Re: Day 3
Great news! If Whitey/Blanco (lol) was in such bad shape I wouldn't involve the owners either! tonya [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ok, guys, here's the update for the day. First of all, I am even more convinced now, and I stand by my decision to not contact his previous owners. I just can't imagine anything good coming out of it. This boy is too special to have to go back to that mess, and I'm afraid if I did let him go or call them,they'd snatch him up and stick him in a cage or something, and I'm just not willing to risk that. He would come to my house for days at a time anyway, and they never once looked for him, and they still haven't since he disappeared two days ago. Because I know for a fact he hasn't been home because he's been in my sunroom. This is a unique situation in that I KNOW he didn't just get away from his owners and get in this shape. I've seen him for the last two years in the neighborhood, and the last six months he's been coming to my house every morning and every night. This was just blatant neglect. My heart is too heavy to even think of letting him get back in that shape again. I really do have such feelings for these guys. Someone has to be a voice for them. I used to feel bad about volunteering and putting so much energy into animals when there are so many horrible conditions and diseases afflicting our fellow human beings, but the last few days I've come to an important realization, and that is someone has to look out for our companions, too! There are lots of people who work on human charities and advocate for research and development (and I don't think you'll ever see a huge difference in modern disease treatment/management until you see a fundamental shift in Washington and the drug companies and HMOs lose significant control over research and development, but I digress, that's another topic altogther.) But animals, who will be their voice? Someone needs to fight for them, and my extreme sensitivity makes me suitable for that. I swear, I can't even bear the thought of killing a mouse. I have no-kill traps. This may sound corny, but I even avoid squishing bugs if I can. I'll generally scoop them up and take them outside. I just believe in the inherent sanctity of life...all life, regardless of its form, is precious, and should be preserved. As for King Blanco the Mighty Whitey (lol, I can't decide! Jeff still says he is a she and her name is Whitey!) and his condition, he's continuing to do well. He pooped last night. I was so excited. :) His Baytril dose is half of a 22.7mg tablet daily for 14 days. No diarrhea or other problems yet, but I'll keep an eye out for sure, and I'll look into the probiotics. His eyes/pupils are fine, I'm keeping a close watch on him for the dilation concerns mentioned. His balance seems to be getting a little better, but he still has a long way to go. Jeff set up his tent in the sunroom last night, and put a heating pad in it. He's quite cozy. He's been on it all night and day. I have the webcam set up where I can keep an eye on him from work. I'm gonna include a link to it and post instructions at the bottom for anyone who's interested :) We're expecting the lab results in tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you all know as soon as I hear about them. Oh, and by the way, I misunderstood Jeff. Dr. Dolen has not actually diagnosed Hyperthyroidism, he just said it was likely with the thyroid tumor. We should know about that by Friday. We'll also know more about the heart murmur. The vet didn't do any vaccinations because he wanted to wait on the bloodwork (probably to check for heart disease, as someone here mentioned.) Anyway, here's the webcam and instructions if anyone wants to peek at Whitey. Look in the tent on the right side of the screen, that white dot inside is my boy :) Like I said, it really is a storage room right now, so please look over and excuse the mess :( I'm gonna work on getting it cleaned up this weekend I hope. Camera Internet address: http://camera.115cr339.ourlinksys.com Web Browser - You can View Video using Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. When you click View Video, an ActiveXcomponent (OCX file) will need to be downloaded and installed on your PC. You will be prompted to install this OCX file if this file is not present in your system. You'll see one of those yellow bars across the top of the window, right below the address bar (or tab bar if you're on internet Explorer 7 that says Click here to Install ActiveX Control You'll need to click on it, and then when the other window pops up that asks about installing it, click on the Install button. Note: The Wireless-B Internet Video Camera supports a maximum of 4 users simultaneously. I don't think that will ever be a problem, but if several of you get this email at once and it doesn't load, you'll know just try again in a few minutes. I'm
Autumn - Again
Autumn is sick again! Despite all of our precautions which include Lysol-ing the bottom of our shoes when we come in from outside. This has been a really bad illness for her. She was lethargic Monday afternoon so I checked and found one of her glands in her throat swollen. I immediately made a vet appointment for the next morning. The next morning she had diarrhea. I took her in and they did a thorough check. She had the highest fever she's had yet, 104.8 ,and every lymph gland in her body is swollen. She doesn't want to be touched and she's walking like she's stiff and it hurts. She has a fighting spirit though and keeps trying to play.She can eat soft food, but the only way I can perk her up is with NutriCal and Pedialyte.They put her on the Clavamox again and the vet also wants to add in another antibiotic when it comes in. I can tell Autumn is having a tough time swallowing. I feel so bad for her. It is becoming apparent to me that we might not win this fight for her life. There are no holistic vets near us. ~Susan A.
Re: Autumn - Again
Where are you located? I have two that will consult by phone. Obviously not as good as in person but, if you are interested, I will find contact information. Try changing shoes instead of Lysoling them. 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 Ang To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 7:34 AM Subject: Autumn - Again Autumn is sick again! Despite all of our precautions which include Lysol-ing the bottom of our shoes when we come in from outside. This has been a really bad illness for her. She was lethargic Monday afternoon so I checked and found one of her glands in her throat swollen. I immediately made a vet appointment for the next morning. The next morning she had diarrhea. I took her in and they did a thorough check. She had the highest fever she's had yet, 104.8 ,and every lymph gland in her body is swollen. She doesn't want to be touched and she's walking like she's stiff and it hurts. She has a fighting spirit though and keeps trying to play.She can eat soft food, but the only way I can perk her up is with NutriCal and Pedialyte.They put her on the Clavamox again and the vet also wants to add in another antibiotic when it comes in. I can tell Autumn is having a tough time swallowing. I feel so bad for her. It is becoming apparent to me that we might not win this fight for her life. There are no holistic vets near us. ~Susan A.
Re: blood transfusion
I do know of one cat that has had many transfusions, more than 5, I think it was one of Hideyo's cats, I seem to remember her posting it on the anemia list I'm on. I believe it was because the epogen quit working or her vet thought the cat had developed aiitbodies. I will write her and ask to double check, this cat is alive and well though still with an extremely low HCT, she is doing good. The vets can't figure out what is causing her anemia. Did you get the answers you needed? Speaking specifically about anemic cats who are FeLV+, blood transfusions are probably given every 10 days, and probably not more than 3 times. This is only knowledge I have gleaned from what I've seen here in the past two years and might not be completely right. Some vets won't even do more than 2 transfusions. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Re: Autumn - Again
Hi Susan I do not want to give you false hope because Autumn is very young, and on her own path, but 4 months ago I faced almost identical symptoms as you do. MeMe had a gland at the base of her throat that felt like a ping pong ball and I thought she was having trouble swallowing. We've managed to get rid of most of those symptoms. Somedays it feels as though we've turned a corner and are into total remission, until there is a very loose stool or a trace of a swollen gland. For the most part we've managed to get her to a place where she is 'almost' symptom free and living an 'almost' normal life. It is an emotional roller coaster and it has not been easy. I was told when I first joined this list that it is a gift if you are able to know when to support her to fight for her life, or to know when the struggle is too painful and she needs to let go. I hope for the both of you the choice is clear. There are many people here who have a lot of experience with this disease and who can help you. Take care of yourself too it is so difficult when they are so sick. Jane On Oct 17, 2007, at 8:34 AM, Susan Ang wrote: Autumn is sick again! Despite all of our precautions which include Lysol-ing the bottom of our shoes when we come in from outside. This has been a really bad illness for her. She was lethargic Monday afternoon so I checked and found one of her glands in her throat swollen. I immediately made a vet appointment for the next morning. The next morning she had diarrhea. I took her in and they did a thorough check. She had the highest fever she's had yet, 104.8 ,and every lymph gland in her body is swollen. She doesn't want to be touched and she's walking like she's stiff and it hurts. She has a fighting spirit though and keeps trying to play.She can eat soft food, but the only way I can perk her up is with NutriCal and Pedialyte.They put her on the Clavamox again and the vet also wants to add in another antibiotic when it comes in. I can tell Autumn is having a tough time swallowing. I feel so bad for her. It is becoming apparent to me that we might not win this fight for her life. There are no holistic vets near us. ~Susan A.
RE: blood transfusion
The vet I was taking Monkee to wouldn't do more than 2 transfusions. We only did one. When it wore off, it wore off bad. I realize now that Monkee was suffering much more than he let on and I just didn't know it at the time because he was such a toughie, with a real zest for life. I think psychologically, when you have a very anemic cat, the blood transfusion effects can be really hard to deal with. Monkee had lymphosarcoma at the same time and I wonder now if that was causing him pain and difficulty more than the anemia. In the future, I personally would only consider multiple transfusions (ignoring the cost for the sake of my hypothetical) maybe if anemia is the only thing a cat is suffering from. In hindsight, I feel like we were keeping something going that shouldn't have kept going and I think the fact that he died in my arms before we could even get him to a vet exactly 14 days after the transfusion, was proof of that. His body literally was not making and red blood cells at all and he needed that replacement blood to even function. But it's just a replacement and the body uses it up. So psychologically, it was really hard on me to see this cat I loved more than anything be normal again for a while just because he'd been given some replacement blood. And then to witness the effects of the transfusion wearing off slowly...very hard to endure. I just think doing a blood transfusion really needs to be thought through, especially if you have a cat who's Felv and anemia is maybe the least of his problems...like it was in Monkee's case. -Caroline Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:05:48 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: blood transfusion I do know of one cat that has had many transfusions, more than 5, I think it was one of Hideyo's cats, I seem to remember her posting it on the anemia list I'm on. I believe it was because the epogen quit working or her vet thought the cat had developed aiitbodies. I will write her and ask to double check, this cat is alive and well though still with an extremely low HCT, she is doing good. The vets can't figure out what is causing her anemia. Did you get the answers you needed? Speaking specifically about anemic cats who are FeLV+, blood transfusions are probably given every 10 days, and probably not more than 3 times. This is only knowledge I have gleaned from what I've seen here in the past two years and might not be completely right. Some vets won't even do more than 2 transfusions. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com _ Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews
Re: blood transfusion
Caroline, I remember Monkee and all the heartache you guys went through. I would be doing all positives a disservice though if I didn't make a point about what my vet told me and I have personally seen happen with some cats on the lists I'm on. Sometimes for what ever reason it takes 2 or 3 or more transfusions to kick start a cats blood production, my vet told me she has done up to 5 transfusions on the same cat with no ill effects. Of course you still need to find out what is causing the anemia so you can hopefully fix it. Baileys anemia was his first symptom of the cancer we couldn't find until after he passed BUT we did reverse the non-regenerative anemia with epogen and prednisolone, his HCT was normal (33% from a low point of 15%) when the cancer took him.* * I didn't need to do a transfusion with Bailey because I did a bone marrow aspirate to find out what was causing the anemia and treated accordingly. Every cat I've lost has taught me something in hindsight that I and my vet missed at the time, I wish my guys weren't the ones that had to pay with their lives but I know one thing, if I ever hear of a cat having the same symptoms or God forbid I have a cat with like symptoms, I will know what to tell them to look for, doesn't mean they will but I will make the effort to let them know. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
RE: blood transfusion
I know, you are also right. But I didn't want to make Monkee go through the bone marrow aspirate because he'd already been through so much, since we did Chemo on him (which, in hindsight, I will NOT do again with another animal). I'm sure it's possible the chemo itself brought up the anemia, but he had the lump on his leg that was only getting bigger with chemo (which the Dr. was shocked by) and by the time we did the transfusion, he had lumps in his stomach and groin area, so the cancer was clearly spreading- despite chemo. The Doctor was almost positive it was the cancer causing the anemia and at the time, I was so disenchanted with her, I didn't really listen. But I'm sure now that she was right. We felt like a bone marrow aspirate would just tell us what we already knew, but didn't want to admit. I guess my point was really that the blood transfusions are so emotionally taxing. -Caroline Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:27:21 -0700From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: blood transfusion Caroline, I remember Monkee and all the heartache you guys went through.I would be doing all positives a disservice though if I didn't make a point about what my vet told me and I have personally seen happen with some cats on the lists I'm on.Sometimes for what ever reason it takes 2 or 3 or more transfusions to kick start a cats blood production, my vet told me she has done up to 5 transfusions on the same cat with no ill effects. Of course you still need to find out what is causing the anemia so you can hopefully fix it. Baileys anemia was his first symptom of the cancer we couldn't find until after he passed BUT we did reverse the non-regenerative anemia with epogen and prednisolone, his HCT was normal (33% from a low point of 15%) when the cancer took him. I didn't need to do a transfusion with Bailey because I did a bone marrow aspirate to find out what was causing the anemia and treated accordingly.Every cat I've lost has taught me something in hindsight that I and my vet missed at the time, I wish my guys weren't the ones that had to pay with their lives but I know one thing, if I ever hear of a cat having the same symptoms or God forbid I have a cat with like symptoms, I will know what to tell them to look for, doesn't mean they will but I will make the effort to let them know.-- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com _ Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews
Re: blood transfusion
Similar with my vet - limited # of transfusions. But it didn't have any ill effects on mine, only positive, then after a time they went down again. Gloria On Oct 17, 2007, at 9:06 AM, Caroline Kaufmann wrote: The vet I was taking Monkee to wouldn't do more than 2 transfusions. We only did one. When it wore off, it wore off bad. I realize now that Monkee was suffering much more than he let on and I just didn't know it at the time because he was such a toughie, with a real zest for life. I think psychologically, when you have a very anemic cat, the blood transfusion effects can be really hard to deal with. Monkee had lymphosarcoma at the same time and I wonder now if that was causing him pain and difficulty more than the anemia. In the future, I personally would only consider multiple transfusions (ignoring the cost for the sake of my hypothetical) maybe if anemia is the only thing a cat is suffering from. In hindsight, I feel like we were keeping something going that shouldn't have kept going and I think the fact that he died in my arms before we could even get him to a vet exactly 14 days after the transfusion, was proof of that. His body literally was not making and red blood cells at all and he needed that replacement blood to even function. But it's just a replacement and the body uses it up. So psychologically, it was really hard on me to see this cat I loved more than anything be normal again for a while just because he'd been given some replacement blood. And then to witness the effects of the transfusion wearing off slowly...very hard to endure. I just think doing a blood transfusion really needs to be thought through, especially if you have a cat who's Felv and anemia is maybe the least of his problems...like it was in Monkee's case. -Caroline Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:05:48 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: blood transfusion I do know of one cat that has had many transfusions, more than 5, I think it was one of Hideyo's cats, I seem to remember her posting it on the anemia list I'm on. I believe it was because the epogen quit working or her vet thought the cat had developed aiitbodies. I will write her and ask to double check, this cat is alive and well though still with an extremely low HCT, she is doing good. The vets can't figure out what is causing her anemia. Did you get the answers you needed? Speaking specifically about anemic cats who are FeLV+, blood transfusions are probably given every 10 days, and probably not more than 3 times. This is only knowledge I have gleaned from what I've seen here in the past two years and might not be completely right. Some vets won't even do more than 2 transfusions. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! Try now!
RE: blood transfusion
Blood transfusions really are emotionally taxing. Olive was only given one, because at the time I took her to the vet, I had no idea what was wrong with her. The vet discovered she was extremely anemic, but didn't know why, and said that if I wanted her to live, she needed one. I didn't know until a couple days after the transfusion, when she was doing so much better, that she was positive. And only a day or two after that, when she had become her normal, extremely playful, semi-annoying self once again, she started going downhill. It was the most heartwrenching thing I've ever experienced. I thought I had saved her life, but I had only given her an extra few days of feeling better before fading again. I considered another transfusion, but after doing extensive research, I figured it would be a lost cause. I didn't want to put her through any more pain. Transfusions are good in live-threatening situations, but with non-regenerative anemia, they only postpone the inevitable, and not for long. -Megan -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wed 10/17/2007 11:46 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: blood transfusion I know, you are also right. But I didn't want to make Monkee go through the bone marrow aspirate because he'd already been through so much, since we did Chemo on him (which, in hindsight, I will NOT do again with another animal). I'm sure it's possible the chemo itself brought up the anemia, but he had the lump on his leg that was only getting bigger with chemo (which the Dr. was shocked by) and by the time we did the transfusion, he had lumps in his stomach and groin area, so the cancer was clearly spreading- despite chemo. The Doctor was almost positive it was the cancer causing the anemia and at the time, I was so disenchanted with her, I didn't really listen. But I'm sure now that she was right. We felt like a bone marrow aspirate would just tell us what we already knew, but didn't want to admit. I guess my point was really that the blood transfusions are so emotionally taxing. -Caroline Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:27:21 -0700From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: blood transfusion Caroline, I remember Monkee and all the heartache you guys went through.I would be doing all positives a disservice though if I didn't make a point about what my vet told me and I have personally seen happen with some cats on the lists I'm on.Sometimes for what ever reason it takes 2 or 3 or more transfusions to kick start a cats blood production, my vet told me she has done up to 5 transfusions on the same cat with no ill effects. Of course you still need to find out what is causing the anemia so you can hopefully fix it. Baileys anemia was his first symptom of the cancer we couldn't find until after he passed BUT we did reverse the non-regenerative anemia with epogen and prednisolone, his HCT was normal (33% from a low point of 15%) when the cancer took him. I didn't need to do a transfusion with Bailey because I did a bone marrow aspirate to find out what was causing the anemia and treated accordingly.Every cat I've lost has taught me something in hindsight that I and my vet missed at the time, I wish my guys weren't the ones that had to pay with their lives but I know one thing, if I ever hear of a cat having the same symptoms or God forbid I have a cat with like symptoms, I will know what to tell them to look for, doesn't mean they will but I will make the effort to let them know.-- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com _ Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews winmail.dat
Re: Autumn - Again
Susan, I'm sorry to read that Autumn is ill again. I agree with Marylyn that changing or removing shoes are way better options than Lysol use. Does your vet know about ImmunoRegulin? It is a fairly inexpensive treatment that has had helpful results for some FeLV+ cats. It is not a cure, but it may help. Interferon alpha is another good option, which I think you may have already checked out. You might search the list archives for info on ImmunoRegulin. While you're searching, you might also look for references to fever. I know some people have had luck controlling their cats' fevers with medication. Keep up with the NutriCal and Pedialyte, which are good options. Give her anything she wants to eat (which you probably already do). You and Autumn are in my prayers. Lance On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 07:34:24 -0500, Susan Ang [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: Autumn is sick again! Despite all of our precautions which include Lysol-ing the bottom of our shoes when we come in from outside. This has been a really bad illness for her. She was lethargic Monday afternoon so I checked and found one of her glands in her throat swollen. I immediately made a vet appointment for the next morning. The next morning she had diarrhea. I took her in and they did a thorough check. She had the highest fever she's had yet, 104.8 ,and every lymph gland in her body is swollen. She doesn't want to be touched and she's walking like she's stiff and it hurts. She has a fighting spirit though and keeps trying to play.She can eat soft food, but the only way I can perk her up is with NutriCal and Pedialyte.They put her on the Clavamox again and the vet also wants to add in another antibiotic when it comes in. I can tell Autumn is having a tough time swallowing. I feel so bad for her. It is becoming apparent to me that we might not win this fight for her life. There are no holistic vets near us. ~Susan A. -- Lance Linimon [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: blood transfusion
Megan: I tried to prepare you for that when you first joined the list due to Olive's condition with relaying to you Monkee's experience. But it's never as bad as it is when you actually experience it yourself. Our experiences were similar in so many ways. -Caroline Subject: RE: blood transfusion Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:02:58 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Blood transfusions really are emotionally taxing. Olive was only given one, because at the time I took her to the vet, I had no idea what was wrong with her. The vet discovered she was extremely anemic, but didn't know why, and said that if I wanted her to live, she needed one. I didn't know until a couple days after the transfusion, when she was doing so much better, that she was positive. And only a day or two after that, when she had become her normal, extremely playful, semi-annoying self once again, she started going downhill. It was the most heartwrenching thing I've ever experienced. I thought I had saved her life, but I had only given her an extra few days of feeling better before fading again. I considered another transfusion, but after doing extensive research, I figured it would be a lost cause. I didn't want to put her through any more pain. Transfusions are good in live-threatening situations, but with non-regenerative anemia, they only postpone the inevitable, and not for long. -Megan -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wed 10/17/2007 11:46 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: blood transfusion I know, you are also right. But I didn't want to make Monkee go through the bone marrow aspirate because he'd already been through so much, since we did Chemo on him (which, in hindsight, I will NOT do again with another animal). I'm sure it's possible the chemo itself brought up the anemia, but he had the lump on his leg that was only getting bigger with chemo (which the Dr. was shocked by) and by the time we did the transfusion, he had lumps in his stomach and groin area, so the cancer was clearly spreading- despite chemo. The Doctor was almost positive it was the cancer causing the anemia and at the time, I was so disenchanted with her, I didn't really listen. But I'm sure now that she was right. We felt like a bone marrow aspirate would just tell us what we already knew, but didn't want to admit. I guess my point was really that the blood transfusions are so emotionally taxing. -Caroline Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:27:21 -0700From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: blood transfusion Caroline, I remember Monkee and all the heartache you guys went through.I would be doing all positives a disservice though if I didn't make a point about what my vet told me and I have personally seen happen with some cats on the lists I'm on.Sometimes for what ever reason it takes 2 or 3 or more transfusions to kick start a cats blood production, my vet told me she has done up to 5 transfusions on the same cat with no ill effects. Of course you still need to find out what is causing the anemia so you can hopefully fix it. Baileys anemia was his first symptom of the cancer we couldn't find until after he passed BUT we did reverse the non-regenerative anemia with epogen and prednisolone, his HCT was normal (33% from a low point of 15%) when the cancer took him. I didn't need to do a transfusion with Bailey because I did a bone marrow aspirate to find out what was causing the anemia and treated accordingly.Every cat I've lost has taught me something in hindsight that I and my vet missed at the time, I wish my guys weren't the ones that had to pay with their lives but I know one thing, if I ever hear of a cat having the same symptoms or God forbid I have a cat with like symptoms, I will know what to tell them to look for, doesn't mean they will but I will make the effort to let them know.-- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com _ Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews _ Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews
Re: blood transfusion
Not sure your vet knew this but the most reliable way to get all the cancer when it is on a limb is amputation of that limb and then possibly chemo. Animals do very well with missing limbs. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Thank you
Nina, Hideyo and Lance for offering help to Susan with Autumn. I remember feeling overwhelmed with fear and sadness several months ago and you really pulled us through. I really appreciate your input. xxx Jane
blood transfusion
Thank-you for the replies. My cat Sunny had follow-up bloodwork on Tuesday and has had modest improvement, which makes me very happy. He was diagnosed with feline leukemia just a week before. Neutered, fully vaccinated and before this completely healthy. I noticed his gums were pale and he lost a pound or two but I didn't think it was anything serious. I think I'm over the initial shock and just focusing on keeping him happy. He's on prednisone and interferon now. I hate being faced with unpredictability. The reason I asked about the transfusions was because the only other person I know who has a feline leukemia cat has had two years of good health after a transfusion. I'm realizing though that although the transfusion probably helped, that particular cat may have made it anyways. My Sunny is a shy guy, and before I subject him to the stress, I wanted to know if I'm really helping him. My vet said it's hard on their liver and suggested against it at this point. I have 4 other cats, who of course have now all been exposed, so I'm learning as much as I can and hoping for the best. Thank-you for your help. Sincerely, Angela - Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail
