pre-op blood work is really important, so if it hasn't been done yet, I recommend it. since I have more experience with geriatric cats, our vet always did it before even considering a tooth cleaning b/c of the risk of putting an old cat under. it tells the vet a lot. we had one the we decided against the tooth cleaning b/c of the blood work. another- Rambo- the one that lived the longest (19), the vet said his blood work was fine and we absolutely needed to do a cleaning and by then Rambo was old old and I was freaking out! I told my mom if he died during the tooth cleaning I was going to kill the vet b/c he promised, based on blood work, that is was okay. I was a mess that day but Rambo came through totally fine. Since then I'm a firm believer in the pre-op blood work. caroline
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: fixing a leukemia kittyDate: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 16:51:20 -0500 I called the vet today and asked that they tell me the absolute best time to bring him in so he wouldn't have to wait at all so he's scheduled first at 8:15. I asked if I could take him home as soon as he came around and the assistant said Dr. Gill would decide that tomorrow and probably with Boo's condition he wouldn't want him around any longer than possible. I said "hey, wait a minute here, you don't discriminate against cats with this disease do you, like he's gonna die anyway so if it's now what's the difference" She said, oh no, we think it's wonderful that you have taken this challenge on. I'm supposed to be at work tomorrow for 9 but I fully intend to stay until I know he's out of the woods. The pharmacy across the hall can tell anyone waiting outside the office I'll be late if need be. If I had my way I'd be there in the operating room. I don't want to make a nuissance of myself but I want to know what's going on too. I also want a CBC done at the time just to get an idea of what his blood is like. My husband and I love this little guy so much. When I go to bed, earlier than Bob, to watch some news, BooBoo follows me upstairs and hops on the bed with his little paws hanging over the side and he watches with me. We both like Hillary Clinton by the way. When she's on I swear he is totally intrigued. He just stares at the TV. Lynne ----- Original Message ----- From: Caroline Kaufmann To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 1:37 PM Subject: RE: fixing a leukemia kitty 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]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: fixing a leukemia kittyDate: 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 Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! 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