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Dollydealer
27-12-2006, 08:17pm
Puss cat has been back to the Vets :no:

Christmas Day evening, I noticed that one of the cats had weed on the kitchen doormat :rolleyes: . It has a rubber backing, and when I cleaned it up, the liquid was pink = blood in urine again = it must have been Minstrel :cry: .

Vets were closed until Boxing Day, so took her in that morning and after consultation, it showed she was anaemic again. But she was very good and had some blood taken without the need for sedation.

Her red blood cell count was down to 18% (should be 30 - 35), but otherwise perky and was allowed home.

Went back this afternoon and the Vet says that it is probably something within her, rather than a virus or whatever, so we will now need to think about managing it on a more long term basis.

He has asked us to consider using a cyto-toxic drug called Cyclophosphamide, which is often used as a chemotherapy drug, to attack the cells she is producing that are causing her to destroy her own red blood cells. This is a majorly risky drug for humans and can affect fertility and is a risk for pregnant women. He has given us sheets to read in terms of correct use and disposal of waste etc.

It is possible that there is something wrong with her bone marrow, but it is difficult to determine, but these drugs should help that.

He seems to think that it is manageable and as long as we are up for doing the long term thing, then there shouldn't be a problem.

She has antibiotics & steroids to take until after the NY and then we are back to see where we go from there.

He doesn't seem too worried about it, iykwim, and hasn't mentioned having to do the *worst* thing to her (sorry, I can't even type it!), so fingers crossed that we can keep it under control :fingerscrossed: :cry:

:kitten:

August Girl
27-12-2006, 08:26pm
Ahh poor puss cat :-( Sorry she isn't well again. I hope that her condition is manageble for you it must be so upsetting.

Em29
27-12-2006, 08:53pm
Oh Dolly, I'm so sorry, I've just remembered a cat that was a patient at my first practice, she was diagnosed with the same thing soon after she was spayed. She used to come in for regular checks and injections and she lived until she was about 10 years old which is quite good for any cat. I think as the vet has said you should prepare for the long haul, she may lead a fairly normal life even if she's on long term meds.

I hope she is feeling a bit perkier soon x

*Fallen Angel*
27-12-2006, 08:55pm
:higgies: Poor Kitty, hope she's better soon.

Princess Fiona
27-12-2006, 09:26pm
Sorry to hear this hope she's better soon!!

Shoppie
27-12-2006, 09:30pm
Aw poor you and poor minstrel :higgies:

My cat lived for a good few years with this condition, and when she did die it was from something completely unrelated. She was on the cyclo wotsit tablets to no noticeable ill effects - she still pimped herself out to everyone going :grin:

DH's addition - and she was a very happy and spoilt cat!

Tessy
27-12-2006, 09:44pm
Sorry to hear about puss

Dollydealer
27-12-2006, 10:26pm
Thank you everyone :flowers:

I'm not sure she'll ever be truly better, but if it can be managed and she lives a happy life, that is all we can hope for! She is spoilt rotten anyway, so I'm sure more of that would be welcomed!

She is a bit subdued at the moment, but hopefully when the steroids (Prednisolone) kick in, she'll be back to her normal mentalist self :lol:

Em29
30-12-2006, 11:55am
Hey Dolly, was thinking about Minstrel this morning, how is she doing?

Dollydealer
30-12-2006, 05:14pm
Hi Em :wave:

She seems lively and perkier, and obviously that is the steroids doing their thing! She would eat something every time we go into the kitchen if she had her way, but I know it is a side effect of the drugs!

No more bloody urine as far as I am aware, but this time round it was nowhere near as bad as last time, so hopefully that has been caught and sorted quickly!

We are probably going to go with the Cyclo-whatnot drug, tbh, I'd do anything to make sure she is okay! I will ask the Vet plenty of questions to make sure I know what is what, but I assume its a once/twice a week dose? Will it make her hair fall out :teehee: ?!

parkejm
30-12-2006, 05:35pm
:fingerscrossed: for Minstrel. I hope er hair doesn't fall out - how undignified for a pussycat! :teehee:

Em29
30-12-2006, 08:33pm
Hi Dolly, no it won't make her hair fall out thank goodness, it's a lower dose than is used in humans so you shouldn't notice any side effects, the most important thing is to be careful when you handle it! The only time cats loose ALL their fur is when we shave it all off! One poor persian had all her fur shaved off and twice weekly baths for ringworm, luckily treatments are much less invasive these days!

I'm glad she's a bit perkier, hope she continues to do well!

Dollydealer
31-12-2006, 10:55am
Thanks Em!

We've been given lots of info on handling, and also the disposal of litter tray contents. The Vet has said that it is passed out in urine & faeces and that is when it can be absorbed by humans and when the trouble starts!

She is still growing back her tummy hair where she was shaved for a cardiac & adominal scan in Nov :teehee:, she looks comical, especially as she is all black and her tummy is like a white-grey beacon that can be seen from outer space at the moment!

Calamity
31-12-2006, 11:16am
Glad to hear that Minstrel is doing a bit better now. It's so hard isn't it though :higgies:

J.x

Dollydealer
31-12-2006, 07:28pm
Glad to hear that Minstrel is doing a bit better now. It's so hard isn't it though :higgies:

J.x

It is SO hard Jane, you're absolutely right.

On the outside, she is fine and dandy, looks perfectly normal (apart from the white shaved belly!), but on the inside she is very poorly indeed!

The steroids have done their job brilliantly, and she is much better now than on Boxing Day, but is less than impressed at having to take 2 tablets twice a day :lol:

I keep reminding myself that she is 'only a cat'. and tbh I don't know what I would do if she wasn't insured, we just don't have that kind of spare money, and certainly not to spend on an animal, whereas I'd probably sell all my internal organs to sort it out if she was my child :oops:

I still can't bear the thought of her not being here though, but as I said in a previous post, the Vet hasn't even broached that subject with us, so :thumb: and hopefully she'll be with us for a few more mentalist years yet!