Caroline,
What did your holistic vet say about remedies to give a cat under
going stress? I know Dr. Maier has a number she uses but I am out of
touch with them. They could help reduce the stress and reverse any
drugs given. I will never vaccinate Dixie given her status. She is
perfectly healthy and an indoor cat. I'll take my chances with any
diseases she might possibly pick up.
On Feb 7, 2008, at 12:37 PM, Caroline Kaufmann wrote:
If he's healthy now, then do it. Feleuk cats are prone to cancers-
a lot of times, that is what gets them in the end, particularly
lymphoscarcoma. Lymphosarcoma is the most common form of cancer in
cats and dogs- feleuk or otherwise. But the incidence in Felv+ cats
is even higher. This is what my cat Monkee came down with (found a
lump on his leg). If neutering would further reduce his risk of
cancer, then it's worth the small risk of putting him under but if
he is indeed Feleuk positive, then he has double the chances of
getting some time of cancer. And it's true that a neuter is a much
simpler operation than a spay and there's basically no recovery
issues- assuming there are no complications (unlike the frequent
popped stitches that come with spaying). The group I volunteer for
is currently working it's way through fixing an entire colony of Felv
+ feral cats and there haven't been any problems. And they are
feral-- which I should think the stress of the catching, surgery,
immediate release, must be even worse for them, so if they can
handle it, your boy who's asymptomatic, healthy now that he's with
you, and getting love and affection, will be fine.
caroline
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: fixing a leukemia kitty
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 21:33:58 -0600
Lynne, my friend has all her feline leukemia kitties altered. I
think one, in 20 years, had a problem.
At least for a female, our vet believes the stress of the regular
heat cycle would be greater than that of the spay. And you are right
that an unneutered male is at risk of certain cancers...and he's
already <potentially> immune compromised.
We had Isabella scheduled for her spay 2 or 3 times and each time
she had a temp so we didn't do it. When she got so bad that we
needed an ultrasound, the vet discovered she had hemaclips or
something like that which meant she was already spayed. Boy were we
relieved that we had not put her under and had cut open
unnecessarily! (The vet had shaved her when we first rescued her and
could not find a spay scar).
I would not be as worried about a neuter as a spay ~ if Boo is
otherwise in good health and esp since he's not going to be
vaccinated now. We did not vaccinate Isabella. I have watched a
neuter being done. It takes no time at all. He won't be under long.
I would ask whether they do a reversal and if the vet thinks this is
a good idea for him.Bottom line for me ~ if the vet thinks it's ok
to do the alter, I would be inclined to do it. Afterall, I am sure
he doesn't want a poor result.
Laurie
----- Original Message -----
From: Lynne
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 8:54 PM
Subject: Re: fixing a leukemia kitty
Dorothy, believe me, this is weighing heavy on my mind. He's
scheduled to go in this Friday. The vet assured me he was healthy
and up to it. If it were a spaying I probably would definitely be
worried since I think it is a more complicated surgery. I still
have tomorrow to reconsider. I would definitely be happier if his
urine were not so strong smelling and I have read that neutered cats
can be healthier, ie less likely to develop prostate or other
cancers so I'm really torn as to which way to go. I do not want him
to be wanting to go out. The first night we had him the little
buggar went upstairs and peed in an unoccupied bedroom and it took
two days to clean, air the place and get the smell out. We had his
litter box ready but he chose to mark this room. The door has since
been closed and he faithfully uses his litter box but once the
breeding season comes, I don't know what he'll do. What do the rest
of you think. Should I hold off on this surgery? Boo is somewhere
between 4 and 6 years old, kind of old for neutering but I truly
want what's best for him.
Thanks Dorothy for your input.
Lynne
----- Original Message -----
From: Dorothy Noble
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 9:36 PM
Subject: fixing a leukemia kitty
I was reading Lynne's postings about her new cat being neutered this
weekend -
I just wanted to pass along a little ifo I had received from a
society in Missouri.
I was looking to adopt a FeLV kitty (to be a friend to my other
FeLV) and I was inquiring about cats that they had. I asked if they
would be spayed or neutered prior to adoption and she emphatically
said NO. She said that if they were not already fixed, they
definitely do NOT recommend t hat type of surgery on a cat with
leukemia, due to their already fragile immune systems. (I chose to
wait until I could find one who was already fixed because I
definitely like my cats to be altered.)
Just a little food for thought - I would hate to have something
happen to your friend during a surgery!
Dorothy
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