Update on Slinky
Hi all. First of all, thank you SO MUCH for all of your advice, help, and support It's done me worlds of good!! I can't remember what all I've already posted and what I haven't (esp. cuz I've told so many people all the details that it's all getting a bit jumbled), so if some of this is repeat, forgive me. Slinky has never stopped eating entirely. He's been eating his dry Innova Evo like crazy...just wouldn't eat the raw I usually feed him. He's also been drinking quite a bit and using his litter box regularly (and no diarrhea). I got some sub-q fluids at the vet yesterday (they didn't really think it would help but gave them to me anyway), but didn't end up using them. When I went to bed last night his temp was 103.6, so I just syringe-fed him some ice water, wiped him down with a cold washcloth, and opened the window. He ate several times during the night (I had his dish with the dry food on my bed next to my pillow, so I heard him when he started eating, and his water glass - only thing he'd drink out of - is next to my bed), drank, and used the litter box. He felt cool to the touch to me all night (when he's had high fevers, he's usually been very hot) and this morning, so I didn't even take his temp. But, after reading all of your posts about transfusions, anemia, etc. I noted that his gums were VERY pale, and I thought his breathing and heart seemed a bit fast (though I'd never really paid attention before so wasn't sure how abnormal they were), so I decided to take him in this morning. Let me first say that I have the BEST chosen family in the entire universe!! I called my sister this morning because she said she was getting together with the 2 dads (it's complicated but you get the idea) and did I want to come. I called to tell her I couldn't go and why and she recommended I take Slink to a 24 hour animal hospital in DC (she took her dog there and both of the dads took their cats and dogs there as well). So we headed out to see what they could do. I had called the hospital and they said they could do a payment plan. But it turns out that what they have is a credit card you can apply for, but I applied for one through my bank this morning and was denied. The visit alone was going to be $110, but I figured I could at least find out what my options were. When I walked in, I said that my cat had FeLV and was very anemic, his gums were almost white..they came and took him back and started checking him even before they had all my ID info (I figured this was a good sign - they were serious about getting him taken care of!). When we got there, his temp was 106!!! That's the highest it's ever been! I gave them the results from the clinic on Wed (the ones I posted earlier) and they ran a PCV. They said his RBC was at 12 and Wed. it had been at 14...but since they were different machines and different types of tests they were hard to compare but figured the numbers were fairly comparable - at least it wasn't plummeting. They said about the only option was a transfusion and broad-spectrum antibiotics...but for all of that we were looking at probably about $1000 (the transfusion plus overnight stay, tests, etc.). They're a little higher than most because it's a 24 hour hospital, but I figured the other places would end up being about the same with all the tests, etc. The doctor said she had had a cat that was FeLV+ who lived to be about 5 and then got really sick...so I knew that at least she was familiar with the disease and was not going to write him off because of his label. That made me feel TONS better!!! She continued to say that his long-term prognosis is not great, but that it was worth trying the transfusion if I could spend the money. I called my sister in hysterics not at all sure what to do. She came over immediately and said if I wanted to do it, she'd pay for it if necessary. She doesn't have THAT much more money than I do though, so I wasn't crazy about that idea. But while I was waiting for her to come, I had called one of the dads who has 2 cats and recently spent $3500 on surgery for one of them. Despite the fact that he was running a million errands to get ready for a big trip, he said he'd be there in 20 minutes. When he got there, he looked at the estimates, talked to the doctor, and said, we can put it on my card. I said, I don't know when I can pay you back and he just said, we'll figure that out someday. In other words, I can pay him back slowly and he's not going to stress about it. I really considered not doing the transfusion, but Slinky was very alert, was walking around the exam room and looking around like, Hey mom! Let's go home and PLAY! Everyone says that when they're done fighting, they'll tell you and I knew he wasn't done. So we decided to go ahead with the transfusion and I came home. I called when I got here and
Re: Update on Slinky
oh Marissa that's awesome!! doesn't it just make your heart overflow to have such loving and generous people around you? Sending GLOW to you , Slinky and the rest of your chosen family:) Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile. - Anonymous - Original Message From: Marissa Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 7:53:17 PM Subject: Update on Slinky Hi all. First of all, thank you SO MUCH for all of your advice, help, and support It's done me worlds of good!! I can't remember what all I've already posted and what I haven't (esp. cuz I've told so many people all the details that it's all getting a bit jumbled), so if some of this is repeat, forgive me. Slinky has never stopped eating entirely. He's been eating his dry Innova Evo like crazy...just wouldn't eat the raw I usually feed him. He's also been drinking quite a bit and using his litter box regularly (and no diarrhea). I got some sub-q fluids at the vet yesterday (they didn't really think it would help but gave them to me anyway), but didn't end up using them. When I went to bed last night his temp was 103.6, so I just syringe-fed him some ice water, wiped him down with a cold washcloth, and opened the window. He ate several times during the night (I had his dish with the dry food on my bed next to my pillow, so I heard him when he started eating, and his water glass - only thing he'd drink out of - is next to my bed), drank, and used the litter box. He felt cool to the touch to me all night (when he's had high fevers, he's usually been very hot) and this morning, so I didn't even take his temp. But, after reading all of your posts about transfusions, anemia, etc. I noted that his gums were VERY pale, and I thought his breathing and heart seemed a bit fast (though I'd never really paid attention before so wasn't sure how abnormal they were), so I decided to take him in this morning. Let me first say that I have the BEST chosen family in the entire universe!! I called my sister this morning because she said she was getting together with the 2 dads (it's complicated but you get the idea) and did I want to come. I called to tell her I couldn't go and why and she recommended I take Slink to a 24 hour animal hospital in DC (she took her dog there and both of the dads took their cats and dogs there as well). So we headed out to see what they could do. I had called the hospital and they said they could do a payment plan. But it turns out that what they have is a credit card you can apply for, but I applied for one through my bank this morning and was denied. The visit alone was going to be $110, but I figured I could at least find out what my options were. When I walked in, I said that my cat had FeLV and was very anemic, his gums were almost white..they came and took him back and started checking him even before they had all my ID info (I figured this was a good sign - they were serious about getting him taken care of!). When we got there, his temp was 106!!! That's the highest it's ever been! I gave them the results from the clinic on Wed (the ones I posted earlier) and they ran a PCV. They said his RBC was at 12 and Wed. it had been at 14...but since they were different machines and different types of tests they were hard to compare but figured the numbers were fairly comparable - at least it wasn't plummeting. They said about the only option was a transfusion and broad-spectrum antibiotics...but for all of that we were looking at probably about $1000 (the transfusion plus overnight stay, tests, etc.). They're a little higher than most because it's a 24 hour hospital, but I figured the other places would end up being about the same with all the tests, etc. The doctor said she had had a cat that was FeLV+ who lived to be about 5 and then got really sick...so I knew that at least she was familiar with the disease and was not going to write him off because of his label. That made me feel TONS better!!! She continued to say that his long-term prognosis is not great, but that it was worth trying the transfusion if I could spend the money. I called my sister in hysterics not at all sure what to do. She came over immediately and said if I wanted to do it, she'd pay for it if necessary. She doesn't have THAT much more money than I do though, so I wasn't crazy about that idea. But while I was waiting for her to come, I had called one of the dads who has 2 cats and recently spent $3500 on surgery for one of them. Despite the fact that he was running a million errands to get ready for a big trip, he said he'd be there in 20 minutes. When he got there, he looked at the estimates, talked
Re: Update on Slinky
I'm so glad you've got some help with this and people who love you and Slinky. hugs and love right back. Keep us posted. elizabeth On 3/17/07, Marissa Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi all. First of all, thank you SO MUCH for all of your advice, help, and support It's done me worlds of good!! I can't remember what all I've already posted and what I haven't (esp. cuz I've told so many people all the details that it's all getting a bit jumbled), so if some of this is repeat, forgive me. Slinky has never stopped eating entirely. He's been eating his dry Innova Evo like crazy...just wouldn't eat the raw I usually feed him. He's also been drinking quite a bit and using his litter box regularly (and no diarrhea). I got some sub-q fluids at the vet yesterday (they didn't really think it would help but gave them to me anyway), but didn't end up using them. When I went to bed last night his temp was 103.6, so I just syringe-fed him some ice water, wiped him down with a cold washcloth, and opened the window. He ate several times during the night (I had his dish with the dry food on my bed next to my pillow, so I heard him when he started eating, and his water glass - only thing he'd drink out of - is next to my bed), drank, and used the litter box. He felt cool to the touch to me all night (when he's had high fevers, he's usually been very hot) and this morning, so I didn't even take his temp. But, after reading all of your posts about transfusions, anemia, etc. I noted that his gums were VERY pale, and I thought his breathing and heart seemed a bit fast (though I'd never really paid attention before so wasn't sure how abnormal they were), so I decided to take him in this morning. Let me first say that I have the BEST chosen family in the entire universe!! I called my sister this morning because she said she was getting together with the 2 dads (it's complicated but you get the idea) and did I want to come. I called to tell her I couldn't go and why and she recommended I take Slink to a 24 hour animal hospital in DC (she took her dog there and both of the dads took their cats and dogs there as well). So we headed out to see what they could do. I had called the hospital and they said they could do a payment plan. But it turns out that what they have is a credit card you can apply for, but I applied for one through my bank this morning and was denied. The visit alone was going to be $110, but I figured I could at least find out what my options were. When I walked in, I said that my cat had FeLV and was very anemic, his gums were almost white..they came and took him back and started checking him even before they had all my ID info (I figured this was a good sign - they were serious about getting him taken care of!). When we got there, his temp was 106!!! That's the highest it's ever been! I gave them the results from the clinic on Wed (the ones I posted earlier) and they ran a PCV. They said his RBC was at 12 and Wed. it had been at 14...but since they were different machines and different types of tests they were hard to compare but figured the numbers were fairly comparable - at least it wasn't plummeting. They said about the only option was a transfusion and broad-spectrum antibiotics...but for all of that we were looking at probably about $1000 (the transfusion plus overnight stay, tests, etc.). They're a little higher than most because it's a 24 hour hospital, but I figured the other places would end up being about the same with all the tests, etc. The doctor said she had had a cat that was FeLV+ who lived to be about 5 and then got really sick...so I knew that at least she was familiar with the disease and was not going to write him off because of his label. That made me feel TONS better!!! She continued to say that his long-term prognosis is not great, but that it was worth trying the transfusion if I could spend the money. I called my sister in hysterics not at all sure what to do. She came over immediately and said if I wanted to do it, she'd pay for it if necessary. She doesn't have THAT much more money than I do though, so I wasn't crazy about that idea. But while I was waiting for her to come, I had called one of the dads who has 2 cats and recently spent $3500 on surgery for one of them. Despite the fact that he was running a million errands to get ready for a big trip, he said he'd be there in 20 minutes. When he got there, he looked at the estimates, talked to the doctor, and said, we can put it on my card. I said, I don't know when I can pay you back and he just said, we'll figure that out someday. In other words, I can pay him back slowly and he's not going to stress about it. I really considered not doing the transfusion, but Slinky was very alert, was walking around the exam room and looking around like, Hey mom! Let's go home and PLAY! Everyone says that when they're done fighting, they'll tell you and I knew he wasn't done. So we decided to
