years) as we had assumed.

Because of the improvement on the three-week follow-up our veterinarian became hesitantly optimistic and agreed that we could taper off of the Prednisolone, which we did over the next two weeks. We finished up the prescribed Doxycyline and stopped that, as well. Follow-up appointments extended to two-week intervals.