Our cat has cancer

[NellaBean]

Why do chemo if there is no hope of curing the cancer? Chemo is so hard on the animals and they don't understand why. I would also just do the pain management.

HOWEVER, you can get drugs compounded into different forms. They have some that you actually just rub on their ear and they absorb if that way, or you can put it into a fish flavored liquid or.....drsfostersmith.com has a pharmacy that does this. Its called a transdermal gel that you rub on the tip of their ear. I would get the pain pills made into another form so its not so hard or traumatic for you both.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/General.cfm?c=9547&gid=270

 

[xchairity_casex]

i know exactly what you mean! im so so sorry this is happening to your baby!

do you think you could try mixing somthing with the meds? maybe canned cat food? switch his food to canned and mix the meds with half the can of food and give it first thing in the morning when hes really hungry that way theres no struggle.
im really sorry your going thru this! i hope everything goes ok!

 

[PitterPaws]

I've had three cats in my life that had cancer, one had mouth cancer and the vet operated on her and her mouth was a mess I cried so much, because she Had to be put to sleep due to not being able to eat at all now. That was a very sad case for me. that was my first. That was the Early 1980's

second one had Feline Leukemia, and was diagnosed with cancer, I decided to just let her go until it was time, but she died peacefully in her sleep so I didn't have to make that decision. This was the early 1990's

and the third cat she is still with me she has Hyperthyroid diagnosed in 2007 she's been on Methimazole and she is doing fine so far, She is 17 years old. and Thank God she is a Dream when I give her her pill Daily.

I'm so sorry you are going thru this, it never gets any easier either.

 

[carolinagirl58]

Quote:
perfect answer. I'd do pain control only and let him tell you when it's time. It's not fair to him to prolong this. Hugs to you....I know this is a hard thing to do.

 

[bustermommy]

I had a cat who had stomach cancer. He was treated with Prednisone. He also got scratched in the eye very badly while he was on the Prednisone. I was told to euthanize him. I took him off the pred while I treated the eye, put him back on the pred. They said that, at best, he would be on pred for the rest of his life as there was no way the cancer would go away. It did. He lived for about another year, till he caught pneumonia and died. At that time, there was NO cancer whatever.

However, he was not in pain, and had a good quality of life. I would never chemo my animal and am not sure I would do it to myself. My mom went through chemo; I've had friends go through chemo. It sucks. Especially when they die anyway, sick and miserable from the drugs.

Your decision, and it's a hard one, but you need to consider what's right for your cat and your family, not what's right for the vet's bank account (however well-meaning they are).

Sorry your cat and you are going through this.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I am very sorry.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Thank you for all the personal stories and suggestions. i am so sad for anyone who has to care for a sick pet, it's so traumatic on everyone.

Sam is so picky with his food, and doesn't really care for "treats", so don't think i can hide meds there. i asked about transdermal or even injections. But none of the meds could be put in a transdermal. Injections were more costly than the liquid.

i think i will bypass the chemo drug. Too many downsides. i wonder on the prednisolone, if they could instead do a depo medrol injection every month, or every couple of weeks. i think the pain meds are very important. And the amount is so small, i could probably add in the Vitamin K, which is a tiny dose also, and get it in him without too much trauma.

Arg! i hate this. But right now he is peacefully sleeping on his back on the floor of our living room. i am just happy to have a little more time with him.

 

[xchairity_casex]

aww poor baby! i cant stand the thought of my own cats going. everyday i think about it how it will happen will it be the kidneys? cancer? i dont know and they are getting up there in age already 14 years old this year got them as a kid when i was just 9 grew up with them longest ive ever owned anything.
please keep us updated on him and whenever you need a shoulder to cry on you can PM me anytime

 

[debilorrah]

I know how you feel and what you are going through. The choice about what to do is yours and yours alone. Me personally, I have chosen to put them down rather than help them struggle, especially when my older ones were ill. One of mine last 17 years before I had to take her in. It is just a sad, sad day when that time comes.

 

[goobhen]

When I remarried six years ago, my DH had five dogs, I had two dogs, 3 cats. We combined our households & live at DH (now mine too) house. We had two puppies dumped on our porch, picked up a dog (my avatar)that was dumped at a grocery store. Three years ago, we had to put to sleep one dog who had cancer in her lungs and abdomen. Next year had to put down another dog, kidney issues and arthritis (she weighed over 150 pounds), next year I had to put down my beloved black/tan coonhound, Duke. My Gigi, (along with Duke) were my dogs that I brought to the marriage. GiGi went out to the woods to die. My heart was broken, we never did find her. Do what you can for your cat, love him and enjoy the time you have left. I made a promise to myself that I would not extend one of my animal's life for myself. I was selfish with GiGi & Duke, especially Duke, he truly suffered the last month of his life. This is truly the saddest thing when it happens to your beloved cat, dog, horse...........