Polythycemia Vera

Hello, in a nutshell, my lovely little Sophie (4 years old) has been diagnosed with PV and is today starting on hydroxurea. She had a seizure a week ago, her blood count was 81%. After several days at a specialist hospital and several "bleeds", her count dropped low enough for her to be allowed home, and her hydroxurea arrived today.
At her follow up blood test yesterday, her count was 51% - so almost normal.
She is to take 1x 100mg daiy for the next week, pending her next blood test in a week's time.
I am so nervous about giving her these pills, even though I know she has to have them.
Can anyone advise how quickly I will notice any side effects? Also the best way of giving these pills? We have years of experience of giving pills to cats as we gave Fortekor daily to our last cat who had CRF,but am nervous about giving hydroxurea to Sophie as they are cytotoxic.
I also need to ensure that her twin sister doesn't come into contact with these pills.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts

I'm sorry you haven't had any quicker replies @sophiesmum   as it sounds like a really difficult situation you have going on.  Possibly not so many people around who have direct experience as the condition doesn't seem to be very common.  Lots of other members have cats with serious illnesses and requiring careful medication which has to be monitored closely though so hopefully more people will chip in here.

I am glad to hear Sophie has now come home from the vet with reduced levels of red blood cells and is well enough for you to treat at home.  It is always scary though when the medication can be toxic, and esp when there is another cat about.  I used to have 2 litter sisters and it was much harder coping with things when they were both about (one of them was a daemon for regurgitating tablets ages after she'd taken them and I'd find them deposited in the wackiest corners of the apartment).   One thing with the medication is that Sophie's sister is very unlikely to try and ingest it - check with your vet but they usually have a strong taste and cats sense they are not for eating.  As long as it is not mixed in with food or water I suspect this is reasonably safe.

Do you have regular appointments or check in times with you vet for bloods and toxicity levels to be checked?   If you know that that is in place and you also have information on specific signs to look out for in terms of the side effects hopefully this will help in your confidence starting to give the medication.   I too have memories of the daily Fortekor routine. Unfortunately I have not had to give Hydroxurea so can not help in terms of picking up on the signs.

Hopefully Sophie will not be too upset with the medication routine and will continue to feel better as the treatment becomes established.

Thank you for your reply. I'm pleased to say that Sophie has successfully started on her medication. She is having 1 x 100mg a day until advised otherwise. I've tried the hiding the pill in food method, but it didn't work, so I am giving her the medication straight into her mouth. She wriggles quite a lot while I am holding her and giving her the medication, but she's being a very good girl and not spitting out. I hold her and her mouth shut (while stroking her throat) to make sure she has swallowed the pill, before releasing her. Then she runs off and does the 'I'm very embarrassed' coat lick thing that cats do.

She has her second follow up blood test on Monday afternoon, so we will know then if the medication has further improved her blood count. The specialist referral vet said that we may well be able to drop to a blood test once or twice a month, possibly even less, depending on how well Sophie is tolerating the medication.

There haven't been any obvious side effects. Possibly a little sleepy, but other than that, being a normal young cat and running around like crazy at night/early morning!

That is a lovely, positive update for the start of the medication routine. I'm really happy that she is taking the medication.  My only word of caution from experience with one of my former furry divas is make sure and check any little hiding spots she might use after the pilling so make sure there's no sign of regurgitated pills / foam indicating she has brought up some or all of her dose.  I used to find little pink tablet in the weirdest of places when I had to give snowleopard pills for her bladder inflammation.  

Great that she is now playful and running about - I bet you are loving those night crazies and early morning wake-up calls.      Long may they last.