is there alternititve medicine for a cat with feline leukemia

my friends cat has f.l. and doctor wanted to put him to sleep 3 years ago
my friend could not do it he loves him so much now he is getting real sic
doctor gave him antibiotics and lasix. do you know what exactly they are
for he is alot better please let me know if there is alternititve medicine
that will help thank you

jmcquown...

Just my opinion but your friend is doing the beloved cat no favours by
keeping him alive with an incurable, will-only-get-worse disease. We all
understand about loving our pets but there are times when we have to stop
being selfish and consider what is best for the pet.

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)...

I beg to differ - at least where FL is concerned. I have
lost two cats to the disease - the first I allowed to be
euthanized, but regretted it later. Her grand-daughter
(with a more understanding vet) lived several ostensibly
"normal" and happy years after being diagnosed. I have
never had any problem with having a cat "put to sleep" when
it was clearly suffering (I only wish we could do the same
for ourselves, when terminally ill). However, FLV is not
ordinarily painful, except (possibly) in its final stages.
The cat will let you know when it's time - you just have to
be aware of it.

jmcquown...

Everyone seems to ignore the fact that the vet wanted to put the cat to
sleep 3 years ago and the cat is getting worse. We don't know the age of
the cat but I seriously doubt the vet would have recommended putting the cat
to sleep just for grins.

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)...

You have more faith in vets than I! (A medical degree does
not confer godhood, although some vets - and human M.D.'s -
seem to think it does.) I can only judge from my own
experience with cats who had FLV. As I said, I had the one
put to sleep on the vet's recommendation, even though it was
simply lethargic, and did not appear to be in any pain. The
second lived for several years in what appeared to be
perfect health (which was why I regretted listening to the
vet who treated the first one.)

If the cat the OP mentioned IS in pain now, then perhaps the
time for goodbyes has come. However it seems clear that the
cat's person has had three more years with it than she would
have had, if she'd listened to the vet who wanted to
euthanize it that long ago!

Jo Firey...

The antibiotics will help with infections the cat can no longer fight off.

Christina Websell...

Don't forget Helen's Francis, still alive and well long after the vet
advised putting him down (how long now, Helen? please chip in here..)
It doesn't sound good now, but maybe three years ago was different - well
obviously it must have been, otherwise he'd be gone before now.
I thought your first post was harsh, Jill. It's easy to see things in black

sriddles...

But, they can live a long time and feel perfectly healthy...I had a cat
who lived eight years with the disease. I never thought about putting
him down until he came down full-blown with symptoms. It first appeared
like a URI with loss of appetite. The vet gave hime weekly shots after
those symptoms appeared -- I wish I could remember what it was, but
that was back in 1995. I think it was some kind of steroid but I could
be wrong. They helped boost his immune system and he overcame the first
bout of illness, and stayed healthy almost another year. Then another
bout of symptoms, that did not respond. He began to bloat and be
uncomfortable, and I had him euthanized then.
The #1 most important thing to keep a FeLeuk patient healthy is to
provide it a stress-free environment. We had an event that turned the
household upside down, and that's when he got sick.
Sherry

sriddles...

Replying to my own post, but I just re-read more carefully and saw
where the poster said "Now he is getting real sic."....I bet he is
bloating like Luke did, and that's what the Lasix is for. That was the
end for Luke. When they are bloated, they are still hungry and *want*
to eat, but can't because their belly is bloated and it is too
uncomfortable. He began to lie around in unusual, hidden places. I
realized he was looking for a place to die, like cats do. He was not
happy, or even comfortable anymore and the treatment was not working
like it did the first time. Out of the eight years, he was only really
sick for about two weeks, and that was the end.
To the OP: I am so sorry. FeLeuk is a terrible disease.
Sherry

Karen...

Lots of vets want to PTS a cat diagnosed with FeLV immediately, whether
the cat is ill or not. You have to keep that in mind when seeing that
"3 years ago" part.

and white when you are removed from it. It's not your pain. Now imagine if

jmcquown...

But I also said in another post, I certainly don't advocate putting a cat to

jmcquown...

The OP also stated "and doctor wanted to put him to sleep 3 years ago". We
have no idea the age of this cat, either. I certainly don't advocate
putting a cat to sleep just because they've been diagnosed with an illness.

sleep simply because it's been diagnosed with a disease. Obviously we don't
know a thing about this cat, or even if there really *is* a cat, given we
have never heard of this poster before.

this was Persia.

The lasix will help remove fluid that is probably collecting in his lungs
and straining his heart. They will temporarily help him feel better. They
are not a cure.

If he is real sic, it is time to consider how long to let him suffer.