Zoey

[Shannon's Mom]

OK and thanks for being there.

[Tina B and crew]

It's like my hubby always says...we will cross that bridge when we get to it.

[Traci]

Peg, I just posted in your thread in Feline Health, hope it calms your worries.

Yes, I have experience , both with clients and my own. When I was treating my angel baby Cayci, she had IV chemo at the clinic, and I gave her chemo capsules at home. Cayci would often spit it out, so I often had to thoroughly clean the countertop where I administered her capsules

I only took precautions with the litterboxes. Cayci mingled with the other cats, , they all shared food/water dishes, slept together, everyone did fine, and all was well. Cayci got tons of kisses while going through chemo, so do not fear cuddling, holding, kissing, sleeping with Zoey.

When it's a client's first time with chemo, of course it is natural to have concerns and stressed with questions. But, we're here to help answer your questions and help you and Zoey get through this. Your onco and your primary vet are available for your questions too.

[Traci]

As for mitigating costs, this is a real tough one.

Pet insurance may cover a portion, but many pet insurance companies consider it a pre-existing condition and may not cover it, you can certainly ask your vet how her clients manage the costs.

I don't know about other pharmacies, but Walgreens offers a pet-prescription plan with some discounts. I keep getting pieces of mail with the mention of it, but I haven't looked into it thoroughly. It might be worth checking out, especially since the insulin I get for two of my cats has risen to theivery levels! I know that by having a Walgreen's discount card, I often get a discount on some meds (human meds) just by them entering the discount card at checkout (and it helps if insurance otherwise does not cover it). If you're an AARP member, check for the ability to use your discount on pet prescriptions, or if any pharmacy product is allowed. Likewise, ask if your vet's clinic has a discount program for those over 55 or whatever age they require, usually it is about 10%, but check with them. I don't know your age, but if you happen to be in this age-group, it would be worth it to check any discount program you're affiliated with to see if you can use those discounts.

As for the cost of chlorambucil, it is expensive as all chemo drugs are. Check with your vet and see if she can help you with prices between the pharmacies in your area.

Ask your vet if they work with CareCredit - it's sort of like a credit card with no interest if you pay in full at the end of the term. For example, there is a 12-month term with no interest as long as it's paid in full before the term is up. This is not for everyone, it requires good credit, and it might be a bit difficult to predict costs over a term period, but wouldn't hurt to ask your vet if she works with CareCredit for her clients and if they have good experience with them and if there might be a plan that might fit your needs.

Karen, unfortunately, I have never heard of a drug manufacturer helping with pet medications, as they are actual human medications, used for pets, or used off-label for pets. That said, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[Traci]

As for tips on helping ease the transistion with giving meds to Zoey, you have to try to make the experience a pleasurable thing, difficult as it may be.

For me, I give a treat before, or after a med, just one or two though, because some cats naturally want to vomit up a med and you don't want a handful of treats to exacerbate that.

I also use playtime, a favorite toy, or cuddle, naptime to make the event a pleasurable experience. No cat likes to be pilled or to receive meds, but anything we can do to help make it easier and rewarding with something they love, helps them deal with each administration. One thing that is important, the moment the medication is given and you've ensured it has been swallowed, immediately let the cat loose to do as she pleases - sometimes holding or coddling the pet will just stress them more. Let her loose, and several minutes later, try a treat, a play toy, or lay down close to her for a catnap.

I believe it is instructed to give chlorambucil on an empty stomach, but double-check with your vets about that first. Pred can be given with or without a meal. If during chemo, and Zoey does well, consider a treat of canned food during the day as a reward. Also, as mentioned before, try to get your vets to give you some doses of cerenia to give before the chlorambucil administrations, to prevent nausea and vomiting, you can talk at greater length with them about that at your appointment. And, take notes!

[Shannon's Mom]

Thank you for all that great advice. I hope I can get the pills in Zoey because I would worry exposing anyone else to the chemo. Zoey had a troubled past and is not a cuddly kitty unless she wants to be in your lap and it's certainly not for long. She is usually in the bedroom and when she sees me coming, she goes under the bed so getting her out is difficult. I am a senior citizen! Pumpkin usually takes a swipe at her and she slaps him silly and then they move on. An occasional wrestling match is the most of their relationship and shoving for their share of treats. I usually try to give her the meds before I give her food so it looks like a treat for being good. Of course, today I have a sliced open eye socket and she got her dinner anyway.

I am looking into some sort of credit plan but for now my brother is helping me get her tested. Please keep those prayers coming. I really need them. I hope I can carry this off. I asked my vet to give me some pred pills when we go Monday for the bloodwork. I will get a pill pump and see if that works better than the liquid. Zoey may be small but she is so hard to hold on to. I have to find a private place to do the meds where Pumpkin will not be able to swoop in and eat anything she spits out. The vet calls him the "blind" cat; not because there is anything wrong with his eyes, but because he had x-rays for eating a venetian blind! He is a trip!

[Traci]

One night, the SO dropped a Tylenol on the kitchen floor - I was roughly 20 feet away in another room but I heard it drop. Cody, whom you describe Pumpkin as the swooper, is also a swooper, and was sitting on the floor behind the SO when the pill dropped. A miracle maybe, but in what seemed like flashes of my life and Cody's before me, I got to that damn pill in a nano-second before Cody and the SO even realized it was on the floor. The SO got a lot of screaming and second education, as if he didn't hear it all before from me.

From that point on, the SO doesn't open pill bottles with cats in the room.

That's a good option, give Zoey's meds in another room behind a closed door.

I posted a tip for holding her while giving meds, in the health thread.

You know our prayers are always with Zoey and you!

[Shannon's Mom]

Thank you so much. I got your post. all great tips.

[Shannon's Mom]

One night, the SO dropped a Tylenol on the kitchen floor - I was roughly 20 feet away in another room but I heard it drop. Cody, whom you describe Pumpkin as the swooper, is also a swooper, and was sitting on the floor behind the SO when the pill dropped. A miracle maybe, but in what seemed like flashes of my life and Cody's before me, I got to that damn pill in a nano-second before Cody and the SO even realized it was on the floor. The SO got a lot of screaming and second education, as if he didn't hear it all before from me.

From that point on, the SO doesn't open pill bottles with cats in the room.

That's a good option, give Zoey's meds in another room behind a closed door.

I posted a tip for holding her while giving meds, in the health thread.

You know our prayers are always with Zoey and you!

Isn't it amazing they will eat anything but the darn pill?

[Traci]

Ha, yes it is, they are just like children who won't take their medicine