Pet Lovers

[beach-mom]

@lovesrecess - I'm so sorry your kitty is going through this. The problem is they can't tell us how they feel. Advanced expensive tests are not always guaranteed and sometimes will prolong a kitty's life maybe months longer. It's hard to know what to do. We have been through it with our own kitties too many times, but we always say we don't want them to suffer. As long as we can tell they're not suffering, we enjoy the time we have with them. I will be thinking of you. 

[Kachina624]

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@lovesrecess wrote:

JThis vet specialist was recommended by two other vets who had seen my kitty....they say she is the best and it is an actual hospital with oncologists, etc.....don't know who else to see....I will spend money if they can actually give me a specific diagnosis and a treatment plan that makes sense and will be productive....but not willing to keep paying when each test just results in wanting another. I love my kitty and want her well. If that can't happen I want to know that as well.....

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It sounds like you're dealing with a specialty clinic, and they can be very expensive.  Three years ago I fostered a smooth collie taken from a hoarding situation who acquired an auto immune disease (Immune Mediated Polyarthritis) days after being spayed.  She became severely anemic and was on prednisone and a plethora of other drugs, being treated by a canine internist.  Threw everything in their bag of tricks at her to the tune of over $10,000, paid by the rescue group including blood transfusions.

After struggling for 14 months, we had to send her to the bridge.  There was no hope, she couldn't walk and was in pain.  The money well ran dry.  It was tragic.  I've had dozens of dogs, some great ones, but this girl was very special.  Sweetest dog I ever had, very kind and gentle, typical collie.  Everytime I think of her I want to cry.

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is let them go, especially If they dont feel well and are suffering.  Sometimes there's really no hope.  You have to dry the line and make a hard  decision.

[Sammycat1]

@lovesrecess

I have some experience with this but I've got to hit ths sack. I promise I'll write tomorrow.

[Catty2]

@lovesrecess

I've gone through something similar with my 11 year old dog for over a year.  She has a chronic cough and my regular vet referred me to a specialty vet.  Brandy had numerous tests and then a procedure done, approx. $2,000.  She was on and off prednisone but has been off it a long time since it's not a long term solution.  She was on another med but has been off that for about a month.  She still has the cough but had it even while on the meds.  I know seeing another specialty vet will be expensive.  On the other hand, if she seems to be doing OK I would probably just keep an eye on her and see if anything changes.  Wishing you and your furr baby all the best.  

[NickNack]

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@lovesrecess wrote:

JThis vet specialist was recommended by two other vets who had seen my kitty....they say she is the best and it is an actual hospital with oncologists, etc.....don't know who else to see....I will spend money if they can actually give me a specific diagnosis and a treatment plan that makes sense and will be productive....but not willing to keep paying when each test just results in wanting another. I love my kitty and want her well. If that can't happen I want to know that as well.....

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@lovesrecess  A specialist is absolutely who you should be going to.  I don't know that a second opinion would help, but if I got one it would be from another specialist.  The question for me would be, if it is lymphoma what would the treatment be and would I do it.  I don't think I would ever put a pet of mine through chemotherapy or radiation treatment, so if that's the treatment it wouldn't be worth it to me to spend all that money for tests.

[candys mine]

I'm so sorry you and your kitty have to go through this.  you hav said 2 general vets and a Specialist have all agreed on a diagnosis of Lymphoma for your kitty.  When you go to a Specialist they recommend the ultimate of diagnostice at their disposal to treat the patient. You have been told there are no gaurantees the proceedures will solve any of this. They are not stringing you along.  THey are giving you all the options they have and you need to choose the direction of care you want to go in.  Ask them POINT BLANK if they can CURE your kitty. then decide if you want to keep subjecting kitty to car trips and testing OR let nature take it's course and continue with your current treatments and when she fails know you have given her comfort and more good days than she ever would have had without your care.

Its' a difficult time but you know your kitty and your situation bettter than anyone else.

Whatever choice you make you will make it with love for your kity.

[NickNack]

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@candys mine wrote:

I'm so sorry you and your kitty have to go through this.  you hav said 2 general vets and a Specialist have all agreed on a diagnosis of Lymphoma for your kitty.  When you go to a Specialist they recommend the ultimate of diagnostice at their disposal to treat the patient. You have been told there are no gaurantees the proceedures will solve any of this. They are not stringing you along.  THey are giving you all the options they have and you need to choose the direction of care you want to go in.  Ask them POINT BLANK if they can CURE your kitty. then decide if you want to keep subjecting kitty to car trips and testing OR let nature take it's course and continue with your current treatments and when she fails know you have given her comfort and more good days than she ever would have had without your care.

Its' a difficult time but you know your kitty and your situation bettter than anyone else.

Whatever choice you make you will make it with love for your kity.

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This is the best advice you've been given.  It's what I was trying to say, but she said it SO much better.  I agree completely.

[Sammycat1]

@lovesrecess

I wrote last night that I have had some experience, sadly, with lymphoma and severe anemia -- so I wanted to write about it.  I hope it helps you.

Severe anemia in a cat like yours that has been to determined to be trigger by an autoimmune problem like yours is often a precursor to the development of cancer. When you said that her treatment for this was prednisolone, this told me that she had anemia caused by an autoimmune problem. Your doctors had to deal with the anemia ASAP or she would have died, so that was appropriate. I've had other cats with different disease-triggers of anemia, and the treatment is very different.

You went to the right place.  They are not stringing you along.  They've seen markers of lymphoma in her bloodstream.  The ultrasound imaging is necessary to see where it is (she can lymphoma anywhere and everywhere) and the other additional testing is to verify what type of lymphoma she has and what stage it's at.

Lymphoma is incurable.  It can be kicked into remission, though, just like in people. But what they are trying to do is give her as much quality, comfortable time with you as possible. If you don't pursue finding the info, you won't know where she stands and whether she has a reasonable shot at remission. She may be at the very beginnings of it and they can offer her this with a specific, targeted therapy.  Cats can live 6 months to a little under 2 years with good quality of life. I highlighted that because it's what we all want.

They will tell you after these tests whether prednisolone alone is enough.  Sometimes prednisolone and another drug, usually a chemo pill, does the trick. Don't freak out about chemo -- cats tolerate this far better than humans. 

And remember, the specialists are not about prolonging her life unnecessarily or putting her through h*ll.  If you don't pursue the additional tests, you won't know the nature of the beast and be able to give her better quality of life in the time she has left.

I'm sorry you and your poor kitty are confronting this illness.  She needs you to be a champion now and have confidence in the medical process so you can help her face this illness in her golden years. 

And lastly, in a situation like this, I've always asked the vet, "What if she was the love of your life and she was YOURS?"  That also will help drive your decisionmaking.

Best wishes for you and your beloved kitty.  We are pulling for her!

[Silver Lining]

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@NickNack wrote:

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@candys mine wrote:

I'm so sorry you and your kitty have to go through this.  you hav said 2 general vets and a Specialist have all agreed on a diagnosis of Lymphoma for your kitty.  When you go to a Specialist they recommend the ultimate of diagnostice at their disposal to treat the patient. You have been told there are no gaurantees the proceedures will solve any of this. They are not stringing you along.  THey are giving you all the options they have and you need to choose the direction of care you want to go in.  Ask them POINT BLANK if they can CURE your kitty. then decide if you want to keep subjecting kitty to car trips and testing OR let nature take it's course and continue with your current treatments and when she fails know you have given her comfort and more good days than she ever would have had without your care.

Its' a difficult time but you know your kitty and your situation bettter than anyone else.

Whatever choice you make you will make it with love for your kity.

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This is the best advice you've been given.  It's what I was trying to say, but she said it SO much better.  I agree completely.

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Yes, excellent advice. I pray that I will never again put any of my pets through the pain, fear and suffering of continuous new tests and drugs when they have a fatal disease. My eleven-year-old cat's health was failing and nothing helped. I should have let her enjoy being at home and let nature take its course and receive palliative care when it became needed instead of the ordeal I put her through to prolong her life for my own sake. Prayers sent.

[jaxs mom]

When I'm unsure, i usually ask the vet what they would do it if it was their beloved fur baby. I've gotten honest answers from them when I do that, not just do every test. Lymphoma is generally treatable.