Anemia-can my vet do anything for anemia?

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chalupa

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Just wondering if I should take my cat to dr. She has a tumor, lymphoma and pretty sure at least a mild case of anemia. Is there anything else the vet can do for this? Last time we went the vet did nothing but ultrasound. I guess I kind of thought she would address anything wrong then but now I kind of feel like it's up to me to ask for things. My cat is on prednisolone which is helping her appetite but my cat is still licking sidewalk and breathing funny and I just want her to be as comfortable as possible for her last days with me. Should I bring her in for bloodwork? Is there any kind of supportive care my vet can do at this point like vitamins or something I know my dr is off today is why I ask. I just feel like my vet is waiting to put her to sleep. My cats still running around and eating and stuff so I am not there yet. Also I am in no hurry to drag my cat on the bus unless it's worth it. Can I give her vitamins at home like from a drugstore for for her anemia?
 

quiet

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Hi;

If you can take your cat to a specialist that would be best. That may not be feasible. I totally understand.

Your cat is having breathing issues right now you need to get her to a vet right now. she most likely licks the sidewalk ( please keep her inside) because she is anemic like you are saying.

There are many things that can be done at the veterinary office such as blood transfusions etc. There is nothing you could give over the counter vitamin or otherwise that I know of that could help her at this point and could hurt her.

It sounds like she has been dealt a bad hand and I know it isn't fair. I am not a vet and have never seen your cat or know your cat's history but a tumor in the abdomen is serious stuff and if it cannot be removed by surgery and such then it is just a bad situation, Can she still eat?

I am sorry but if she is having any problems with breathing at all she needs to see a vet ASAP.
 

quiet

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I am sorry I sure wish I would fully read before responding.

I don't think a bus ride would be good for your cat at this point.

I do think there are supportive things that can be done such as a blood transfusion and IV fluids along with some possible electrolyte and vitamin supplementation given as an injection.

I am sorry but the things in the drugstore won't be safe that I know of. Allot of vitamins have extra things in them that will hurt your cat. Cats don't have the same system as any other animal. Their liver is missing some enzymes that other animals have to clear things from the body. That is why you don't give cats aspirin or Tylenol or many other over the counter drugs.

I think that your cat needs to be inside. Try to keep stress level as low as possible.

Is there a vet that does house calls?

What general area are you in?

I am so sorry your cat is so ill.

Sitting with kitty and petting or talking quietly etc. is good but please limit any picking up or holding which could constrict the chest or hurt and keep stress low.

I am very sorry
 

stephenq

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If her breathing is labored due to anemia it means she can't transport enough oxygen and she is in at least some distress.  The only things I know to ease her in this condition is a blood transfusion or oxygen therapy but if its bad enough to need either of those then it may in fact be time to face the most difficult of decisions.  I realize you're not quite ready and she might not be either, but don't wait too long ok.
 

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I've been following your various threads about Chalupa. I don't have much to add, but wanted to say that I'm so sorry that you and Chalupa are going through this. It's a terrible thing to experience.  I trust that you will both know when the time is right. Keep tabs on her quality of life, and stay in tune with what she is telling you. You do not want the last moments and last memories of your girl to be of her suffering.

My thoughts are with you. 
 

cprcheetah

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Ask your vet about Liquitinic or Pettinic that is what we use for anemic animals and it works great. 
 

denice

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I've been following your various threads about Chalupa. I don't have much to add, but wanted to say that I'm so sorry that you and Chalupa are going through this. It's a terrible thing to experience.  I trust that you will both know when the time is right. Keep tabs on her quality of life, and stay in tune with what she is telling you. You do not want the last moments and last memories of your girl to be of her suffering.

My thoughts are with you. 
I too am sorry you are going through this.  Please keep an eye on her quality of life, there comes a time when the kitty is ready to go.  Lymphoma especially large cell lymphoma is a horrible disease.
 
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chalupa

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Thanks so much, thought there must be something. I will definitely look into this pettinic and liquitinic, will ask my vet as soon as possible!
 
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chalupa

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Quiet-Thank you for your reply. My cat also has a cold so I don't know how much is runny nose, sneezing, congestion as far as her breathing is concerned. I'm pretty sure she must be somewhat anemic and I will try to find this pettinic or liquitinic. She is definitely not there yet as far as time to go. She gets up every morning meows for food, eats and whenever the weather is warm enough she begs to go outside(under my strict supervision). If it's really warm she will sleep outside on her bed all day if I let her. This only happens once or twice or a week or short time after work if we are lucky anyway, I work a lot.I live in Chicago and the vet is a short bus ride away, they are open until 10pm everyday so I feel pretty safe they are there. I want to take Chalupa to a specialist, but her diagnosis is so hopeless, just can't see the point putting her through more, only to have it make little difference.
 
 
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chalupa

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You are absolutely right I do not want Chalupa suffering, it's just that the prednisolone is making it more difficult to tell how sick she really is. I do want to take her to be euthanized before things get really bad, I'm hoping Chalupa will give me a sign or two beforehand. Don't want to be bring her in in an emergency situation. I need to go to the same vet and same place we've been going to so much since last summer. This dr. is the only one who can do it, hopefully she won't be on vacation when time comes.

All I know is everyday I'm surprised Chalupa still acts like everything is okay. Not looking forward to the day she acts like it's not, maybe it will be tomorrow.
 
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chalupa

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Funny thing is, I've always been so concerned about her teeth, diabetes, kidneys, had regular dental cleanings her whole life, took a while to learn about pet food too and how bad it can be. I was trying to help her live long and maybe have an easier time as she got older. Finally thought I got her health straightened out, but couldn't prevent this. Could it be from all those vaccinations the vets insisted she have her whole life?
 

quiet

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HI;

Honestly, really bad diseases happen to really great little kitties for absolutely no reason at all. As human beings it is so hard for us to accept that and we try to place blame somewhere, be it an external source, or ourselves. I am no different. Sometimes it is like anger is just such an easier emotion to deal with than grief. At least it is that way for me. If it is large cell lymphoma then it is nobody's fault and certainly nothing you could have prevented.

I have seen allot of cats with cancer. I have seen allot get chemotherapy. There is the occasional cat that will go into remission and seem to be "cured" and cancer free, only to wind up with renal failure due to the chemotherapy drugs. The cats I have seen with large cell don't do well in my opinion. There was an elderly lady I knew who's cat I helped her care for after the same diagnosis and they tried everything with little response other than maybe a month of the cat not doing as poorly. So it sounds like your little cat is doing well for a cat with that disease.

I guess all you can do is make things as stress free as possible, and keep a positive attitude. Don't be upset or cry around your cat. Believe it or not they do feel our emotions.

One of the foods I used to be able to get the cat I knew to eat was the fancy feast gravy lovers food. Not that I think it is a great food or anything, but when cats are sick they seem to like licking the gravy off of the food.

I also knew a lady with a cat with renal lymphoma who did survive with chemotherapy for about 18 months. When she finally brought the kitty in to be put to sleep because the lymphoma had gone into her brain (severe neurological signs) the lady told me that her little cat Amanda had such a fun life but that life just wasn't fun for her anymore and she didn't think it rite to keep her hanging on any longer. It made a lot of sense at the time.

So, if your kitty is still having fun then that is great, but when there is no fun left for them you must start to make some choices. It is heartbreaking.

You might want to talk to your vet and see if they will do a house call for you.

Take care and again I am so very truly sorry.
 

britishbluefan

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A cat I had a long time ago had anemia. The vet told me to feed the canned wet food with Liver as the main ingredient. After a few weeks his anemia was way better.
 
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chalupa

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Thank you so much, I will try giving her liver
 
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chalupa

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Thanks, I do have hills a/d at home but she walks backwards away from it in repulsion, almost every time, I will try it though. She is eating raw food now too seems to appeal to her sense of smell more for some reason, Stella & Chewy's and Primal, my vet said raw is a wonderful option for her. I don't eat meat but I would like give her more fresh raw food. Could I just go to a butcher and ask for liver and give it to her raw would that be best?If so what kind of liver would be best?
 
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peaches08

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A/D makes me walk backward away from it too, LOL!  You can get plan raw chicken liver and feed small amounts of it.  Like, half a pinky finger's worth.  More than that and you risk vomiting.  Feed her raw meat if she'll eat it.  Chicken, turkey, duck, pork, beef, venison...you may find that some meats are too rich and she may vomit but chicken and turkey should be fine.  We can help you balance a raw diet in the raw feeding forum.
 
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chalupa

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Quiet, Just reading what you wrote in your second post, I must have missed it and it is very wise and also frightening. Especially the part about the lymphoma going to the brain. I thought it was funny also the part about not crying in front of cats, because when I first found out her diagnosis I was in another room crying,  'mama don't leave me.' (I call her mama because she watches me like a hawk just like I do her). She jumped out of bed and came running to me with big eyes and came up to my face like, what are you talking about I'm right here, she looked confused, she made me laugh. I was considering putting her to sleep shortly after her diagnosis, but since I started the pred., doesn't seem right time yet. Not looking forward to the her time. I will probably get obsessed with painting pictures of her. Thank you for what you wrote.
 
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