I recommend taking her to one of the cancer care centers if they do
chemotherapy, and trying chemotherapy if you can. Intestinal lymphoma,
which is probably what it is, often responds very well to chemotherapy and makes
them feel much better and extends their lives. Some cats without FeLV go
into remission for years. Cats with FeLV have just as much chance of going into
remission, but the remissions tend to last less time. You can usually tell
within a few weeks if they are going to respond well or not, so I recommend at
least trying it. The first drug they give, Elspar, does not have any side
effects and only affects the lymphoma itself, and often has a dramatic effect.
They tend to give a different drug each week for 4 or 5 weeks and then
reassess.
Michelle
In a message dated 2/27/2006 4:25:06 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
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
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