Felv

[seffieuk]

My very handsome long haired bengal, Basil is currently in a ward at the Animal health trust hospital in Newmarket. He is very ill, FELv has been diagnosed with an undiagnosed (as yet) secondary disorder - all of which are pretty awful. He is only 18 months old and boy is this difficult. The vet calls me every day as i can't get there for visiting times (they are 2 -4 and i work) in the week, am going up there in a few minutes. Has anyone else been through this and their cat survived? It doesnt get any easier does it, in fact, i find it increasingly difficult to deal with the loss of a pet

 

[LisaLQ]

I'm so sorry you're going through this - sadly I dont have a positive ending to my experience with it, we lost our cat Smokey to it a few years ago (we'd only had him 5 months - CPL said they'd vaccinated him and tested him for it but they hadn't, lying gits, vets said he'd had it for years). This is the reason why any cat we have in the future (wont be for a while with our cat hating dog about!) will be an indoor cat, and fully vaccinated.

So just want to send huge (((((((hugs)))))))).

Here's a couple of links I just found doing a google search. This one says that cats can survive for several months with the right supportive care - so dont be too disheartened:

http/www.bright.net/~zimm1/FightingFeLV/

http/www.animalhealthchannel.com/FeLV/

http/www.fabcats.org/felv.html

I also found this one, but bear in mind that not everything you read on the internet is true and there's an awful lot of people out there trying to make money out of unfortunate people - having not read through it I dont know whether this is genuine or not, but it might be - so worth reading:
http/www.felineleukemia.org/

There is no cure for feline leukaemia though - whether you have weeks, months or years with your cat depends on how poorly he is now, and your vet. In our case Smokey was put to sleep as soon as he was diagnosed, as he was very poorly and there was no way of treating him without him suffering. I really hope that's not the case with your cat - sending you good luck thoughts - and best wishes - let us know how he gets on.

 

[seffieuk]

thanks so much for your reply. I have looked at the web sites, they gave me some food for thought. Went and saw him yesterday - i don't think he even knew i was there, i got very upset. However the vet phoned this morning - he said that Basil is a bit brighter today. So, we just have to wait for the results now of the liver biopsy

 

[LisaLQ]

Aww bless - I hope he's picking up for you. Smokey lost his liver function, and his kidneys, and he went blind too - when I went to visit him for the last time, he still knew it was me because he rolled onto his back for a tickle (something he only did for me). Eeeh heck, sorry for being all depressing.

((((((Massive hugs)))))))) wishing you the best of luck, hoping he picks up enough to come home and spend lots more time with you. Let us know how he gets on - I'll be thinking of him.

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

My thoughts are with you during this time. Best of luck to you and your kitty.

 

[seffieuk]

thank you


Had some very good news today when i went up to see him. His liver biopsy was in and he has got cholangitis (well i think that was what it was called) - and that is treatable - he already looks so much better, he said hello and wanted a cuddle, he seemed like a different cat. If all goes well he could be home at the weekend I realise that because of his FELv he might well get ill again - but at least i will have him for a while longer (fingers crossed)

 

[madmom]

That is good I hope all goes well with Basil.

 

[seffieuk]

He is coming home tomorrow, friday <dancing around the room>

 

[cardinal sinner]

Thats really good news. It must have been terrible for you these last couple of days. Our dogs only had to stay at the vets for a day when they were spayed, but i was there to pick them up as soon as the vet would let me. Hope all goes well with Basil, Im sure he will be getting lots of cuddles tomorrow.

 

[LisaLQ]

He is coming home tomorrow, friday <dancing around the room>

Fantastic news!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bloo]

Don't know how I didn't see this thread before. So so sorry to hear It's awful going through something like that.
But they can still live healthy & happy for years to come still. As I vet nurse I dealt with a number such cats. So don't despair.

Those are some good links Lisa gave you.

Best of luck to Basil and let us know how he does

 

[seffieuk]

thanks everyone. Basil is now putting on weight at an amazing rate. He is on two different antibiotics and a steroid. Does anyone have any ideas how to get the sticky stuff (from where they stuck the tubes down) off his coat?

Bloo - it's good to know you are a vet nurse - could you explain this cholengitis in a way i can understand lol

 

[zelandonia]

It is much better for the cat to let the glue wear off on it's own than to try to remove it with something.

Bloo knows a ton about animals and I learn a lot from her posts but maybe I'll answer the cholangitis question since I am here first. Don't mean to step on any toes, Bloo!

Cholangitis is an inflammation of the gall bladder (which makes bile) and the duct that drains the bile from the gall bladder into the small intestine. Since your cat is on antibiotics, I'm guessing the inflammation is due to a bacterial infection. Inflammation is the reaction you see when you stub your toe (heat, pain, swelling, redness). Cholangiohepatitis is the same thing except that the infection/inflammation is also affecting the liver in addition to the gall bladder and bile duct. Since they diagnosed the condition with a liver biopsy (they don't biopsy the gall bladder or bile duct because this is dangerous) then I'm guessing your cat has cholangiohepatitis. Cats with FeLV may be more susceptible to conditions like this because they are immune suppressed.

z.

 

[seffieuk]

thanks for that full and easy to understand answer - the specialist who is looking after basil is great but speaks with a foreign accent which i can't always understand

 

[zelandonia]

thanks for that full and easy to understand answer - the specialist who is looking after basil is great but speaks with a foreign accent which i can't always understand

No problem. Also, don't feel uncomfortable asking your veterinarian to slow down or repeat something you have not understood. You are paying a lot of money to see a specialist and you deserve to understand everything that is said and be able to ask any questions you need to. If I had a client that did not understand my explanations, I would prefer they ask me to repeat or rephrase what I was saying rather than walk away confused!!

z.