[Felvtalk] Grieving, and need to understand about felv

Fri Nov 27 12:56:55 CST 2015

Thank you Marsha, for your kind reassurance and wisdom. I don't think Sam would have made it another day, actually, now that I realize it was severe anemia making him weak. I didn't think of that right off, but I  once treated a beloved cat with epogen, for kidney disease related non regenerative anemia, and I can recognize now what was going on with Sam. The white of his eyes conjunctiva had alarmed me, a few days earlier, but I didn't know why. now I remember. 
I appreciate your kind response, and hope that someday, this disease can be eliminated.

Anne

-----Original Message-----
From: Marsha <martia at lynxe.com>
To: felvtalk <felvtalk at felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Fri, Nov 27, 2015 1:39 pm
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Grieving, and need to understand about felv

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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