Are there any vets on MSE

jockettuk

Hi im looking for some advice on a subject from a vet for a friend.. she really looking for a 2nd opinion about something thanks

Rose

MrsTinks

Is there any reason she hasn't called a different vet from the one she's already spoken to or seen?
I would recommend she contacts a vet from maybe a friends recommendation instead of someone you have no way or verifying is REALLY a vet on a forum

jockettuk

tine wrote: »

Is there any reason she hasn't called a different vet from the one she's already spoken to or seen?
I would recommend she contacts a vet from maybe a friends recommendation instead of someone you have no way or verifying is REALLY a vet on a forum

no its about a blood test.. she has had the results of a blood test that tell her one thing but has been told there is another blood test that can be done as well but wants some more info on it before asking her vet to do it.. her cat has had a diagnosis but on looking for info on the net it mentions another test but not much info about this other test.. she just wanted to know a bit about it

UKTigerlily

Sounds like she should just ask her own vet to explain or another vet in the practice. Maybe if you could tell us, some here might know about it, we have tons of pets between us! But I really think asking the vet in real is best

jockettuk

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Sounds like she should just ask her own vet to explain or another vet in the practice. Maybe if you could tell us, some here might know about it, we have tons of pets between us! But I really think asking the vet in real is best

her cats been diagnosed with FIV.. but all the websites say the vets use a simple test that is unreliable and there is another test that you pay for and its sent away results in 7 odd days.. that has sometimes overturned the first test done at the vets.. she wondering if this is the case why dont the vets do the 2nd test in the first place.. and is it worth asking for the 2nd test to be done.. she already paid out over £600 over the last couple of months on various things that the vet now says is down to the FIV

Kimberley

Don't ask for medical/vets advice on here no matter what the problem because anyone could reply.

Rikki

Kimberley wrote: »

Don't ask for medical/vets advice on here no matter what the problem because anyone could reply.

Ditto.

I was just about to say the same thing. :T

Medical advise whether for humans or animals is not permitted on mse.

jockettuk

Rikki wrote: »

Ditto.

I was just about to say the same thing. :T

Medical advise whether for humans or animals is not permitted on mse.

it wasnt medical advice it was advice on the actual blood test.. basically asking why if the first test is so unreliable do they use it and not just go straight to the 2nd test which is supposed to be better.. I was asking on her behalf what the vets on here would suggest she do IE go for the second test anyway

asea

Try here, I haven't tried them so can't vouch for them!

http://www.doineedavet.co.uk/

spookylukey

I am not a vet but this is not medical advice, merely discussing the facts around the different types of blood test available for FIV - here's some info on the unreliable inhouse test for FIV. If I were your friend I would ask for the 'Glasgow' test as it is much more reliable. If the glasgow test proves positive it really isn't as bad as it sounds, a cat can live a happy and healthy life with FIV. They would need to be kept indoors to prevent the infection of other cats and also to prevent picking up infections as their immune system is compromised - it's transmitted through deep bites and mating so is actually quite hard to transmit. Info below taken from: http://www.catchat.org/fiv.html

Testing and Treatment
Testing: The FIV test routinely carried out in veterinary practices detects antibodies, which develop four to six weeks after infection, but this test is often unreliable as to whether the cat has the virus. Positive test results obtained by using this simple 'ELISA' test (sometimes called a CITE test, or 'COMBO' test,) should be confirmed by an IFA test (Immuno-Fluorescent Antibody Test) or a Western Blot, as quite often false positives can occur. Some of the ELISA tests are so inaccurate as to make the whole test meaningless, and are producing 'false positives' (due to reacting with a variety of other compounds in the cat's blood). According to the Glasgow Companion Animal Diagnostic Unit web-site (where they give the results of an on-going survey), up to 7% of positive results with the ELISA test are negative when checked by the more accurate IFA test. Many rescues have given up using the ELISA test, and are now using the IFA test only, saving time and money, whilst also being more accurate.
The IFA test is not expensive (usually about £25), and will give you a definitive answer in under a week. To obtain this ask your vet to send a blood sample to either Glasgow University's Companion Animal Diagnostics (Tel: 0141 330 5777), or to VetLab in West Sussex (Tel: 01403 730176), or University of Bristol's Langford Veterinary Diagnostics (Email: [EMAIL="vet-path@bristol.ac.uk"]vet-path@bristol.ac.uk[/EMAIL])
Very rarely, false negative results can occur if the test is done too early for antibodies to have developed, or simply because of the innacuracy of the ELISA test. Again the IFA test will confirm with far more accuracy.

jockettuk

thanks she has booked her cat in to the vets tomorrow for the glasgow test to put her and her hubbys mind at rest..

thanks to all who left her advice