So my almost 6 year old neutered male cat, Hunter, has been sick for about three weeks now. It started with just diarrhea. When it did not go away, we took him to the vet and got a prescription for Metronidozol, which tasted disgusting and we could not really get him to take. After about a week, he did not improve and we got the medicine compounded into a gel, which he was more willing to take. When he still did not improve, we took him in again and had x-rays done. At that time he had a fever as well. There was nothing unusual in the x-rays, so we continued the medication and added Periactin because he was starting to eat less and less. We also gave him Fomodidine (I think?) for an upset stomach.
He then continued to not get any better. Yesterday, my husband and I came home to find that he had barely moved or eaten anything, his gums were very pale and he was dehydrated. He also had a fever. We took him to the vet yesterday and he was hospitalized.
Last night, two vets at the practice felt something like a mass in his abdomen, below the kidneys and a little smaller than one. This morning, they had two other vets in the practice check, and they both felt the same thing. They took x-rays and found what appears to be a mass in that area, below the kidneys and towards the back from where the liver is. THIS WAS NOT ON THE X-RAYS TAKEN A WEEK BEFORE! The liver also might be enlarged, but it is hard to tell from the x-ray.
Hunter has been there about 24 hours now. He is on an antibiotic drip. He continues to have diarrhea but is eating wet food and still has a fever.
He will have an ultrasound on Saturday (that is the earliest day, unfortunately). The vets think that it might be a mass and that the mass might be cancerous. In that case, we will also do an electreoforecis which would likely confirm the cancer diagnosis. For now, none of the vets can say what is wrong with him.
We are very concerned and stressed and scared. He is probably even more stressed and scared.
I would greatly appreciate any input about any of this... especially from anyone who has had such a "medical mystery" cat...
He then continued to not get any better. Yesterday, my husband and I came home to find that he had barely moved or eaten anything, his gums were very pale and he was dehydrated. He also had a fever. We took him to the vet yesterday and he was hospitalized.
Last night, two vets at the practice felt something like a mass in his abdomen, below the kidneys and a little smaller than one. This morning, they had two other vets in the practice check, and they both felt the same thing. They took x-rays and found what appears to be a mass in that area, below the kidneys and towards the back from where the liver is. THIS WAS NOT ON THE X-RAYS TAKEN A WEEK BEFORE! The liver also might be enlarged, but it is hard to tell from the x-ray.
Hunter has been there about 24 hours now. He is on an antibiotic drip. He continues to have diarrhea but is eating wet food and still has a fever.
He will have an ultrasound on Saturday (that is the earliest day, unfortunately). The vets think that it might be a mass and that the mass might be cancerous. In that case, we will also do an electreoforecis which would likely confirm the cancer diagnosis. For now, none of the vets can say what is wrong with him.
We are very concerned and stressed and scared. He is probably even more stressed and scared.
I would greatly appreciate any input about any of this... especially from anyone who has had such a "medical mystery" cat...
