No guilt Dawn.... only love! You have always loved and cared for Mr. George Bengal... and that will continue. Love and enjoy him.

I think the quality of life issues are key.... you will know after a conversation with your vet and observing your dear boy when it is time. Oh my yes, the hardest thing to think of and to do, but, a release from pain....

We love you, and you and your boy are in my prayers .... always!!!!

Please kiss Freddie for me!!!!!

Dawn,

this is very sad news to read really, I feel I know Mr George Bengal from the beginning, and at the time we thought turtle Andrew was a male but he really is a turtleless???? All the laughing we had with that....
But now of course, it is something you cannot reverse, having gone through chemo myself I wouldnever do that to my cat I think but of course, you will decide for what your think is right. Maybe there are less invasive ways of keeping him comfortable for some time?

Give your boy a big hug from me,

Birgit

I agree with the quality of life concerns. I don't think I'd want to inflict something like chemo on my babies, but that's a decision we all have to make for ourselves when in this situation.

Very sorry to hear about Mr George Bengal's condition. I've always thought he was such a cool cat!

hugs,
Debby

I'm so sorry to hear about Mr George Bengal. You'll both be in my thoughts and prayers. It's so hard when our babies are sick. I hate it so much
Hugs
Genea

Gosh Birgit, you remembered the Andrew stories!! We have been here such a long time haven't we??!! And Mr George will have been here with us for just over 6 years now.....

Thank you all for your continued prayers and good wishes. We got to visit with Mr George today at the vet hospital and sat with him for 2 hours. He looked well and has not lost any weight which they are very pleased about. His wound is healing well. We are still in the critical phase after the surgery and are not yet out of the woods with regards to gut breakdown at the biopsy sites, but his temperature is normal so that is a very good sign. His type of lymphoma is not of the 'typical' sort that is found in cats. Small and large cell are far more common, whereas George has medium cell. His is also affecting the T cells and typical lymphoma affects the b cells apparently. It is in the deeper layers so would not have been accessible via endoscopic biopsy. Being FELV positive does have some affect on his chances of going into remission but they think that he is a good candidate for chemotherapy. They feel that as he has probably had this grumbling on for a while undetected and has coped well without many signs or symptoms he has a good chance. Of course it is not curable, but if he does go into remission then best case scenario is that he may be 'clear' for 18 months. FELV + will probably shorten that, but I have to give him at least a chance. I've been told that cats tolerate chemo a lot better than humans as the doses are not given like we are given, to a toxic level in the body . Cats are taken to a point below toxicity and to maintain quality of life so not as much sickness. It should hopefully relieve his symptoms of IBD as well, as they feel that he has probably had this all along but it has just gone undetected and untreated and finally mutated into lymphoma. It wasn't for the lack of me taking him to the vet . I am at the surgery with so much as a sniffle. It is just once a bout was over we were sent home with no suggestion that anything could be going on. IBD was only brought up since this last bout happened.

I posted a short clip we took today of George in the hospital on a new post. We are going to visit him again tomorrow and he may be able to come home on Monday or Tuesday. We will start chemo then next saturday.

Hugs

Dawn.

I saw your beautiful vist with Mr. George. What a lucky guy he is to have you in his life.

It really cheered me up to see him Ellie.

I forgot to add earlier that he is eating his fishes well too!