Kitty was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs and other organs well over a
year ago. She went thru a bad period right after some tests but I believe
that was because of some meds they used to sedate her. Right now she is in
the bedroom, hiding. She'll come out in a bit and tell me all about how I
shouldn't have been gone all day. Her regular vets marvel at the way she is
doing. She has enjoyed life and I have enjoyed her for all this length of
time when, logically, I should have lost her within a month or two. She did
not want chemo, radiation or any of those other treatments and I would not
have (and her regular vets would not) wanted them with the same problems
she exhibited. Therefore I decided on the most painful course for me--to
chose to do nothing but make sure she is comfortable. To date I have given
her no meds for pain (I carry them though) or sought additional treatment.
I am telling you this so, maybe, instead of worrying about your cat and
mourning for her before her time, you enjoy her and let her enjoy you. None
of us know how many days/weeks/months we have. You may leave this world
before she does. Enjoy her now. Spend all the time you can with her. Make
her happy and, as importantly, let her make you happy.
If you have men who will
exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of
compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with
their fellow man.
St.
Francis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Becca DuBose" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: Paassht
She is so tired...she got up to eat and drink a little. I found her
resting on the floor after she used her litterbox, so I put her back in
her bed and now she's resting there, not sleeping, just resting with her
eyes open. I called one of the vets in the phone book and we're going to
take her in for a consult. The earliest we can go is Wednesday.
Becca & Paassht
Marylyn wrote:
I'd make the drive to a specialist. It is worth the peace of mind. If
it helps, I've made a 3 hour (one way) drive more times than I can count.
Just having someone in the field say what he/she thinks is important.
However, the ones I have gone to often argue for aggressive treatment.
You need to talk to Paassht and see what she wants to do re chemo,
radiation etc if this proves to be the case with her.
If you have men who will
exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of
compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with
their fellow man.
St.
Francis
----- Original Message ----- From: "Becca DuBose"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 3:27 PM
Subject: Fwd: Paassht
Hi,
I've just been lurking and reading for a few weeks. My little one,
Paassht, is 7-1/2 and tested positive for FeLV in 1999. She was very
healthy with nothing more than occasional URIs until September '05, when
she started losing weight. It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride
since then, back and forth to the vet, on and off antibiotics etc.
About 10 days ago I took her in because she seemed dehydrated and they
gave her some fluid SQ. Within 36 hours or so she was almost back to
her old self but we went back this morning because the fatigue returned
and I suspected she was dehydrated again. She is eating very well but
not regaining any weight. I have been afraid it was cancer and sure
enough, she has a palpable intestinal mass. The vet doesn't believe she
will recover and so has recommended comfort care only. I had them give
her fluids again since that helped her feel so much better last week.
The vet also sent us home with very low dose prednisone to try PRN and
we are continuing her amoxicillin. I'd like to get a second opinion but
our phone book lists no specialists on veterinary oncology or internal
medicine, just a handful of clinics advertising cancer care (all of
which are a 30-45 minute drive away). There are some others billing
themselves as cat specialist but they are a similar distance away. The
closest option is to take her to see another generalist. She does OK in
the car, but I don't want to drag her all over town if it won't really
help her. Even with the fluids this morning I had to ask myself was it
for her, or for me? What would you do if Paassht were your kitty?
Becca & Paassht
