Posted on 12/03/2013 4:32:00 PM PST by Sioux-san
Great post and you are spot on regarding steroid treatment (prednisolone). It can bring cats back from the dead. Young ones - for a long time. Older ones - for a few good years.
I had an old Siamese that had lymphoma and a tumor that would hang out of his mouth that couldn’t be radiated. The steroids would (at times) literally shrink the tumor to the point where it was completely inside his mouth and he could eat more normally.
Eventually with an old cat though, they stop working as well, or you need them more frequently. With my cat, the next step was a chemo pill, and that’s what did him in.
No regrets though - and especially with a younger cat that can recover, prednisolone should certainly be asked about.
Please keep us updated. Prayers for you and kitty.
Prayers for your furry baby.
Yes. My daughter's cat actually had a prednisone Rx filled at our people pharmacy (vet didn't carry it) when she was sick. Later learned she had hyperthyroid and later breast cancer. Many pet meds are same as people meds, just under different names. Did a lot of research when said cat was going through her hyperthyroid & two bouts of fatty liver disease. She survived them all, but not the breast cancer.
Our cat is part desert lynx and when we got him we were told that we had to have live vaccine like they give to the lions and tigers. We did that for a few years when he was young but now just give him the regular stuff. We can’t tell any difference.
That’s all I know. But you might ask the vet about that. I don’t know what he could do.
I’ve never dealt with this issue, but it’s been my experience with our cats (many, over the years) that a young, healthy cat has a pretty good chance of bouncing back from a lot more than you’d credit them for. Even older cats can fool you. One of our fat, older cats recently hurt his knee, and my vet (who I trust) recommended a $1000 surgery for him. She said he was unlikely to recover from it on his own. Instead we went with anti-inflammatories and kept him in a room for about a month where he had nothing to jump up or down on . . . and his limp is now all gone.
My point being, I guess, that especially if the company will pick up the tab, I’d treat your pet with whatever is available, and give him some time. If he just feels kinda crummy but is not in pain, I’d definitely take a “wait and see” attitude. With luck and prayers, he may bounce back yet. I hope he feels better soon!
No advice to impart, but keeping you & your little guy in my thoughts. I hope he reacts well to whatever you decide & that you’ll have many happy years together.
No advice, just offering up prayers for you and your beloved cat.
My cat is making a tuna offering to Ceiling Cat for your cat as well.
I hope kitty gets better.
Prayers!
Interesting that you mention Prednisolone. Our cat needed predisone but wasn’t getting any better. When we went to another vet, they said that cats have a hard time absorbing predisone but no problem with predisolone. Which is definitely something to remember.
Prayers up for your kitteh and you; I know how rough it can get. I hope he gets better and my prayers are for both of you.
Since the vet is contacting the vaccination company, maybe they’ll take part in the bill.
Good luck and I pray your kitteh gets better!
If they say they’re giving him predisone as treatment, remind the vet that predisone is almost worthless with cats and prednisolone is the drug for cats.
Good luck, I’ll keep you and yours in my prayers.
I’m so sorry. Prayers up for you and your kitty.
By swelling, do you mean edema? edema?
Good news - just found out today the vaccine company is covering the cost of workup and treatment. I thought I was going to lose BooBoo a few days ago as he was so weak. But, then prayers were answered and he started recovering - I didn’t give him any meds, just TLC. Last night he started drinking water, eating a little and moving around more. Today he acts almost normal and wanted to go out (not happening any more, sweetie BooBoo). The vet wants me to start giving him the steroids as that is all that will help to manage this nasty disease. They also called in Rx for a steroid ointment to use if I have trouble getting the pills down.
Thanks to you and everyone for your kind words and advice. I don’t know how to do multiple recipients without handtyping everyone in, so hope this will work.
5.56mm
Thank God there’s good news. So unfair to you and your cat, to have to go thru all that for no good reason. Very happy that the guilty parties are at least paying for your vet.
Your TLC most assuredly kept BooBoo going.
When I lived in a house with a large fenced yard, I had a dog and two cats. They NEVER got sick until one day my 16-year-old dog had a toothache, had to have it extracted. I did feed them the very best foods, price no object. I felt it was much cheaper and certainly more healthful to feed them optimally and thereby cut down their needs for medical care. It worked.
Oh yes, my dog did go to the vet earlier, maybe at 6 years old, to have her teeth cleaned, which necessitated a battery of tests. Sweet little lady vet said, “oh my, she has an indicator for Cushings disease, I’ll start her on some med.” I asked her what the symptoms were, turned out my dog had no symptoms. So I said no thanks, no pills. When doggie girl was 17, she was frail and had arthritis pain. Went to the vet. Got some pain pills for her. Oh my, said the vet, she has some markers for Cushings disease. It never manifested. Never made her sick, and most assuredly didn’t kill her.
Point is, imho, pets as well as people are generally better off to be less medicated than our docs and vets want us to be. Your love, your attention, your interaction with them keeps them healthy and content — and they certainly contribute to your health and happiness as well. I wish you long years with the wonderful BooBoo.
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