Feline leukemia, need advice

nwfn

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My 11-year-old cat was diagnosed with feline leukemia last week. (I have no idea how she got it. She's an indoor cat, hasn't lived with other cats for 4 years).

She is anemic. Red blood cell count was 14 on Monday when she was checked in to the vet, dropped to 11 that afternoon, then she got a transfusion which got it back up to 14. I took her back home on Wednesday, and her count was up to 16 on Friday morning. I am told that 30+ is normal.

Right now she is on interferon and prednisone. She is also on a syringe diet since Friday because she won't eat, and that's the hardest part. I have to feed her 30ml 3x a day, and we both hate it. She threw up one of her meals today also, which upset us both.

Also she's been on this syringe diet for 2.5 days and still no poop. Is that weird? I know I should ask the vet, and I will tomorrow, I just want some other opinions.

I don't know what to do. I love this cat. I don't want her to suffer. Is there any hope that she will have a halfway decent life after this? I have another vet appointment on Friday. I think if she hasn't improved by then, it will be time to let her go. I've never had to do this before.

Does anyone have advice or stories of their own about feline leukemia? I need to figure out what to do.
 

ldg

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First of all, I'm so sorry. :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: If your kitty was a rescue kitty, adopted from a shelter, she could have been carrying the virus the entire time, even though testing negative for it until now. :(

When things like this happen, the Yahoo Groups are usually the best resource, bringing together experience and expertise. :hugs:

I found two groups. Probably best to join both of them.

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FelineLeukemia/info

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FeLVPositiveCats/info

Many vibes for your and your kitty. :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :heart2:
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Has  she pooped yet?  I do think it's a little odd that she hasn't, especially since feeding her via syringe means her food is really watered down, which means she shouldn't be constipated (IMHO). 

As to her throwing up one of her meals, that could be from you feeding her too fast.  Could be. Or it could be the prednisone.    Now, when she was at the Vet, did they give her an appetite stimulant?  Either way, if the pred is making her sick to her stomach, she may need something to offset that. 

In answer to your question about her having a decent life after this diagnosis, I would say probably so, but you definitely need to discuss that with your Vet, who has all her blood results, etc..  She first needs to get over this crisis
.  The fact that her RBC is rising is a good sign , and the fact that your Vet didn't immediately say "there's nothing we can do" is a good sign too, I think. 

Hang in there.  Sometimes they seem  a lot worse before they get better.  And these two new medications may even cause her to feel bad too, until her body gets used to them
 
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nwfn

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Thanks for the links to those groups. I've applied to join them.

Duchess is pooping now. Very messy poop too. But I'll take that over nothing.

I don't think this throw-up incident was due to feeding her too fast, because it happened hours after I fed her. She's on an appetite stimulant, which she takes every three days in the morning, and the incident happened in the evening before her next dose was due. So I'm chalking it up to nausea unless it happens again.

Sigh, need to do her third feeding of the day soon + meds. Poor kitty. At least this is her last dose of interferon until next week.

Now she can tell when I'm prepping her meal and starts crying :(
 

mrsgreenjeens

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What happens when you just put food in front of her?  Does she sniff it and walk away?  If so, she IS nauseated (it sounds like).  Can you discuss with the Vet and see if he can give her Cerenia for that?  It's a shot that could really help with nausea, as long as it doesn't interfer with the other stuff.

Has she thrown up any more since yesterday?   Have you tried offering her any treats, anything she normally just can't resist?  I'm wondering why she starts crying when you prepare her food (for syringe feeding)?  A lot of cats really like being fed that way, and it's hard to break them of that habit once they get started, the lazy bums
.  Are you wrapping her in a towel like a burrito so she can't struggle too much when you do it.  That is supposed to also make them feel safe
  Check out this video on syringe feeding a cat.  This is one of our members:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/227858/syringe-feeding-lucky-video-if-your-cat-is-not-eating
 
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nwfn

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Duchess passed away tonight. Thank you for comments everyone.
 

happybird

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I am so sorry for your loss.
I wish I had magic words to help lessen your pain. My dog was diagnosed with cancer and gone within a week so I know how shocking and painful and numbing such a quick passing can be :(
It's also ok and normal to feel some relief, knowing your dear friend won't suffer or become more sick as you watch and more days pass.
Just know that Duchess loved you as much as you loved her and that one day you'll be together again. I believe that with my whole heart. Take care.
 

goholistic

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I'm so sorry to read that Duchess passed.  
  You did all you could for her, and she knew how much you loved her. 
 

ldg

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Oh no, I'm so, so sorry! :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :heart2: It's always so much more difficult when we just weren't expecting it. :heart2: :grphug2: :heart2:

Duchess had a wonderful life, and I'm sure she knows how deeply she was loved. Sometimes our kitties just don't let us know there are problems until it's so far into it, because they love us so much, and they don't want us to worry and suffer. It seems that this was Duchess. :rub:

:rbheart:
 

jcat

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I'm so sorry for your loss. Perhaps you'd like to post about Duchess in the Crossing the Bridge forum, where people can give their condolences. A link to that thread can be added to this one before it is closed.
 
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