Dear Barbara: What is Jelly Roll's hematocrit? Has it been holding steady or is it declining?? The loss of appetite could be due to the chemo and all the meds, but if Jelly Roll is becoming increasingly anemic, a declining appetite is, unfortunately, very typical. It depends on what is causing the anemia as to how much hope there is for some improvement with treatment. If the anemia is due to the virus causing complete bone marrow failure, there is little hope anything will reverse the process...it is just a matter of time. Some members have tried using epogen, which is supposed to stimulate the bone marrow to produce red cells, but it seems to be most effective when there is some other cause than complete bone marrow failure due to FeLV. I wish I could offer you more words of encouragement.
Cats are seldom the most cooperative of patients and I haven't known too many that willingly accepted medication, especially if it is gnarly tasting. When all else fails, I wrap them in a towel like a mummy and syringe the liquid or pop the pill down with a pill popper. With anemia, just like humans, they feel increasingly weaker and are not motivated to eat much...if they will eat at all it is usually very small amounts more often. You can try force-feeding with a syringe but it can be very stressful for both feeder and feedee. Liver is highly recommended but I prefer not to cook it as that destroys a lot of the nutrients. The Pet Tinic, or HighVite drops which is very similar, can also be helpful. My little Purrsia developed nonregenerative anemia due to FeLV and the first subtle signs of anything wrong was a declining appetite and sleeping more than usual, then a runny eye, which after three days showed signs of internal hemmorage. Sixteen days later she was gone. Purrsia was ready to leave the first week, but I asked her if she would reconsider and give me a chance to try and help her. She agreed to think about it. I tried interferon and other immunosupportive supplements but her anemia was already too advanced, she knew it, and was humoring me because she knew how desperately I needed to try. Accupuncture (which can sometimes help stimulate appetite and/or red cell production) did help her feel significantly better for several days the first time, but the second time she was fading again by the next day and told me she needed to leave, and she did. She was only 8 mos. old and such a special, bright and fearless spirit. That was my first experience with FeLV and losing her left a very huge hole in my heart. Not all FeLV+ furkids develop the nonregnerative anemia (leukemia). In fact, I've been told by more than one vet that it is recurring opportunistic infections or cancers that take hold because of the suppressed immune system which over time becomes exhausted and can no longer fight off the invaders that is a more prevalent cause of death. Purrsia's playmate, Angel Eyes, tested positive two weeks after Purrsia passed and for months I had such high hopes she would be one of the lucky ones who can live with the virus long term. Her only symptoms were a recurring low-grade fever and very mild gingivitis. She never had any appetite problems whatsoever...food (and being loved) was her mission in life and to the day she passed, she never missed a meal. She seemed so vigorous, I was lulled into a false sense of how strong her immune system was. She was exposed to an older kitty with a URI two weeks before Xmas '03 and the day after Xmas she crashed, her temp up to 105 and having trouble breathing. Her condition did not respond to abx and 14 days later she was gone due either to pneumoniaAngel did not want to go and was struggling so hard to stay with me, but she could not and needed my "permission" to leave ...as soon as I told her it was OK, that I didn't want her to suffer on my account, her spirit left. She was not quite 16 mos. old and I was devastated that I had not been able to do more to protect her or to help her get well. It is so unfair that innocent baby kittys come into this world with three strikes against them. There is really little we can do other than feed them the best, most natural diet we can afford, protect them from invading pathogens as much as possible, minimize stress in their lives and love them -- one day at a time.ir e I've always been reluctant to give up "too soon," but when cats stop eating and increasingly resist your efforts to help them, it can be a sign they know the end is near and all they really want and need is your love and positive energy as they prepare to cross over. If that is so, the best thing you can do is to be emotionally supportive and love your kitty for however long he is able to stay here in his body. If you have any doubts as to whether or not Jelly Ross is willing to keep trying and wants you continue treating him, I would suggest you have a talk with him via an animal communicator, which is what I always do with my sick furkids when what I have to do in treating them seems to be causing both of us more stress than benefits. Of course you have to be prepared to honor their wishes and sometimes they are ready to let go before we are. I am hoping (and keeping Jelly Roll in my prayers) that his anemia is not due to bone marrow failure, that he will respond to the treatment and his appetite will pick up. He is so lucky to have a human like you who loves him and is willing to give him every chance to get well. Sally in San Jose
