[Felvtalk] Grieving, and need to understand about felv

[Marsha]

My condolences on your loss of Sam. You gave him the best life you 
could, and you made a reasonable decision in the end.  There is no 
guarantee for the treatments some have tried, and by the time you 
researched each, found someone who would work with you, and then ordered 
and received it, it may have been too late anyway.  I think a "for sure" 
treatment/cure for FeLV is many years away, if ever, because there is 
noplace investing research money in it, especially since the vaccine 
that is available has reduced the number of cases.

Marsha


On 11/27/2015 12:00 PM, annetburton at aol.com wrote:
> Hello. My name is Anne, and I just had to put my kitty, Sam, down on 
> Wednesday, due to his having felv and being very ill.
>
> I am having those terrible self doubts now... I have had to let some 
> furbabies go in the past, and I always have those doubts, even though 
> I know it was the right thing for them.
>
> I am a cat rescue participant. I have had strays fixed, taken to vet, 
> treated, and have found homes for some. I rescued Sam and his brother 
> Domino, when they were young kittens, the babies of a feral/stray 
> momma. An evil neighbor trapped their mom, brother, and sister, and 
> took them to Animal friends in our town, where they were euthanized 
> immediately... the animal warden made me aware of this when I called 
> him, to talk about the neighbor trapping them.
>
> Anyway, Sam and Dom , and another rescued abandoned girl, Roxie, have 
> been my only ones for the past few years. Sam and Dom are four years 
> old. Sam was always sickly, with colds. the vet thought it was 
> probably feline herpes, and he was treated for colds, and finally 
> didn't get them anymore, though he began to have issues ... 
> stomatitis. it was getting harder and harder to get it to clear up.
>
> I had Sam and Dom neutered when they were about six months old. I 
> thought they had a felv shot at that time, but Wednesday, I learned 
> that they had not.
>
> Sam was always happy, bouncy, and my little squirrel tailed kitty :), 
> but his mouth became very inflamed and  I took him in to the vet. She 
> gave him zenequin and prednisone. It wasn't working, and he became 
> worse, not eating much, and I took him back. they then gave him 
> fluids, and a depo medrol shot. I was to call back in two days. He 
> became lethargic the day after the shot.. hardly walking, eyes became 
> bloodshot and running a lot. I knew he was in trouble, and took him 
> back in. They called me to say that they tested him and he was feline 
> leukemia positive.
>
> I was so afraid that he was not going to get better. He was anemic by 
> this time. petikia in his eyes, his gums terrible. not even standing 
> by this point! I honestly could not imagine him coming back from this 
> point, and asked them if it was the best thing to let him go. They 
> said yes, that he was just going to keep going down hill (he was 
> already bottomed out, in my opinion). So I went in, and held him while 
> giving him freedom from his pain and suffering. It is breaking my 
> heart and I need to hear that I did not do this prematurely.... I see 
> things online now, where people say it can be treated.
>
> I have the other two, who seem very well. Roxie was a pet store cat, 
> who was abandoned by a relative who was supposed to be caring for her. 
> she had a micro chip and I was able to talk to her owner who was away 
> at college. I am thinking that Roxie had had her vaccine for that. I 
> will be having her tested soon, at another vets, where she has a 
> treatment plan. The same for Domino, who I am worried about, although 
> he has been through a broken  leg, an infection in the cast, and a 
> long treatment before  his leg was able to be re -casted.  he has 
> always been very healthy, but I am worried. I have been reading , 
> searching, as to whether some cats may not get it, and I am hoping 
> that my Domino is one of the lucky ones who may have had it and thrown 
> it off (If I understand that process correctly).
>
> I am so sad, wondering if I could have given my Sam more time. The 
> vets were not positive at all, and agreed that it was the best for 
> Sam. I do not always believe vets, and don't have the utmost trust in 
> this practice, but I also know that doubts are normal, when you have 
> had to make this terrible choice, for your beloved furbaby.
>
> any reassurances are welcome.
> thank you,
> anne
>

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