Margo, To clarify what I wrote.... I NEVER euthanize any of my FelV cats when they are diagnosed as positive. I keep them as long as they remain healthy and active, which is usually 10 months to a year. However, when they become anemic, sick, waste away, and my vet can no longer make their quality life good, then, and only then, I feel it is time to help them over the Rainbow Bridge... This is a decision we each make, and it is never an easy one. I have a FelV sanctuary so I've had quite a lot of experience with the FelV virus. I have two positive cats that are still doing well at 4 years of age. It is different with each cat, and we each have to make our own decision about their care. That said, I hope Polli does well with the assisted feeding or whatever treatment Amanda has chosen for her.
Lorrie On 05-04, Margo wrote: > I'm very sorry that you have had such heartbreaking experience > with your cats. Fortunately, it isn't always that way. Each cat > (and human) is an individual, and wat was right for you and your > cats might not have been right for another situation. > > Many Vets will suggest euthanizing any cat that tests positive. It > was suggested to me because it is "hospital policy" to do so. My > Vet knows me pretty weel, so what she said was "It would probably > be best to euthanize him. Now that I've said that, let's see what > we can do to help him". And we did. Long story short, he was > diagnosed as FeLV+ (previous test was negative) on March 2, my > birthday. At one point before that his temp was 107+. His WBC > count was 2.7 (Lab normal starts at 5). It was a long haul, but > worth it. He is back to himself today. > > I didn't force feed. I assisted. I gave him 1/2-1 cc at a time, > and only until he pulled back. Then we stopped until later. He > never struggled. As he gained strength, he objected more quickly, > but would eat a bit more on his own. His appetite returned, > slowly. > > He is not suffering. He will never be cured. He will always be > FeLV+, though someday tests may show him -, as they did when I > first got him. Is his lifespan likely to be short? Yes. Perhaps no > more than a few months. But right now, life is good. And none of > us know just how long we will be here. > > This is a very tough situation, and may require really > gut-wrenching decisions. > > But it isn't cut and dried. Not every FeLV positive cat must be > euthanized for the good of the cat. Symptoms may respond to > treatment, and anemia is VERY treatable. Will it work? I don;t > know. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. > > Some do survive. Maybe Polli will be one of the lucky ones. Maybe > that's not to be. Polli may not respond to treatment, or may be > unduly stressed by it, and it won;t be reasonable to treat her. > But Amanda knows her Fur kid better than anyone, and I'm sure she > wants what will be best for her. > > Amanda, my thoughts will be with you and Polli. Your heart will > tell you what to do, and such decisions are never wrong. I will > support whatever choice you make, hard as it may be. > > All the best, > > Margo > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
