Monday June 2, 2008, 12:48 pm
read & noted . At least some news! Thank you, Madras !

Monday June 2, 2008, 2:08 pm
Is Dr Murarka serious????????? Where did he go to vet school again???????

Monday June 2, 2008, 2:26 pm
For more information on FIP read this:

http://www.vetinfo.com/cencyclopedia/cefip.html

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fip.html

pay special attention to the last thread of the second link provided. It states:

There is only one licensed FIP vaccine available; however, this vaccine has minimal if any effectiveness in preventing FIP, and it is not generally recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel. Primucell FIP, produced by Pfizer Animal Health, is a temperature-sensitive, modified-live virus vaccine that is given as an intranasal vaccine, and is licensed for use in cats at least 16 weeks of age. The vaccine appears to be safe, but the risks and benefits of vaccination should be weighed carefully. Cat owners should consult their veterinarian to help them decide if their cat should be vaccinated.

What was that again, Dr Murarka? I cannot believe that a vet would make such a wild statement as that and I cannot further believe that the PSPCA (or their PR firm) would allow that statement to be released under the present circumstances....shaking head.....

Monday June 2, 2008, 2:43 pm
Thanks Madras.

Monday June 2, 2008, 2:46 pm
I wasn't going to go there... I really wasn't... but the following statement attributed to Dr. Murarka is truly preposterous:

“Unfortunately, three cats recently died from advanced Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), one from liver failure and two more from the Calici virus,” said Murarka. “The viruses would have easily been prevented had they received the appropriate vaccinations and medical attention at Tiger Ranch.”

Monday June 2, 2008, 2:46 pm
I'm glad that so many of the cats seem to be doing so well, though. More hugs for the kitties >^..^

Monday June 2, 2008, 2:49 pm
From the second link :

Can I protect my cat from getting FIP?

In multiple cat environments, keeping cats as healthy as possible and minimizing exposure to infectious agents decreases the likelihood of cats developing FIP. Litter boxes should be kept clean and located away from food and water dishes. Litter should be cleansed of feces daily, and the box should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected regularly. Newly acquired cats and any cats that are suspected of being infected should be separated from other cats. Preventing overcrowding, keeping cats current on vaccinations, and providing proper nutrition can also help decrease the occurrence of FIP in groups of cats.

There is only one licensed FIP vaccine available; however, this vaccine has minimal if any effectiveness in preventing FIP, and it is not generally recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel. Primucell FIP, produced by Pfizer Animal Health, is a temperature-sensitive, modified-live virus vaccine that is given as an intranasal vaccine, and is licensed for use in cats at least 16 weeks of age. The vaccine appears to be safe, but the risks and benefits of vaccination should be weighed carefully. Cat owners should consult their veterinarian to help them decide if their cat should be vaccinated.

Interesting : "Litter boxes should be kept clean and located away from food and water dishes. Litter should be cleansed of feces daily, and the box should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected regularly. Newly acquired cats and any cats that are suspected of being infected should be separated from other cats. Preventing overcrowding, keeping cats current on vaccinations, and providing proper nutrition can also help decrease the occurrence of FIP in groups of cats. " I would imagine THIS is what Dr Muraka was speaking about.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=234&S=2

Dr. Scott states that based on the limited efficacy and the potential to stimulate immune enhancement under certain conditions, the routine use of Primucell-FIP in low-risk populations of cats (i.e. household pets) cannot be recommended. He indicates that in high-risk populations, such as breeding catteries and multicat facilities, the veterinarian must assess the risk of FIP without vaccination compared to the risks and benefits of vaccination. Since we do not really know the dose-level of exposure in such an environment (we can only assume the existence of carrier cats and have no way of determining who they are), and since we do not routinely know which of the many different strains of the virus may be present in a given cat population, such an assessment of risk would appear to be a difficult, if not impossible, proposition at this time. Further, the appearance of antibody dependent enhancement cannot be ruled out in such environments.

Just another Vets take on the vacine.

Monday June 2, 2008, 2:59 pm
If THIS, as you say, Ali, is what Dr Murarka was speaking about he should have been SPECIFIC and said JUST that. Nice spin though. And...WHO is to say that those cats didn't acquire FIP while crammed together at Clarion. Just a thought.

Monday June 2, 2008, 3:02 pm
Ali - that is interesting, thank you. It's unfortunate that PSPCA's update was worded in the manner that it is. They probably would have been better off just sticking with the cats' conditions, so as not to give us anything new to pick apart. >^..^<

Monday June 2, 2008, 3:08 pm
That's it? that is not an update, that is an excuse!!! This would NOT have come up not for the loose tongue of an ASPCA spokesperson. And they say WE are in denial!!!

Monday June 2, 2008, 3:44 pm
You are very welcome Madras :) It seems no matter what is said, or by whom, someone is going to find someway to pick it apart.

Always interesting how people can read the exact same thing,
and find such different messages in it.

C'est la vie

Have a good evening.

Monday June 2, 2008, 3:46 pm
Oh noooooooooooo here we go again.....sigh..........

Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday June 2, 2008, 3:58 pm
"Oh noooooooooooo here we go again.....sigh.........."

Big Gorilly Hugs back at you!

Monday June 2, 2008, 4:11 pm
LMAO...Madras.....Big Gorilly Loves to you....Gorilly

Monday June 2, 2008, 5:55 pm
Hey, no hugs for me????????...sniff sniff.....xoxoxoxox

Monday June 2, 2008, 6:09 pm
Everybody gets them...LMAO even you Maggie..even you...

Gorilly....

Monday June 2, 2008, 6:22 pm
Feelin' better already, ty, Stephanie....((((huggles))))

Monday June 2, 2008, 10:05 pm

I'm pleased that an update was released. Really glad to hear that there
is no MRSA, but am still unclear on the numbers.

Thank you Madras.

Tuesday June 3, 2008, 12:16 pm
Because there is no cure for FIP (certain death) the numbers have gone down. FIP will take any cat that has been in contact with the Corona virus at any time. If the cat is stressed, it will lower the immune system and FIP could show up at that time. I had one of my sweet babies that was my heart die to this horrible disease. I still cry and it will be 2 years at the end of this month! Fortunately, either none of my other cats had been in contact with Corona or their immune systems were able to fight it off. Nobody else was lost. Riot's (my cat) immune system was bad from the get go, he had Panaleuk as a baby, then was diagnosed with Cerebral Hypoplasia (excuse the spelling) then FIP. He passed away at 13 mos. Unfortunately, the only conclusive test for FIP is when they die of it. Then (for obvious reasons) it is too late.

Tuesday June 3, 2008, 12:22 pm
Cats can have contact with Corona virus either directly or through their mother at birth. This can knock out an entire litter and their mother.

Monday June 16, 2008, 12:20 am

Pam, I'm really sorry for you. Although we all love kitties and sometimes many of them, there are some that are extra special to us. Those are the hardest to lose.

I'm glad that there are some numbers finally, it's lower than I thought though and that worries me.