Hi Caroline, I am sorry about Monkee.
Thanks for taking him into your home, especially since he was a stray and is felv+. I am sure he has had a good life w/ you, espeically since 4 yrs. is really a long time to survive being felv+. I have taken several animals through chemo (I am a petsitter, I do this for my clients as a favor since it's hard on them or if they are out of town) and I have to say, I don't think I would take my cat through chemo. It's just very hard on them medically, espeically if they are felv+. I am by no means a vet, but I have worked for one of the best feline specialist in central Texas, and he is years ahead of most vets when it comes to felv+ cats. He has 8 pos. cats @ his sanctuary. If Monkee were my cat, I would value the time I have left w/ him and not have anymore chemo nor would I subject him to surgery. That is just my opinion. I know it hurts, very much, but you are giving him a great gift by caring for him and being there for him. I have 4 felv+ cats myself, and so far they are doing pretty well, considering. ----- Original Message ----- From: Caroline Kaufmann To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 1:30 PM Subject: just beginning I just joined this list. My 6 year old cat, Monkee, he was a stray that I took in 4 years ago, knowing he had FeLv- and now he's not doing good. I discovered a swollen lymph node in April and he was diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma. So we started chemotherapy. Everything is complicated by the fact that I lost my job in January and got a new one in May, but the expense of caring for him is becoming increasingly difficult. Wth paying up front for his treatment, I just can't get back on my feet financially and I don't know how much longer we can keep this up. I thought he was doing really well, but the initial chemo didn't shrink the node enough, so his Doctor wanted it surgically removed. So we did that. He did wonderful in the two weeks of recovery, but last weekend he became lethargic and I knew something was wrong. He went back the doctor and now she says his "feline leukemia is acting up" because his red blood cells are down significantly. In all the time I have had him, he never showed any signs of having FeLv, so this all new to me. He's on a new medication to try to boost his RB cell count before we maybe try a new, stronger chemo. I guess I just wanted to know if anyone has gone through a similar experience? I want to know about life expectancy and I can't seem to get straight answers from my vet. I also want to know about how long this could go on with him languishing in this sick state? He's just so much not like himself and my heart is breaking. Is there any hope for us? Thanks, Caroline in Louisville, Kentucky ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get a preview of Live Earth, the hottest event this summer - only on MSN
