Anyone given their cat Manuka Honey or Flax Seed Oil ?

Question

I have a 2 year old British Shorthair who has just been diagnosed with FIP (a fatal feline virus). Traditional veterinary treatment would be steriods to suppress the immune system in conjunction with anti viral drugs.

As she has been through so much already, we would like to try a more holistic approach and will hopefully be seeing a homeopathic vet next week.

In the meantime I have been doing some research on Flax seed oil (good for the immune system) and Manuka honey (antibacterial & good for pretty much everything) and wondered if anyone else has given their cat either of these with any success?

Basically I would like to start getting her immune system back to full health as soon as I possibly can and would appreciate anyone else's experience.

Many thanks

Answer 1

A holistic approach makes sense for humans, but not cats. Cats bodies are entirely different from humans. All of the studies that you will see regarding holistic treatments are done on humans. No studies were even conducted on cats. We know that cats are strict carnivores and have trouble digesting plant proteins. Also, the sugars in honey are just not appropriate for cats.

There is a chance that interferon may be helpful to cats with FIP. Ask your vet.

Answer 2

Manuka Honey's main clain to fame is its antibacterial properties and its ability to heal infection.  There is documented evidence indicating that Manuka Honey does have antiviral properties but not pertaining to the particular condition that you mentioned.  Manuka Honey is used for therapeutic purposes in humans and pets.  In addition to having antibacterial properties, Manuka Honey is also considered antimicrobial which means that it can cure both bacterial and fungal infections.

Answer 3

I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. Gosh, she's so young. I founded a non-profit holistic (permanent) health shelter years ago, and many of our rescue kitties had FIP at a young age. A lot of it has to do with emotional stress (even the grief of mommy or sibling loss), which is why homeopathy is uniquely effective.

I support you in choosing homeopathy, and it's been my experience that it offers her the best chance of cure. (I started treating animals with homeopathy more than 25 years ago, and my own have received lifelong care.)

Prior to learning about homeopathy - initially, from Dr. Pitcairn's book (with which I imagine you are familiar, and through which you might have found your vet) - I used supplements and herbs to naturally heal and boost the immune system. And, it helped. With a classical homeopath, that shouldn't be necessary with a healthy, balanced diet. If you're not familiar with Dr. Pitcairn's book (http://drpitcairn.com/books/pitcairn_boo... it offers information about nutritional supplementation for various illnesses, including FIP.

I want your kitty to heal, you to succeed, so will mention a situation that can lead to a less-than-optimal homeopathic response. Be sure to check your vet's homeopathic credentials. The greater percentage their practice is with homeopathy alone, the better homeopathy your kitty receives. Also, homeopathy is so user-friendly, many people (vets & people practitioners alike) can acquire a consumer-level knowledge (substantial in itself), maybe take a summer course, yet not have the depth of knowledge required for your kitty. The Council for Homeopathic Certification (CHC, http://www.homeopathicdirectory.com) is the sole profession-wide certifying organization for classical homeopathy in North America, in addition to any other organization to which your vet might belong. The credentials that represent CHC certification are "CCH."

My heart's with you and your kitty. If you'd like to stay in touch, I welcome hearing about your visit, and hope.

Answer 4

I don't ahve any specific advice, but since there is no cure for FIP, you have nothing to lose by trying. Holistic medicine for cats has advanced unbelievably in the past decade!

I hope you are able to find a holistic vet to work with you.

http://www.holisticvetlist.com/

http://www.ahvma.org/

Answer 5

I recommend joining the Yahoo group Whole Cat Health.  There you'll find much support for your kitty and for holistic/homeopathic/natural solutions.

Sorry I don't have a direct answer for you, but you won't regret signing up here!

And you might consider asking old cat lady.  I'm guessing she missed your question but it's right up her alley.  Feel free to contact her directly.

She's a member of Whole Cat Health and is into homeopathy.  She's currently taking a class in it, I believe.

Here's her profile:

http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile;_ylt...