Hi Caroline, I'm sorry that Monkee's HCT count is not too good. I cried when I read your account of going to Dr. Maier's office. It felt like a rainbow bursting through the clouds. I loved the story about Monkee trying to get at those cats. He sounds like a hoot.
If Monkee isn't making any RBC's, which means he doesn't have any reticulocytes, then it's called nonregenerative anemia, and it is not a good anemia to have. It means the leukemia is probably active in the bone marrow, which is, as far as I know, irreversable. I wish I could tell you differently. Here is a good website to read up on types of anemia. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/10200.htm Here is another link: http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/tolbert/index.php I think you are right not to put kitty through chemo again. The anemia is enough to deal with. I am so sorry your beautiful, healthy kitty is going through this. I truly am. Fighting anemia is like fighting a ghost. You just don't know when it's really time to let go until sometimes it's too late. Even with the lowered HCT, some kitties have a good quality of life. And no one wants to let their kitty go before their time, even if they aren't feeling 100%. I lost my Cricket to the same thing. His was regenerative anemia, but we could not reverse it in time. If you do go with the blood transfusion, you will see a different cat, even for just a few days. He will feel so much better. But your vet is right in telling you it's temporary; she is doing the right thing in being honest. Even though there are many good vets, there are those out there that will not give you the full scoop because of greed or ignorance or whatever, and give false hope. Your vet seems to be a good one. It will be a good time to spend a lot of quality time together, feed Monkee a lot of whatever he loves, let him enjoy the outdoors and sun if that's what he likes, takes pictures and video (After I lost Cricket, his photos helped a lot), and prepare for good-bye. I hate telling you this because I never want to give up hope. I'm as tenacious as they come. But if your vet did test for reticulocytes and there are none, then there are studies to prove the graveness of the situation. And I want you to be able to make the most of it instead of looking back and wishing you'd done this or that. The only real hope is if the vet missed the reticulocytes and the anemia is actually regenerative; then the Epogen is important is helping to stimulate need RBC's. I pray this is the case for Monkee. Make sure your vet tested for these; I'm sure she did if she's saying Monkee is not making any RBC's. You can ask how she came to that conclusion and see if she mentions RBC's. Prayers going out for reticulocytes and that Monkee is comfortable. Prayers also going out for peace for you and your mom. Please keep us posted on sweet Monkee. :) Wendy "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ ____________________________________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php
