growth in mouth under tongue

Hello! I don't post here often but I lurk. I find all your posts so informative and helpful! I believe my last post was a couple years ago when my Cammie was diagnosed with diabetes. I'm here needing help with Cammie again.

She's 11 now and doing great with her diabetes. Her annual exam was Tuesday and the vet showed my husband and I a growth under Cammie's tongue. It's about the size of an M&M and is bright red. It had a bumpy surface. I have noticed that her breath has been TERRIBLE all year but that's it. She doesn't eat any differently or seem like she's in any pain. She grooms herself fine as well (in other words, it doesn't seem to affect her ability to use her tongue). The vet did a complete blood work up on her and he will call me with results tomorrow. He gave me 1 weeks worth of antibiotics for her in case there's an infection and to help her prep for a biopsy he's gonna want to do.

He seemed to not want to say anything about what this could be but everything I've looked up online is bad and points to cancer. He also mentioned that if it's just an infected growth that's benign they would usually do cortisone but because of her diabetes they can't with her. Needless to say I'm extremely worried and not feeling very positive.

If anyone has had any experiences with this, positive or negative PLEASE share. I just want to know! Cammie is my little BFF! THANKYOU ahead of time!

I hope Cammie comes through this ok.

I don't have any experience with the growth, but I have had 2 diabetics.
I just want to say I am sending that all will be well.

Hopefully, the meds will work and it will be nothing serious. I know how worried you are, I spend most of my life worried about my kitties.

I know someone from a sphynx group that just had a similar situation with her cat. They were almost positive it was squamous cell carcinoma, but when they removed the mass and had it biopsied - no cancer!!

Vibes for the same result with your kitty's biopsy.

This was very recently, so she's still considering treatments to keep it from reoccurring, and prefers not to do steroids. Talk to your vet about Cyclosporine as an alternative to steroids. It's more expensive, but safer for diabetic cats.

Thankyou both for the well wishes! Brookesphynx you give me hope! THANKS for that! I read yesterday that 90% of the time, it IS that cancer and I have been so upset!

I scheduled her biopsy for Monday but realize now that I have to call them tomorrow with questions about her diabetes. She isn't supposed to have any food after 6:00 Sunday and I'm not sure how that's going to affect the diabetes. Farleyv did either of your diabetic cats ever get put under?

I'll be watching for updates on Cammie. And sending lots of healing vibes.

I am trying to think....Farley V may have been put under. But I don't recall if it was before or after being diagnosed.

Let us know what the vet says about it. Good info to have when you have a DC.

THANKYOU all for your thoughts! Cammie's biopsy is tomorrow. I'm dropping her off at 8:45 in the a.m. Normally they have them do no food after 6pm the previous day . . but because of her diabetes they said to give her a "snack" at 10pm. Snack is done! Still no water after midnite and nothing in the a.m., including insulin. She is laying next to me right now I better enjoy it, I'm sure she'll hate me tomorrow! I hope she does okay tomorrow, I am worried. The wait for the biopsy results is going to be torture!

My sister in law works at an animal shelter and today she told me that she sees a lot of cats with different types of oral diseases that are NOT cancer and can be treated. I'm praying that Cammie is one of the lucky ones.

for tomorrow! Please keep us posted!

Fingers crossed for today - I know how you are feeling, one of mine has a growth in his mouth, and none of the vets have been positive about it. Please let me know how she gets on with the biopsy, as so far I am reluctant to put him through an op in his mouth. REally pleased to hear about the non cancerous growths.

Cammie and I thank all of you for your positive thoughts! Yesterday went so well! When I brought her in the Dr. took another look at it and noticed that it was less inflamed than when he saw it last week. I did notice that her breath was better as well. I was worried sick about putting her under but she did GREAT! AND not only did they do the biospy, they were actually able to REMOVE the ENTIRE GROWTH! We brought her home last night and she's eating already! She's on a liquid anitbiotic and she's SO happy! I thought she would be angry at me but she's been on my lap purring every chance she gets!

The Dr. did say that usually these things are cancerous but in Cammie's case he feels "encouraged". I'm going to be on pins and needles until we get the biopsy results. I do realize that if it was cancer it will come back . . . but I'm hoping and praying.

Booktigger, does your kitty appear to be in pain? When my friends cat had it and it was cancer he was in so much pain he stopped eating.

I will let you know the results when I find out. Yikes!

this is great news so far! It sounds so similar to the story I mentioned earlier about the person I know from another forum - same thing, they were able to remove the entire growth and the cat was eating right away. I'm crossing my fingers for more great news when you get your biopsy results back!! Thanks for the update. Go Cammie!!

Am really pleased to hear this, none of the vets in my practice are positive about this, and reluctant to do a biopsy. I wonder if i should push for one, in case it isn't as bad when they knock him out. HE doesn't appear in pain, he still eats really well, just not as much in one go as he gets a food build up, but he has made it bleed 3 times in the past fortnight.

So glad to hear Cammie's procedure went well. Now the hard part, waiting for the biopsy results.

GUESS WHAT?!!!! The Dr. called this afternoon with Cammie's results . . . it was BENIGN!!!!!! She's going to be just fine!!! I can't describe how happy I am!!! He said she most likely came in contact with an irritant of some sort and it caused a polyp which lead to the growth. Weird! He said to check her mouth regularly . . it MAY grow back someday. For now, we are SOO happy! I had a conversation with her and told her I'm not ready for her to leave me yet, we have too close of a bond. She's laying next to me (as usual!) all happy and HEALTHY now. THANKYOU so much for all of your thoughts and vibes . . I was so upset when I first posted! *takes a deep breath*

Booktigger, why are they reluctant to do a biopsy? I would push for one if I were you. It will give you an idea of what you're going to have to be dealing with in the future. I'm glad he doesn't seem to be in pain!

I figured I'd let Cammie say hello! (LOL she's squinting, she was right in the sun beam.)

Oh that's terrific! So glad all is well now with Cammie!

I am really pleased to hear this. My vets are reluctant to do a biopsy as it is inoperable, so we would only be doing it to find out from a clinical point of view, it wont change his treatment - it is getting worse now unfortunately.

I'm so happy Otto!!!!

Aww, Booktigger . . . have they given you any kind of prognosis or give you any suggestions?

Unfortunately, the ab jab he got on Sat hasn't made any difference, and his mouth is bleeding more now, the vet has warned if it gets closer to his jaw bone, it will be like an oil rig effect, so I am going to let him go tonight, he looked miserable yesterday when he couldnt eat a lot (he had a choice of 4 kinds of food).

Awww OMG I'm so sorry. Poor kitty. I can't even imagine. . . . *hugs*