feline leukemia

My 9 year old cat was just diagnosed with feline leukemia. I was wondering if anyone has dealt with this illness and had any suggestions for treatment. I am open to anything-including anything natural. I just want my cat to live the rest of his life in comfort and I will try anything to help him do this! If anyone has any ideas-I would really appreciate it!! I am unfamiliar with feline Leukemia so I don't know what to think...

[Savas]

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not familiar with homeopathic treatment for F.L.  We know some treatments for F.L. related symptoms, but usually go with the vet's instructions for the major treatment.
I will say that F.L. is fairly common, and is most dangerous with kittens and end of life cats. Many cats live healthy, happy lives with only occassional flare ups. Was this a recently contracted illness, or is this a cat who had it for a while and was only recently diagnosed?

Oh, if you try to do anything dietary, go with foods that will be easily digestible. F.L. can lead to kidney and liver issues. Also, watch out for selling/redness or excessive mucus discharge from the eyes. Cats we've dealt with with F.L, seem to be more prone to infection than others. Mostly we deal with younger cats, but we do get the occassional old timer (yours is about middle age). The older ones with F.L. tend to give us few problems health wise than the younger ones.

I'll ask about with some of the others I know, but I'm pretty sure they stick to treatments you can get at the pet store, or vet's office.

[Caseyu]

Thank you. I will stick with regular treatments but my vet basically said that there isn't much to do. He is on a pain med and an antibiotic right now but that is all. I think my vet is thinking the cat may not be worth treating. I disagree. He had only just shown symptoms of this illness and they gave him a blood transfusion and he was almost back to normal. So if you know of anything I can get from a pet store to help-I would very much appreciate it!! Thanks again...

[Savas]

Glad to help... and I'll check into that. Everyone's away with the weekend and all. :)

You do have to watch out for that. Many vets get into the mindset that people set a "max price" to their pet's health. You have to STATE that "money is no object"... if he still takes that attitude, then a new vet may be in order. But in part, he's right, there are some treatments out there that aren't used, because it's considered "inhumane". Probably because they can be painful and risky. And an animal doesn't understand you're "hurting it to make it better"...so it generally doesn't get done. I won't express an opinion on this myself, I can't make up my mind if this is a good or bad thing.

[Soror]

Casey, I know it is not much, but we had an FL+ cat when I was younger, and I recall the vet giving us the advice that we should make sure that the cat does not undergo too much stress or have anything in the environment that would really set her off, and following that advice, she had one little flareup and was back to normal, lived 17 years and was healthy the day she died.  (Did not die as a result of FL).

[Savas]

Case in point Soror's situation is common with this kitty disease. Don't let it scare you to much. FL is one of those diseases that a cat can have and never suffer much from, die at a healthy old age. As long as he's got a healthy, happy environment he should do fine.

Just do your best to get him past what sounds like an outbreak or flareup, and hopefully he'll settle down and be fine.

[Caseyu]

Thank you both so much!! He definately has a happy healthy environment! It is virtually stress free, other than the occasional vacuum cleaner anxiety. Even then he can just go downstairs and hang out. You have eased my mind alot!!!

[Savas]

Heh heh...no problem... when we pull the vacuum out over here, it's like watching a mass keystone cops exodus for the window. Some fun!

[almostthere2]

Casey, I'm sorry to hear the news about your kitty. I know how hard it is,  I have a stray that eventually tested postive for feline leukemia.I was devastated.  My first vet had the same bed side manners as yours .Long story short, I ended up switching vets and she is now on Interferon.
( you can research it online , it's for humans too ) It's easy to give to her,it's refrigerated and I give it to her  every other week and she's doing great!!
Do you have other cats ??  I had 2 other cats too (they  were seniors 15 and 18 past away due to kidney failure and liver failure )  the vet informed me I needed to give them separate kitty litters and not share food bowls ....they were never that sociable. My other cats never tested positve.  
My vet says she can live a long life...
Hope this helps !! BIG HUG !!

[Savas]

Do you have the link for this (cat related)? I know about interferon, and it's got some bizarre side effects on humans. I wonder if they've done any research on how it effects cats that way? (People can hallucinate on the drug, kitty on acid?!?!?!)  :)

[almostthere2]

Sorry for the delay, there is a wonderful website with many links ....." Boots Story"....
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/stomatitis.html
scroll down towards the bottom and there a link " What is Interferon and how does it work"

Hope this helps !!