I love your Pet Girls logo. Adorable, you girls, you!
"Consciousness is Causal
and Physicality is its
Manifestation."
On Jun 24, 2007, at 9:12 PM, Susan Dubose wrote:
I have to agree w/ your comments about chemo.
I think that it is a decision left within the family, and there
should be no judgement as to what is decided.
No one knows your cat better than yourself, and if you listen to
what they are saying to you, you will know the right thing to do in
your heart.
Every morning I put Lysine in my 4 felv+ cats moist food, and I
sprinkle Brewer's Yeast on top of their dry food.
As far as dry food they only get Wellness "Core" mixed half & half
w/ Innova "Evo", and for now, this combination seems to be working
for them.
Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in state,
Faithful Bast at her side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft applause,
Ever guarding with sharpened
claws."
Trajan Tennent
----- Original Message -----
From: Marylyn
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: just beginning
A comment on chemo: The Royal Princess Kitty Katt (not FeLV+) had
a cancer that spread and was vicious. The specialists were very
insistent on chemo. I went to my vets and we had a very long hard
talk (actually several of them since they are very good at holding
my hand when things turn ugly). There are several types of chemo.
The one Kitty would have to have was rough to put it mildly. I
think she was to be on it for 6 months. Without it she was to live
about 2 months and with it maybe 6-8 months (according to the
specialists). My vets and I agreed that there was no quality of
life to gain and, as much as Kitty hated vets, traveling etc, a lot
to lose. We opted not to even try the chemo. Kitty lived 14
months and had a high quality of life. Her lungs filled with the
masses but she never seemed to be in any pain---some discomfort but
not nearly what she would be in had I forced her to travel. So
much of this is a judgment call. Sit with your little friend after
you have gathered all the information you can and feel what the cat
wants----I got in trouble for suggesting this not long ago but I
truly believe you will know what is best if you calm yourself and
talk to your friend the way you would talk to a baby or an elderly
person who cannot communicate with words.....talk with your heart.
Among the things Dr. Kohler and I talked about were:
What would we do if we had the cancer? Would we endure chemo or
enjoy the time we had? What other options are available (a gentler
chemo etc)? What is the cat's personality? What would work for
Dixie might not work for Kitty etc? Did I have the ability to take
"doing nothing" as a positive step or did I need to try anything
and everything? (There are times that choosing to do nothing is
choosing to do something.) We also talked at length about the need
to make a decision and not look back and second guess ourselves if
we chose to do nothing.
Maybe examining these questions with both your heart and mind will
help. I am blessed to have vets that can be so open with me. In
other cases we have taken other routes. It has always depended on
the little one in question.
Again blessings to you. You may want to check out the Bach
Essences (Rainbow Blossom, Wild Oats, Whole Foods). There are some
that will help you and your little friend.
No matter what you chose try very hard to enjoy the time you have
with Monkee. No one knows when she is going to leave this world
and we spend much too much time grieving before it is time to
grieve-----------and lose the precious moments together.
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: Susan Dubose
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 3:56 PM
Subject: Re: just beginning
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
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