Feline Leukemia diagnosis

I just wanted to get opinions from others about what is happening with my little guy.

Last week he became very listless. He wouldn't eat, drink or use the litter box. Not that he would do his business else where, he just didn't use it at all. After a stint at the emergency vet where they told me they could get him to do his business and eat, they sent him home and I made an appointment with the vet on Monday.

Cookie's blood work came back positive for Feline Leukemia. He also has secondary cancer and the lymph nodes and heart are enlarged. His veins are enlarged as well.

The vet placed him on some appetite stimulants, antibiotics and some pain medication when needed. Cookie is at home with me now, he still hasn't gone poop and he still seems to be tired, but he appears to be feeling better. The vet would like to start chemotherapy, but I'm really concerned that he's going to be in continual pain. I say this because it appears that my old vet completely missed the signs last year when I had blood work done for Cookie because he wasn't acting like himself. The old vet stated everything was fine, but this new vet pulled his records and it clearly shows Cookie has blood in his urine. So he may have had Leukemia a year ago.

I'm concerned that as much as I love my little guy, that I'm going to make him suffer a lot of pain and suffering by putting him through the chemo that may or may not correct the cancer and what about his enlarged heart and veins? I do not know if those are related to the cancer, but they could be.

I'm still waiting to speak to the vet, but I want to do what's best for my baby and not what's best for my heart.

Here is the name of the resident expert ... i beleive at current time she has 15 of these very special kittys

katiemae1277 .... You can pm her

I am so sorry that you are having such a challenging issue with Cookies health. I do want to welcome you to TheCatSite.
At least you have come to a site where members will understand how your are feeling.

I think that I would ask my vet to be referred to a specialist, if there is one in your area, for a second opinion.
You need all the information that you can get to help you make difficult decisions about Cookie's care.

I am sending calming thoughts to both you and your precious Cookie and will be watching for your updates.

only 14!

Developing cancer is a common problem in leukemia cats

To be honest, based on your description of your kitty's current state, I don't think your kitty could make it through chemo Like your last sentence, I want to do what's best for my baby and not what's best for my heart. I think the best thing to do right now is make your baby as comfortable as possible and give him as much love as possible.

As for the late diagnosis for the leukemia, there's no real treatment plan for a positive kitty so I'm not sure it would have made too much of a difference, although you might have been able to catch the cancer sooner. I'm so sorry you and Cookie are going thru this If you have any additional questions, please feel free to PM me. Here are some links to read about leukemia
http://www.aafponline.org/resources/...Guidelines.pdf
http://www.felineleukemia.org/
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/felv.html

Originally Posted by sharky

Here is the name of the resident expert ... i beleive at current time she has 15 of these very special kittys

katiemae1277 .... You can pm her

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I think she is an expert on FeLV, not Feline Leukemia, which is a cancer, not a virus.

Is this the cancerous version or the viral version? Our advice may change drastically depending on this answer.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

I think she is an expert on FeLV, not Feline Leukemia, which is a cancer, not a virus.

Is this the cancerous version or the viral version? Our advice may change drastically depending on this answer.

Click to expand...

FeLV is an abbreviation for Feline Leukimia Virus. Is there Feline Leukimia without the virus?

Originally Posted by jenniferd

FeLV is an abbreviation for Feline Leukimia Virus. Is there Feline Leukimia without the virus?

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you're right Jennifer, FeLV is the abbreviation for the feline leukemia virus, a retro-virus very similar to FIV...but so very different at the same time Feline Leukemia is nothing like the human cancer leukemia- not really sure why they even named it leukemia to be honest. But cancer/lymphoma is very common in leukemia cats, I lost my very first positive to cancer.

Im so sorry to hear that your baby is sick! I hope kitty gets better soon! Keep us posted please!

Oh, I am so sorry to hear about your baby's diagnosis! Healing and comfort to you both.

Sending lots of vibes for your kitty!

One of my friends cats are sick.; like 5 in all, they have "real bad colds" coughing & sneezing, she is having a hard time keeping them all medicated & hydrated. One died last week, vet said it was feline leukemia, I feel for her & gave her some monies to help. Hope her cats are better.

His name was Onyx and he just passed away this year at the end of June. We both went through a lot for the 2 years that I had him. I took Onyx to a Holistic Vet after the first year of not eating, several times, a feeding tube surgically implanted in his neck and feeding him through the tube for 4 months, but, I can tell you, it was the best decision I made with Onyx. The Holistic Vet gave him another year of life, a good quality of life. Only at the very end 3 days of his life did he develop High Grade Lymphoma and could not fight it. I am very sorry you both are going through this, I completely agree that I doubt your baby will be able to survive the chemo.............Please look for a vet that practices alternative medicine. It is very expensive, I am being upfront, but at this point in your babies life, it is probably the only thing that could help.

I want to thank everyone for all the kind words, advice and support. Cookie does have the virus and he does have lymphoma cancer.

As of right now they are going to give him some chemo medicine to help reduce the lymph nodes and make him as comfortable as possible. Cookie is 10 years old and one of the older cats the vet has seen with Leukemia. Right now he's eating well and playing a little but losing a lot of weight. He lost a half pound in two days. So we're just trying to make him as comfortable as possible. He could be with us for another year or for a few days. Either way I'm trying to make the most of the rest of the days I have with him.

Thank you again to everyone. This is a fantastic group of people

Awww Cookie

I have no advice to offer, but just wanted you to know that some more prayers & good vibes are headed your way.

~KK~