Authority canned cat food – 6oz…Use the one listed on label as “Traditional Loaf”. This brand is very smooth textured; however, very pasty kind of like peanut butter. I add a little warm water so it’s not so stiff. This brand does not use “by-products”. I use this one the most for her. I purchase this brand food at PetSmart.
Friskies canned cat food – 5.5oz… Not smooth, grainy and/or chunky
9 Lives canned cat food – 5.5oz…Not smooth, grainy and/or chunky
Fancy Feast canned cat food – 3oz…Not smooth, grainy and/or chunky
Hill’s Science Diet canned cat food – 6oz…Some of these are similar to the Authority brand.
NOTE: All of these canned cat foods are ground, pate, etc. They are not sliced, bites, shredded, etc., as none of our 10 cats really care for these types of foods. I often wonder why they make them. I've never owned a cat that liked them. The only food they eat other than the ground foods is 9 Lives Flaked Tuna Fish.
Monday, January 29, 2007
December 31, 2006 (Sunday)
I hand-fed Ashley today. She ate 3-4 times and drank. She drank on her own. She has been listless for a couple days. She has peed each day, but has not pooped. Dr. Harris did say she may get constipated with the chemo. Ashley also hasn’t eaten anything but can cat food and water. I don’t know if this may contribute to her not pooping. She ate about 3/8 – 4/8 of a can of food.
December 30, 2006 (Saturday)
I hand-fed Ashley again by scooping food onto my finger, opening her mouth and using her teeth to scrape the food off my finger into her mouth. She doesn’t like to eat this way, but I tell her she has to eat. She ate 3x (3/8 of can) today.
December 29, 2006 (Friday)
Ashley tried to eat today, but appeared to have difficulty. I hand-fed her. By mashing her food in the bowl with the back of a teaspoon, I added a little water to make it easier to chew and swallow.
I called Dr. Harris’ office to see how soon the lump would begin to shrink. They said it can take from a few days to a week. I asked if she could get another cortisone injection to help reduce the lump while taking the chemo. They said they didn’t know and Dr. Harris wasn’t in to ask. They told me to make sure she got some food and definitely water. If she stops/refuses food and water, call them and Dr. Harris will have to decide what to do.
I called Dr. Harris’ office to see how soon the lump would begin to shrink. They said it can take from a few days to a week. I asked if she could get another cortisone injection to help reduce the lump while taking the chemo. They said they didn’t know and Dr. Harris wasn’t in to ask. They told me to make sure she got some food and definitely water. If she stops/refuses food and water, call them and Dr. Harris will have to decide what to do.
December 28, 2006 (Thursday)
Ashley ate on her own. Ashley has a 3 p.m. appointment with Dr. Harris in Dallas for her first chemotherapy treatment. Two of Dr. Harris’ assistants (or vet techs) administered the chemo.
Ashley received Vincristine <50#.
She received the chemo as two injections, one in each hind leg. They started with the right hind leg. They swabbed her inner right thigh, close to her knee to cleanse and sterilize the area. They, then, searched for her vein. Upon locating the vein, they inserted a needle attached to a butterfly-type clip – called a butterfly catheter. They first injected (flushed) her with a saline solution followed by the chemo. This was repeated on the left leg. However, finding her vein was a little more difficult. They commented that Ashley has small veins. The administering of the saline and chemo is the same as with humans. Ashley was very good about getting the chemo. She stayed quiet and very still. She only looked up when, on the left leg, they couldn’t find her vein. They had to prick her twice. We let her use the litter box (we took one with us) before leaving for home, as it is about a 1 ½ hour drive.
Ashley rode home quietly. She tried to sleep. Upon returning home, she drank for quite some time. When Mom had chemo for breast cancer, she, too, was thirsty. Ashley spent the rest of the evening and night quietly.
Ashley received Vincristine <50#.
She received the chemo as two injections, one in each hind leg. They started with the right hind leg. They swabbed her inner right thigh, close to her knee to cleanse and sterilize the area. They, then, searched for her vein. Upon locating the vein, they inserted a needle attached to a butterfly-type clip – called a butterfly catheter. They first injected (flushed) her with a saline solution followed by the chemo. This was repeated on the left leg. However, finding her vein was a little more difficult. They commented that Ashley has small veins. The administering of the saline and chemo is the same as with humans. Ashley was very good about getting the chemo. She stayed quiet and very still. She only looked up when, on the left leg, they couldn’t find her vein. They had to prick her twice. We let her use the litter box (we took one with us) before leaving for home, as it is about a 1 ½ hour drive.
Ashley rode home quietly. She tried to sleep. Upon returning home, she drank for quite some time. When Mom had chemo for breast cancer, she, too, was thirsty. Ashley spent the rest of the evening and night quietly.
December 27, 2006 (Wednesday)
Mom’s birthday. We had the rest of the Italian Pot Roast for supper. We had made two for Christmas because Uncle Walter had said he and Aunt Betty were coming over. Well, he called on Christmas to let us know he was not feeling well enough to come over, as he is on oxygen. I offered all the cats a little of the pot roast again. Ashley, again, ate some of the pot roast.
Ashley did not eat any dry food today. She did eat can food on her own. However, it seems the lump is beginning to swell again.
Ashley did not eat any dry food today. She did eat can food on her own. However, it seems the lump is beginning to swell again.
December 25, 2006 (Monday-Christmas)
Ashley ate 9 Lives Flaked Tuna mashed-up on her own. She had a special treat for Christmas. We had Italian Post Roast for dinner. I cut some up very finely for all the cats to have a little. Ashley ate all of hers quite quickly.
Add’l Note for December 21-22, 2006 (Thursday-Friday)
Dr Harris called back on December 22nd, as she promised she would on December 21st. She researched the Feline Hodgkin’s-type Lymphoma on the Internet. She found there is not a lot of information on this type of cancer. It has only been documented vaguely over the past few years. She did find that so far studies are showing the cancer responds well to treatment. Cats appear to have an 85% chance of survival. However, the cats that were studied – 20 – had a variety of outcomes. Some were treated with surgery and some with chemotherapy. She says those who had surgery survived 7 months to 4 years. However, she says she has not seen surgeries to the throat area of a cat to be very successful, as there are a lot of vessels and nerves that can be accidentally damaged resulting in death. Those cats who were treated with chemotherapy survived 6 months to 1 ½ years.
I asked Dr. Harris, “If Ashley was your cat what would you do?” She said knowing what she does know about it (the cancer) and the 85% recovery rate, she would treat her.
I asked Dr. Harris, “If Ashley was your cat what would you do?” She said knowing what she does know about it (the cancer) and the 85% recovery rate, she would treat her.
December 22, 2006 (Friday)
Ashley’s lump felt as if it has gone down some. She is difficult to give the Prednisone pills to. Mom and I both have to try to hold her to give her both pills. She’s strong and quick. Ashley also began trying to eat on her own. (See add’l entry after December 22nd)
December 21, 2006 (Thursday)
Dr. Harris called about 8 a.m. She said they received the lab results late yesterday afternoon. She said several people at the lab had to look at what she sent them. They agreed that it appears to be a Hodgkin’s-like Lymphoma. This is a cancer that has come to light only in recent years. It is fairly new and not much is known. However, she says she has found a little about it. I asked her about quality of life and life expectancy as compared to cost of treatment. She said she’d have to do some more checking on the Internet and get back to me. In the meantime, she said she’d call Dr. Wellman with a temporary treatment plan.
I waited a few hours for Dr. Wellman to call; I, then, called him. His office confirmed Dr. Harris called and they discussed Ashley’s diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Wellman told us to bring Ashley in for a cortisone shot anytime today to help reduce the swelling and inflammation. He said he’d also have some Prednisone tablets for her to take. This all should reduce the swelling and inflammation; so, she can eat. We brought Ashley to Dr. Wellman at approx. 2:45 p.m. He gave her an injection of Dexamethasone. He gave us 30 tablets of 5mg Prednisone to be given to Ashley. She has to take 2 tablets every morning for 15 days. (See add’l entry after December 22nd)
I waited a few hours for Dr. Wellman to call; I, then, called him. His office confirmed Dr. Harris called and they discussed Ashley’s diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Wellman told us to bring Ashley in for a cortisone shot anytime today to help reduce the swelling and inflammation. He said he’d also have some Prednisone tablets for her to take. This all should reduce the swelling and inflammation; so, she can eat. We brought Ashley to Dr. Wellman at approx. 2:45 p.m. He gave her an injection of Dexamethasone. He gave us 30 tablets of 5mg Prednisone to be given to Ashley. She has to take 2 tablets every morning for 15 days. (See add’l entry after December 22nd)
December 20, 2006 (Wednesday)
I offered Ashley food and water – she refused. Feeding her “Just Born” kitten milk only as described on December 19th. She fights me, as she doesn’t like having a bottle.
I called Dr. Harris in Dallas at approx. 1:11 p.m. Dr Harris was not in. I told them Ashley no longer wanted to eat and I was bottle feeding her. I told them I thought maybe the lump was now pressing on her esophagus. They said they’d leave a message for Dr. Harris in the morning. I also asked about the lab results. The results of the lab work were supposed to be in on December 19th. They told me it was not in yet, but would also make a note of that for Dr. Harris when she comes in.
I called Dr. Harris in Dallas at approx. 1:11 p.m. Dr Harris was not in. I told them Ashley no longer wanted to eat and I was bottle feeding her. I told them I thought maybe the lump was now pressing on her esophagus. They said they’d leave a message for Dr. Harris in the morning. I also asked about the lab results. The results of the lab work were supposed to be in on December 19th. They told me it was not in yet, but would also make a note of that for Dr. Harris when she comes in.
December 19, 2006 (Tuesday)
Ashley began to refuse to eat and drink. While shopping, I had gotten her some kitten milk –“Just Born”. I started her on a bottle of the “Just Born” milk just to get something in her. I am able to get about 1 TBSP. in her every 4 hours or so. If she doesn’t get something in her stomach approx. every 4 hours, she seems to get an upset stomach and spits up.
December 18, 2006 (Monday)
We went grocery shopping in Sherman. When we came home, we found that Ashley had spit up some yellow liquid – probably bile.
December 15, 2006 (Friday)
Ashley has a 1:30 p.m. appointment at Veterinary Specialists with Dr. Harris in Dallas. Ashley weighed in at about 12 pounds. Dr. Harris examined Ashley and decided to do some biopsy work. They did some in-office and sent tome out to a lab for more extensive biopsy work. She, too, is not sure if the lump may be a TB-like infection or some king of cancer. We should hear from the lab by early next week.
December 4, 2006 (Monday)
I called Dr. Wellman to let them know we had not heart from Dr. Harris’ office. They said he’ll check into it.
We finally obtained a phone number for Dr. Harris’ office and called them to make an appointment ourselves, since they hadn’t called. The appointment was made for Friday, December 15th. The appointment is for 1:30 p.m.
We finally obtained a phone number for Dr. Harris’ office and called them to make an appointment ourselves, since they hadn’t called. The appointment was made for Friday, December 15th. The appointment is for 1:30 p.m.
November 28 – December 1, 2006 (Tuesday - Friday)
We have not heard from Dr. Harris’ office yet. I decided to call Dr. Wellman’s office on Monday if I don’t hear from Dr. Harris by 5 p.m.
November 27, 2006 (Monday)
Ashley likes Chef’s Blend dry cat food. It’s a little difficult for her to eat it. I added water to a bowl of Chef’s Blend and gave her Fancy Feast Ocean Whitefish & Tuna canned cat food for breakfast. She ate well and peed. I called Dr. Wellman’s office to get her in for another check-up. We took her to his office for a 10:30 a.m. appointment. Dr. Wellman checked the lump on the left side of her throat. (I was right I can’t tell because I feel it all the time.) He believes the lump is approx. 4x’s larger than the last time he felt it. He now believes she may have thyroid cancer. He’s referring us to Dr. Harris, an oncologist in Dallas. He went to school with her. She was a resident while he was a student. He faxed Ashley’s lab work and notes to Dr. Harris. Dr. Wellman told us to expect a call from her clinic in Dallas some time this week.
November 26, 2006 (Sunday morning)
I started adding water to Ashley’s can food to make it easier for her to swallow.
November 25-26, 2006 (Saturday-Sunday)
I noticed Ashley’s left eye’s pupil was not opening properly. It appears her third eyelid is trying to close or doesn’t open all the way. She also seemed to start having a slight problem breathing when she lays/leans on her left side. She also started having a problem swallowing. I couldn’t really tell if the lump was larger because I feel it every day.
November 10, 2006 (Friday)
I called Dr. Wellman’s office to see if they got the results back for Ashley’s lab work. I called once Monday or Tuesday, but they weren’t back yet. Dr. Wellman apologized for not calling. He thought he had. He had the record marked that he had called.
The results were:
* Negative for all feline viruses.
* Thyroid in gray zone (not hyper or hypo, but not completely normal)
* He doesn’t recommend putting her through surgery just yet, as it is very risky. There are a lot of large blood vessels and nerves and all which could be accidentally cut. She could die in surgery. Many cats do not survive throat surgery. It would need a specialist to do the surgery anyway; Dr. Wellman does not feel comfortable doing it.
* Doesn’t want to start her on any radioactive iodine therapy (for any thyroid problems –hyper/hypo) just yet either. She would need more testing to be sure it’s a thyroid problem first.
* Because we are dealing with Ashley’s throat, Dr. Wellman wants to be sure of what it is before prescribing treatment. The lump hasn’t grown since it was first noticed the weekend of October 14-15th. Therefore, Dr. Wellman asked us to keep an eye on her for the next few weeks. He’d like to see her again in about 6 weeks, just before Christmas, unless there’s a problem.
The results were:
* Negative for all feline viruses.
* Thyroid in gray zone (not hyper or hypo, but not completely normal)
* He doesn’t recommend putting her through surgery just yet, as it is very risky. There are a lot of large blood vessels and nerves and all which could be accidentally cut. She could die in surgery. Many cats do not survive throat surgery. It would need a specialist to do the surgery anyway; Dr. Wellman does not feel comfortable doing it.
* Doesn’t want to start her on any radioactive iodine therapy (for any thyroid problems –hyper/hypo) just yet either. She would need more testing to be sure it’s a thyroid problem first.
* Because we are dealing with Ashley’s throat, Dr. Wellman wants to be sure of what it is before prescribing treatment. The lump hasn’t grown since it was first noticed the weekend of October 14-15th. Therefore, Dr. Wellman asked us to keep an eye on her for the next few weeks. He’d like to see her again in about 6 weeks, just before Christmas, unless there’s a problem.
November 3, 2006 (Friday)
I called Dr. Wellman’s office to see if they got the results back for Ashley’s lab work. Spoke to Dr. Wellman about 5 p.m. He didn’t have them back yet and he apologized. He said hopefully they’ll get them the beginning of next week.
October 31, 2006 (Tuesday)
We picked Ashley up from the vet at approx. 10:30 a.m. Dr Wellman says he should have the results from the lab probably on Friday.
October 30, 2006 (Monday)
At 11:30 a.m., Ashley saw Dr Wellman. He decided to do some blood work to check her thyroid and to check for all known cat viruses, even though Ashley is an indoor cat. We had to leave her there; so, he could make her fast for a few hours. We can pick her up tomorrow morning, October 31st.
October 27, 2006 (Friday)
Today was the last day Ashley had to take Clindamycin. She still has the lump. The lump doesn’t seem to have gone down at all. Called Dr. Wellman’s office and let them know. They scheduled her for an appointment on Monday for a recheck.
October 18, 2006 (Wednesday)
Ashley returned to Dr. Wellman about 9 a.m. The lump did not grow. Dr. Wellman said that’s probably a good thing. He still thinks it’s probably thyroiditis. He started Ashley on Clindamycin, an anti-biotic commonly used in treating cats with infections, for one week to see if it helps to reduce the swelling. Ashley started the Clindamycin tonight.
October 16, 2006 (Monday)
I called Dr. Wellman’s office to see if I could get Ashley in for a check-up. I got an appointment for about noon.
Ashley went to see Dr. Wellman. He thinks she may have a thyroid infection, thyroiditis, or possibly a thyroid problem. However, he is not ruling out thyroid cancer. He decided to start with a thyroid infection and gave her an injection of penicillin. He asked to see her again on Wednesday, October 18, 2006, at about 9 a.m. to check if the lump has gone down, stayed the same or grown. He suggested we not touch the lump until Wednesday because we won’t be able to tell if it goes down gradually.
Ashley went to see Dr. Wellman. He thinks she may have a thyroid infection, thyroiditis, or possibly a thyroid problem. However, he is not ruling out thyroid cancer. He decided to start with a thyroid infection and gave her an injection of penicillin. He asked to see her again on Wednesday, October 18, 2006, at about 9 a.m. to check if the lump has gone down, stayed the same or grown. He suggested we not touch the lump until Wednesday because we won’t be able to tell if it goes down gradually.
October 14-15, 2006 (Saturday – Sunday)
While showering Ashley with attention, I noticed a small lump on the left side of her throat. Being a weekend, I’d have to wait until Monday before I could have it looked at.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Postings To Begin Soon
I will soon begin recording Ashley's illness on the pages of this journal. I currently have them in a bound journal. I can tell y'all that I have tried to search the Internet for her disease, Hodgkins-like Lymphoma in cats, but have not been very successful. So, I thought I would post my journal of what has happened leading up to and including her diagnosis and treatment. I will also try to include a picture of Ashley soon, as well.
Ashley is a black and white cat. She was born approx. May 14, 2000. She was found by my brother, an automotive mechanic, along with her sister, Cindy-Lu, and another sibling in a car that was towed to him needing repair. The kittens were staying within the engine compartment. He caught Cindy and brought her to me to care for. Ashley bit him and ran off, scared. The other sibling was caught the next day or so. The owner took the third sibling back "to shut the mother up". Ashley hung around but wasn't caught until November 1, 2000.
The Name Game. Cindy was named Cindy becasue she reminded us of cinders with her black and white. Cindy is followed with "Lu" because at the time we had another stray - a Russian Blue - named Misty-Blu. When he caught Ashley, he called me to pick her up. We tried to keep their names similar. We named her Ashley for ashes and followed it with another southern-sounding name: Mae. Since, we have had another black and white kitty "delivered" to us somehow. She appeared on the back deck mysteriously. We live out in the country with a 6 foot fence around the back yard and back deck with an additional foot of wire going around the top to keep the dogs in the yard. One of the dogs use to climb the fence when he was younger. Anyway, the new black and white kitty we named Katy Rose. Katy is short for St. Catherine of Sienna (the patronness of fire protection - figured we needed the protection with two cats named for the end result of fire) and Rose for the Rosary, a prayer offered to Mary for her intercession with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her son.
Please return soon for the beginning of Ashley's Journal...Thanks!
Ashley is a black and white cat. She was born approx. May 14, 2000. She was found by my brother, an automotive mechanic, along with her sister, Cindy-Lu, and another sibling in a car that was towed to him needing repair. The kittens were staying within the engine compartment. He caught Cindy and brought her to me to care for. Ashley bit him and ran off, scared. The other sibling was caught the next day or so. The owner took the third sibling back "to shut the mother up". Ashley hung around but wasn't caught until November 1, 2000.
The Name Game. Cindy was named Cindy becasue she reminded us of cinders with her black and white. Cindy is followed with "Lu" because at the time we had another stray - a Russian Blue - named Misty-Blu. When he caught Ashley, he called me to pick her up. We tried to keep their names similar. We named her Ashley for ashes and followed it with another southern-sounding name: Mae. Since, we have had another black and white kitty "delivered" to us somehow. She appeared on the back deck mysteriously. We live out in the country with a 6 foot fence around the back yard and back deck with an additional foot of wire going around the top to keep the dogs in the yard. One of the dogs use to climb the fence when he was younger. Anyway, the new black and white kitty we named Katy Rose. Katy is short for St. Catherine of Sienna (the patronness of fire protection - figured we needed the protection with two cats named for the end result of fire) and Rose for the Rosary, a prayer offered to Mary for her intercession with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her son.
Please return soon for the beginning of Ashley's Journal...Thanks!
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