He got an IV of L-Asparaginase (Elspar) from the oncologist, and I give him 5mg of Prednisolone, twice a day, powdered and mixed with ice cream. I’ll also be giving him 10mg of Lomustine (Gleostine) later this week. I think the swelling in his abdomen has shrunk a little already.
What good news! Keeping paws crossed.
https://uwveterinarycare.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/feline_chop.pdf
If they’re using doxorubicin, ask about heart monitoring and toxicity - in humans it involves arrhythmia and left ventricular ejection problems that can lead to congestive heart failure. In humans there are meds that can be used to minimize this. There are also alternatives to doxorubicin that may be less cardiotoxic.
UPDATE: Took Paris for his checkup with the oncologist today. She was happy with his progress, but said his abdomen still doesn’t feel right. She gave him more IV chemo, and I’m supposed to continue giving him Prednisolone and Ursodiol, twice a day.
The only way I can get pills into him is to crush them and mix them with about a tablespoon of ice cream. I’ve tried other foods, but the only thing he’ll always eat is ice cream. This of course causes him to have loose stools… which he does not do in the litter box. It’s bad enough when he leaves regular stools throughout the house, but the semi-diarrhea is a real PITA to clean up. Any ideas of what I can mix with the medications to firm his stools? I see something advertised called “BM Tone-up Gold”. Anyone have experience with it?
Anyway, he’s still affectionate, playful and has a great appetite. He has no idea he’s sick.
Talk to the vet about firming up his stools. When my dog was having loose stools (different disease, older life issue), she gave me something to add to this food that firmed things right up. Maybe there’s something similar for cats? It wasn’t a drug. I think it was fiber based.
Oh, yeah, just read back through the thread. It really is worth have Roadrunner or another similar pharmacy compound his meds. To him they taste like chicken broth, or chicken liver, or honestly something delicious, which you can syringe into his mouth or have him lick up from a spoon. I had 2 or 3 seriously ill cats and this really made their last years much, much easier. I hated being the mean person who chased them down and shoved pills down their throats. They actually liked their medicine.
Oh, one more thought, look for ice cream that is lactose free. See if that helps. I think it’s the lactose that is causing the issue.
FINAL UPDATE: Paris finally passed away. He had been doing poorly for the last week, and I was going to take him to be put down today, but he beat me to it. I took him to the oncologist last week, and she tried a different type of chemo, as a last resort. It did help a little, for a few days. The oncologist has been amazed that he’s been alive so long, and I’ve been so grateful for every day he’s been with us. My husband and I will be burying him in the back yard. R.I.P, Paris.
I’m very sorry.
Farewell, little one. Say hi to Andy-the-fierce-hunter-kitty and sweet Necco-chan and Licorice the marshmallow-fiend for me.
My sympathies. I took my 17-yr old cat to the vet last month. It took 2 techs and the vet to get blood to do bloodwork, but she’s fine. She’s lost a bit of weight (down a pound in the last few years) and her coat isn’t as lush. She’s not grooming herself as well (hence the coat issue, probably). I guess she’s just getting old.
StG
(((Panache))) So sorry for your loss, but I’m also so glad you had as much extra time with Paris as you did. What a fighter!
My condolences on your loss.
My condolences on the loss of your friend.
While I am very much a “dog person” these days, and loved a number of parrots years ago, the hardest I’ve ever cried was for a cat.
Damn.