Jen,
SO glad to hear Ewok is still doing well!! Simon responded
very well to the CCNU also. After that he got Adriamycin, which he did
not respond well to, and I wished I had asked the oncologist to give
him more CCNU instead. I think the oncologist was afraid that without
switching the drugs each time he would become resistant. But I think
they take longer to become resistant to CCNU.
As for the steroids, is he still getting pred pills? The
Depo shot is instead of the pred pills, or should be I think. The
oncologist should know when the right time is to give another Depo shot
if Ewok keeps looking good and does not seem to need it badly.
Patches is feeling better from antibiotics and prednisone
and is scheduled to have her two canines and possibly (but hopefully
not) other teeth pulled next Wednesday morning. So please say a prayer
or thought or whatever strikes you best for her! Lucy is tapering off
the pred herself and seems to be doing ok-- fairly solid stool, though
still not entirely normal.
As for feeding raw meat, I am actually about to start
feeding mine, or at least Lucy and maybe Patches, a raw diet. It is
recommended for cats with chronic loose stools, on the feline IBD list
serve. I ordered a supplement mix to put in with ground raw meat and
organs. Being a vegan this is all very difficult for me (I had a
nightmare last night that I had to have Lucy killed to be fed to an
animal who needed to eat her to be healthy, which I think is my guild
and discomfort at buying a dead turkey to help Lucy). But I think raw
is ok, and maybe better, for them. The liver shake uses raw liver in
it, and most people on this list feed that to cats when they are sick.
All that said, I am totally nervous about starting the raw diet because
I have read in some places that it is not good for immune-compromised
cats. But I figure neither is inflamed intestines or struvite crystals,
which raw is supposed to fix in many cats.
Thanks for the update, and may he keep going strong!
Michelle
In a message dated 1/5/2006 1:17:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Hi Michelle!
So far, so good...the CCNU seems to be working! His appetite is up
(although he's still not eating as much as I'd like to see him
eat...he's put on a little weight, but he's still probably only around 9
lbs--he weighed around 14 before this all started) and his energy level
or "old-self-self" is back...he even felt good enough to wrestle a
little with his buddy (Hermes--who has been waiting patiently for Ewok
to feel up to playing) yesterday for the first time in about a month!
I'm still watching him like a hawk as the oncologist won't be able to
give him another treatment until next Friday. Ewok didn't eat much this
morning (although he eagerly scarfed down some raw turkey--I know raw is
probably a no-no, but I'm just thrilled to see him eat anything on his
own). He's out and about, though...not hiding in the closet like he
usually does when he's not feeling well.
I haven't used dex or the combo shot since Christmas...but I know my
regular vet is just around the corner in case I need anything...I'm
hoping the steroid shots will be an option if Ewok starts feeling bad
again before his oncologist's appointment! Fingers crossed that he
remains happy and active for awhile! :)
How are Patches and Lucy? Sorry, I'm still trying to catch up! :)
Jen