Thank you Marsha, for your kind reassurance and wisdom. I don't think Sam would
have made it another day, actually, now that I realize it was severe anemia
making him weak. I didn't think of that right off, but I once treated a
beloved cat with epogen, for kidney disease related non regenerative anemia,
and I can recognize now what was going on with Sam. The white of his eyes
conjunctiva had alarmed me, a few days earlier, but I didn't know why. now I
remember.
I appreciate your kind response, and hope that someday, this disease can be
eliminated.
Anne
-----Original Message-----
From: Marsha <mar...@lynxe.com>
To: felvtalk <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Fri, Nov 27, 2015 1:39 pm
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Grieving, and need to understand about felv
My condolences on your loss of Sam. You gave him the best life you could,
and you made a reasonable decision in the end. There is no guarantee for
the treatments some have tried, and by the time you researched each, found
someone who would work with you, and then ordered and received it, it
may have been too late anyway. I think a "for sure" treatment/cure for
FeLV is many years away, if ever, because there is noplace investing
research money in it, especially since the vaccine that is available has
reduced the number of cases.
Marsha
On 11/27/2015 12:00 PM, annetbur...@aol.com wrote:
Hello. My name is Anne, and I just had to put my kitty, Sam, down on
Wednesday, due to his having felv and being very ill.
I am having those terrible self doubts now... I have had to let some
furbabies go in the past, and I always have those doubts, even though
I know it was the right thing for them.
I am a cat rescue participant. I have had strays fixed, taken to vet,
treated, and have found homes for some. I rescued Sam and his brother
Domino, when they were young kittens, the babies of a feral/stray
momma. An evil neighbor trapped their mom, brother, and sister, and
took them to Animal friends in our town, where they were euthanized
immediately... the animal warden made me aware of this when I
called him, to talk about the neighbor trapping them.
Anyway, Sam and Dom , and another rescued abandoned girl, Roxie, have
been my only ones for the past few years. Sam and Dom are four years
old. Sam was always sickly, with colds. the vet thought it was
probably feline herpes, and he was treated for colds, and finally
didn't get them anymore, though he began to have issues ...
stomatitis. it was getting harder and harder to get it to clear up.
I had Sam and Dom neutered when they were about six months old. I
thought they had a felv shot at that time, but Wednesday, I learned
that they had not.
Sam was always happy, bouncy, and my little squirrel tailed kitty :),
but his mouth became very inflamed and I took him in to the vet. She
gave him zenequin and prednisone. It wasn't working, and he became
worse, not eating much, and I took him back. they then gave him
fluids, and a depo medrol shot. I was to call back in two days. He
became lethargic the day after the shot.. hardly walking, eyes became
bloodshot and running a lot. I knew he was in trouble, and took him
back in. They called me to say that they tested him and he was feline
leukemia positive.
I was so afraid that he was not going to get better. He was anemic by
this time. petikia in his eyes, his gums terrible. not even standing
by this point! I honestly could not imagine him coming back from this
point, and asked them if it was the best thing to let him go. They
said yes, that he was just going to keep going down hill (he was
already bottomed out, in my opinion). So I went in, and held him while
giving him freedom from his pain and suffering. It is breaking my
heart and I need to hear that I did not do this prematurely.... I
see things online now, where people say it can be treated.
I have the other two, who seem very well. Roxie was a pet store cat,
who was abandoned by a relative who was supposed to be caring for her.
she had a micro chip and I was able to talk to her owner who was away
at college. I am thinking that Roxie had had her vaccine for that. I
will be having her tested soon, at another vets, where she has a
treatment plan. The same for Domino, who I am worried about, although
he has been through a broken leg, an infection in the cast, and a
long treatment before his leg was able to be re -casted. he has
always been very healthy, but I am worried. I have been reading ,
searching, as to whether some cats may not get it, and I am hoping
that my Domino is one of the lucky ones who may have had it and thrown
it off (If I understand that process correctly).
I am so sad, wondering if I could have given my Sam more time. The
vets were not positive at all, and agreed that it was the best for
Sam. I do not always believe vets, and don't have the utmost trust in
this practice, but I also know that doubts are normal, when you have
had to make this terrible choice, for your beloved furbaby.
any reassurances are welcome.
thank you,
anne
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