Diane,
Definitely do not euthanize! If you can, take her to a board-certified
internist, usually you can fine one at a big veterinary hospital, a vet school
hospital, or a veterinary referral center. They are more skilled at diagnosis.
All the feline leukemia virus means is that her immune system is
compromised. It is like having HIV. FeLV, like HIV, makes someone more
susceptible to
other viruses, and to some cancers and blood disorders. FeLV itself is not
the diagnosis of what is wrong with your cat right now, it is just the root
cause of her immune system not fighting off whatever else she has. What you
need to know is what is causing her symptoms right now, and treat that if it
is
treatable.
My FeLV+ cat Lucy, who is about 5 years old at this point, got sick a
few weeks ago and would not eat and was very lethargic. It turned out she had
a
fever, which antibiotics brought down within one day and she started eating
again. The vet then gave her two Immuno-regulin shots (there are articles
about this medicine on the felineleukemia.org website) and she got better from
the cold. It is possible this is all that is going on for your cat.
Or your cat could be anemic, from something treatable, which happens
with FeLV+ cats. Someone on this list almost lost a positive to anemia
several
years ago and completely cured the anemia with acemannan shots. There are
other treatments too. But you need to know if she is anemic in order to treat
for anemia.
It could be lymphoma; that would be one of the worst case scenarios, and
FeLV+cats are prone to it. But they also respond well to chemo sometimes,
and do not suffer from chemo the way humans do. If no chemo, steroid shots
can
keep them very comfortable and happy for months with lymphoma. But lymphoma
is a worst case scenario. There are other, more treatable things she can
have.
Bottom line is that you have to find out what is causing her symptoms,
and then assess treatment options. She could have something that is very
treatable. To euthanize her without knowing would be insane, but
unfortunately
many vets react to felv this way.
Michelle
