I have never dealt with this problem before, but she is getting good food and vet care. Will she let you hold her? Even when my guys are sick/especially so, they like to be held close, petted and talked to softly. It seems to comfort them, make them feel secure. I do think this helps in healing. Can you find some "treats" to coax her into eating more? I have found that mackeral (it stinks more) does the trick. I break the fish into very small pieces and mix with a good amount of hot water (makes it smell even more) and hold them in my lap while they eat. I understand how you feel about her, my first pride and I went thru a lot together and they gave me a lot of comfort when I needed it. You want to be able to do the same for them. I think she will let you know when she is ready to go and you will also.
---- Anna Waltman <anna.walt...@gmail.com> wrote: > Dear all, > I've been a member of this list since 2009, when Sylvia, the older of my > two (strictly indoor-only) cats, was first diagnosed with FLV (she'd tested > negative twice as a kitten, then at just over a year old came up positive > on both the snap and IFA tests). We have a great vet, and she's been a > happy, healthy, fat, and sassy calico cat for most of her life. I haven't > been very active on this list in the last year or so because Sylvia has > been so healthy, apart from a case of gingivitis that our vet and I were > monitoring carefully. She's about four years old now, and was originally a > stray kitten in an urban area. I adopted her from an ASPCA in New Jersey. > The vet thinks she got the virus from her mama and it was dormant in her > system until the stress of moving from NJ to MA caused it to turn active. > > Unfortunately, her run of good health seems to be over. Toward the end of > March, she started having diarrhea and seemed lethargic, so I took her to > the vet, who said she didn't have a fever, but gave her a shot of systemic > antibiotics and some subcutaneous fluids anyway. Her energy levels rose and > the diarrhea resolved itself. However, Sylvia's energy levels took a > nosedive again this past week, and she's been totally lethargic. She > started hiding in my roommate's closet and spent an entire night in there > on Wednesday. She's been refusing to play with my other cat, Beatrice, and > hissed last time Beatrice tried to convince her to play chase (not normal > at all-- these two have always been good buddies and playmates). > > Yesterday, we went back to the vet. This time, she did have a high fever > (105) and the vet did blood work, which showed anemia and a high white > blood cell count. The vet said all signs point to infection and suggested > antibiotics and fluids, but she also wanted to do x-rays to check for > tumors...then she also said that even if a tumor showed itself, there would > be no treatment options and we'd have to discuss euthanasia. I opted > against the x-rays as I'm on a limited budget and couldn't really see the > point if the tests wouldn't lead to treatment. We decided to do another > round of the injected systemic antibiotics and sub-Q fluids, and the vet > also gave me an oral antibiotic to dose Sylvia with once a day. I'm going > to purchase a thermometer so I can monitor her temperature daily, as well. > I'm under strict instructions to bring her back in if her temp rises or > stays where it is. We go back on Wednesday for another round of blood work, > to see if the anemia and white blood cell count are improving or getting > worse. > > I'm a mess. I'm so worried; I broke down crying in the vet's office > yesterday before the vet even came in to see Sylvia. And poor Sylvia has > been hiding under my bed since we got home yesterday. She's not interested > in cuddles or attention (which is not even a little normal for her-- most > of the time, she'd spend her whole evening curled up on my lap if given the > chance). She'll come out to eat (she's still interested in treats) and get > a drink of water, and then she goes right back under the bed to sleep. I > realize that this is instinct...when animals are very sick they have to > hide to protect themselves from predators...but she's never been so adamant > about being out of sight before this week. > > Have any of you dealt with this in a FLV+ cat before? Any advice for how to > cope? Is there some other remedy I should be giving her (Lysine, pet-tinic, > etc) in addition to the antibiotics while she's sick to bolster her immune > system? She eats high-quality food to begin with (Wellness CORE and > occasionally Wellness wet food). Also...how do I know when her quality of > life has deteriorated to the point that euthanasia is something to > consider? She's not herself now, that's for sure, but she doesn't seem to > be in pain, either. When she's been in pain in the past because of her > mouth/gums, she's been quite vocal about it. I just don't want her to > suffer needlessly. > > This has been breaking my heart. Sylvia is my first cat as an adult (I'm 25 > and in grad school); she's outlived two serious relationships, the whole of > my Master's degree work, and a major move. I'm more attached to her than > I've ever been to an animal. When she was diagnosed with FLV I was > devastated and wracked with guilt, since I'd recently adopted a kitten into > our household thinking Sylvia was totally healthy. (Luckily, the kitten, > Beatrice, has remained negative-- she gets retested and vaccinated > annually-- and has grown into an active and healthy indoor cat.) > > Those of you with more experience owning FLV+ cats: any help or advice you > can offer would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance! > All the best, > Anna, Sylvia, and Beatrice > > > > -- > Anna E. Waltman > PhD student & Teaching Associate > Department of English and American Literature > University of Massachusetts, Amherst > <awalt...@english.umass.edu> _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
