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#11
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In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats", Camilla Cracchiolo
artfully composed this message within on 22 Jun 2004: It appalls me how little pain relievers are used in cats. Actually, fentinol (SP?) patches are commonly used post surgery for animals. In cats, you have to be careful with some pain relievers because the liver of a cat is so different from humans, and even dogs. Rimadyl (again, SP?) is commonly kept around the house for dogs who have pain from arthritis, etc, but I don't think they allow the use in cats. My vet said this was the first cat he had ever prescribed an opioid pain reliever to in many years of practice. Cats come home from surgery without pain pills still, even though the latest greatest thing in vet journals is how, yes, cats do feel post surgical pain and should get pain meds to take home. I think this is in part because cats are pretty stoic about pain: they're not crying so people don't treat the pain. Spay surgeries now (at least here) have sutures that have pain management "built-in" that should keep a kitty comfortable for the time necessary. FWIW, I admire you for keeping your cat comfortable. You'll know when it is "time" so in the meantime, no sense in prolonging the inevitable with surgery that may do more harm than good. I'm doing the same thing with my cat who is FeLV+, has IBD with chronic diarrhea, and no cure for either. He's fine for now, so I don't see a good reason for ending his life until it is time. That doesn't mean I will let him suffer, either. Like I said to you, I'll know from him when he wants to go. -- Cheryl |
#12
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In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats", Camilla Cracchiolo
artfully composed this message within on 22 Jun 2004: It appalls me how little pain relievers are used in cats. Actually, fentinol (SP?) patches are commonly used post surgery for animals. In cats, you have to be careful with some pain relievers because the liver of a cat is so different from humans, and even dogs. Rimadyl (again, SP?) is commonly kept around the house for dogs who have pain from arthritis, etc, but I don't think they allow the use in cats. My vet said this was the first cat he had ever prescribed an opioid pain reliever to in many years of practice. Cats come home from surgery without pain pills still, even though the latest greatest thing in vet journals is how, yes, cats do feel post surgical pain and should get pain meds to take home. I think this is in part because cats are pretty stoic about pain: they're not crying so people don't treat the pain. Spay surgeries now (at least here) have sutures that have pain management "built-in" that should keep a kitty comfortable for the time necessary. FWIW, I admire you for keeping your cat comfortable. You'll know when it is "time" so in the meantime, no sense in prolonging the inevitable with surgery that may do more harm than good. I'm doing the same thing with my cat who is FeLV+, has IBD with chronic diarrhea, and no cure for either. He's fine for now, so I don't see a good reason for ending his life until it is time. That doesn't mean I will let him suffer, either. Like I said to you, I'll know from him when he wants to go. -- Cheryl |
#13
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In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats", Camilla Cracchiolo
artfully composed this message within on 22 Jun 2004: It appalls me how little pain relievers are used in cats. Actually, fentinol (SP?) patches are commonly used post surgery for animals. In cats, you have to be careful with some pain relievers because the liver of a cat is so different from humans, and even dogs. Rimadyl (again, SP?) is commonly kept around the house for dogs who have pain from arthritis, etc, but I don't think they allow the use in cats. My vet said this was the first cat he had ever prescribed an opioid pain reliever to in many years of practice. Cats come home from surgery without pain pills still, even though the latest greatest thing in vet journals is how, yes, cats do feel post surgical pain and should get pain meds to take home. I think this is in part because cats are pretty stoic about pain: they're not crying so people don't treat the pain. Spay surgeries now (at least here) have sutures that have pain management "built-in" that should keep a kitty comfortable for the time necessary. FWIW, I admire you for keeping your cat comfortable. You'll know when it is "time" so in the meantime, no sense in prolonging the inevitable with surgery that may do more harm than good. I'm doing the same thing with my cat who is FeLV+, has IBD with chronic diarrhea, and no cure for either. He's fine for now, so I don't see a good reason for ending his life until it is time. That doesn't mean I will let him suffer, either. Like I said to you, I'll know from him when he wants to go. -- Cheryl |
#14
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Cancer patients with mouth sores use a benzocaine/bacterial cream. I guess
stronger painkillers are used in minute dosages. What about novocaine before feeding time? Cancer hospitals have specialized dental departments. I live near Roswell Cancer Institute, but I am sure you could ask a dentist at Cedars Sinai. snip |
#15
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Cancer patients with mouth sores use a benzocaine/bacterial cream. I guess
stronger painkillers are used in minute dosages. What about novocaine before feeding time? Cancer hospitals have specialized dental departments. I live near Roswell Cancer Institute, but I am sure you could ask a dentist at Cedars Sinai. snip |
#16
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Cancer patients with mouth sores use a benzocaine/bacterial cream. I guess
stronger painkillers are used in minute dosages. What about novocaine before feeding time? Cancer hospitals have specialized dental departments. I live near Roswell Cancer Institute, but I am sure you could ask a dentist at Cedars Sinai. snip |
#17
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An update: We put Victor to sleep last Saturday. It was one
of the hardest things I ever did in my life. But it was time. Even with pain control he had started eating but then stopped again. On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 04:19:42 -0700, Camilla Cracchiolo wrote: My cat has inoperable mouth cancer. I need advice on getting him to take in more food and if there is any topical pain killer that I can use on the sores in his mouth. I know I can't use human products like benzocaine or benzyl alcohol. He's doing pretty well right now aside from weight loss. He is getting oral pain killers and antibiotics and behaves like he's not in pain, is affectionate, etc. He doesn't vomit it up. We're not going to put him down as long as he seems to get some joy from life. But: he's not eating a lot and I think it's because he has pain in his mouth. Also, he's lost some teeth and has trouble gripping food. We're going to take him to the vet this week but we want the advice of the net mind as well. He seems to be hungry: he looks longingly at food, and does his usual bolting into the kitchen when he hears the can opener. But he takes only one bite, then looks real disappointed and looks away. We've tried soft foods, which get a nothing from him. He likes to drink milk and cream. I try to hand feed him people food and sometimes I can get him to take a couple of strips of roasted chicken, which he chews only on one side (the less affected one). He won't eat NutraCal voluntarily but I'm just going to start shooting it in his mouth with a syringe when I give him his twice a day antibiotic and pain killer pills. Any advice as to techniques, medications, better nutritional products, webpages, etc. would be more than appreciated. Also, even though we've decided not to go with surgery and radiation for cure if anyone has experience with PALLIATIVE surgery or radiation for this I'd really like to hear about it. (The only treatment for this cancer is extensive surgery followed by radiation and since he's an old cat and the prognosis is lousy even with treatment, we decided not to do aggressive treatment and just try to keep him comfortable.) Help! Thanks. P.S. If you can, send a carbon copy to my e-mail so I get it as soon as possible. My news server is slow. __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down |
#18
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An update: We put Victor to sleep last Saturday. It was one
of the hardest things I ever did in my life. But it was time. Even with pain control he had started eating but then stopped again. On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 04:19:42 -0700, Camilla Cracchiolo wrote: My cat has inoperable mouth cancer. I need advice on getting him to take in more food and if there is any topical pain killer that I can use on the sores in his mouth. I know I can't use human products like benzocaine or benzyl alcohol. He's doing pretty well right now aside from weight loss. He is getting oral pain killers and antibiotics and behaves like he's not in pain, is affectionate, etc. He doesn't vomit it up. We're not going to put him down as long as he seems to get some joy from life. But: he's not eating a lot and I think it's because he has pain in his mouth. Also, he's lost some teeth and has trouble gripping food. We're going to take him to the vet this week but we want the advice of the net mind as well. He seems to be hungry: he looks longingly at food, and does his usual bolting into the kitchen when he hears the can opener. But he takes only one bite, then looks real disappointed and looks away. We've tried soft foods, which get a nothing from him. He likes to drink milk and cream. I try to hand feed him people food and sometimes I can get him to take a couple of strips of roasted chicken, which he chews only on one side (the less affected one). He won't eat NutraCal voluntarily but I'm just going to start shooting it in his mouth with a syringe when I give him his twice a day antibiotic and pain killer pills. Any advice as to techniques, medications, better nutritional products, webpages, etc. would be more than appreciated. Also, even though we've decided not to go with surgery and radiation for cure if anyone has experience with PALLIATIVE surgery or radiation for this I'd really like to hear about it. (The only treatment for this cancer is extensive surgery followed by radiation and since he's an old cat and the prognosis is lousy even with treatment, we decided not to do aggressive treatment and just try to keep him comfortable.) Help! Thanks. P.S. If you can, send a carbon copy to my e-mail so I get it as soon as possible. My news server is slow. __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down |
#19
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Camilla,
I think you made the right decision. If your cat had inoperable mouth cancer and was not eating, then the time had arrived to make this difficult decision. Cats often do not "show" pain, so that is not an accurate guideline. A decision to euthanize a beloved pets is one of the most painful decisions we face, but it is a gift of love. It spares our wonderful cats from living out their final days in increasing amounts of pain and diminished pleasure in life. MaryL "Camilla Cracchiolo" wrote in message ... An update: We put Victor to sleep last Saturday. It was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life. But it was time. Even with pain control he had started eating but then stopped again. On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 04:19:42 -0700, Camilla Cracchiolo wrote: My cat has inoperable mouth cancer. I need advice on getting him to take in more food and if there is any topical pain killer that I can use on the sores in his mouth. I know I can't use human products like benzocaine or benzyl alcohol. He's doing pretty well right now aside from weight loss. He is getting oral pain killers and antibiotics and behaves like he's not in pain, is affectionate, etc. He doesn't vomit it up. We're not going to put him down as long as he seems to get some joy from life. But: he's not eating a lot and I think it's because he has pain in his mouth. Also, he's lost some teeth and has trouble gripping food. We're going to take him to the vet this week but we want the advice of the net mind as well. He seems to be hungry: he looks longingly at food, and does his usual bolting into the kitchen when he hears the can opener. But he takes only one bite, then looks real disappointed and looks away. We've tried soft foods, which get a nothing from him. He likes to drink milk and cream. I try to hand feed him people food and sometimes I can get him to take a couple of strips of roasted chicken, which he chews only on one side (the less affected one). He won't eat NutraCal voluntarily but I'm just going to start shooting it in his mouth with a syringe when I give him his twice a day antibiotic and pain killer pills. Any advice as to techniques, medications, better nutritional products, webpages, etc. would be more than appreciated. Also, even though we've decided not to go with surgery and radiation for cure if anyone has experience with PALLIATIVE surgery or radiation for this I'd really like to hear about it. (The only treatment for this cancer is extensive surgery followed by radiation and since he's an old cat and the prognosis is lousy even with treatment, we decided not to do aggressive treatment and just try to keep him comfortable.) Help! Thanks. P.S. If you can, send a carbon copy to my e-mail so I get it as soon as possible. My news server is slow. __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down |
#20
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Camilla,
I think you made the right decision. If your cat had inoperable mouth cancer and was not eating, then the time had arrived to make this difficult decision. Cats often do not "show" pain, so that is not an accurate guideline. A decision to euthanize a beloved pets is one of the most painful decisions we face, but it is a gift of love. It spares our wonderful cats from living out their final days in increasing amounts of pain and diminished pleasure in life. MaryL "Camilla Cracchiolo" wrote in message ... An update: We put Victor to sleep last Saturday. It was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life. But it was time. Even with pain control he had started eating but then stopped again. On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 04:19:42 -0700, Camilla Cracchiolo wrote: My cat has inoperable mouth cancer. I need advice on getting him to take in more food and if there is any topical pain killer that I can use on the sores in his mouth. I know I can't use human products like benzocaine or benzyl alcohol. He's doing pretty well right now aside from weight loss. He is getting oral pain killers and antibiotics and behaves like he's not in pain, is affectionate, etc. He doesn't vomit it up. We're not going to put him down as long as he seems to get some joy from life. But: he's not eating a lot and I think it's because he has pain in his mouth. Also, he's lost some teeth and has trouble gripping food. We're going to take him to the vet this week but we want the advice of the net mind as well. He seems to be hungry: he looks longingly at food, and does his usual bolting into the kitchen when he hears the can opener. But he takes only one bite, then looks real disappointed and looks away. We've tried soft foods, which get a nothing from him. He likes to drink milk and cream. I try to hand feed him people food and sometimes I can get him to take a couple of strips of roasted chicken, which he chews only on one side (the less affected one). He won't eat NutraCal voluntarily but I'm just going to start shooting it in his mouth with a syringe when I give him his twice a day antibiotic and pain killer pills. Any advice as to techniques, medications, better nutritional products, webpages, etc. would be more than appreciated. Also, even though we've decided not to go with surgery and radiation for cure if anyone has experience with PALLIATIVE surgery or radiation for this I'd really like to hear about it. (The only treatment for this cancer is extensive surgery followed by radiation and since he's an old cat and the prognosis is lousy even with treatment, we decided not to do aggressive treatment and just try to keep him comfortable.) Help! Thanks. P.S. If you can, send a carbon copy to my e-mail so I get it as soon as possible. My news server is slow. __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down __________________________________________________ _ Camilla Cracchiolo Registered Nurse Los Angeles, California webpage temporarily down |
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