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Abscess or cancer? Please help, vibes to Sam!  

post #1 of 14
6/3/10 at 5:42pm
Thread Starter 
Well, today has been a hard one for us...just got back from the vet with Sam and the news is not good. The vet felt behind his ear today and said she felt something hard, which was not there last week. She said is either an abscess or a cancer. It's not very big and it doesn't feel too hard to me, and he isn't in any apparent pain (just tired), so we're not giving up yet.

They tried to look in the ear with him sedated, but then when they put the otoscope in they said he started bleeding like crazy. With this happening, they decided not to do any needle aspiration or anything, with the risk it could carry. Changed treatment over to a combination of Convenia (via shot, lasts 2wks) and Zeniquin (1/day).

Anyone have any suggestions about what we can do, or experiences they could share?

What treatments are there for either of these things if this doesn't work?
Could a second opinion do any good?

For more background, see older post here: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=216622

Vibes and advice greatly appreciated
post #2 of 14
6/3/10 at 6:12pm
I can't offer advice, but I am sending prayers your way. Hugs to you and your cat. I am sorry you are experiencing this and I hope the vet can find a solution.
post #3 of 14
6/4/10 at 9:42am
If you feel the need, there is never anything wrong with going for a second opinion. You never know exactly what the vet has experienced along his/her way.

I love my vet of 18+ years and several furbabies, but eventually when an MRI was suggested for one of my baby because they couldn't find what was wrong with her, I decided a second opinion was needed first. The second vet, diagnosed her problem while in the office on her very first visit, but needed to be confirmed with a endoscopy. That's $300 opposed to $1500. and he was correct with the diagnosis not to mention, the MRI would not have shown the problem.

So you never know.

Vibes and only good thoughts and wishes being sent your way. Keep us updated.
post #4 of 14
6/4/10 at 10:08am
I can't offer much advice, only sympathy, as I'm undergoing ear infection with my Dusty. She was at the vet yesterday. Both her ear canals are swollen shut and inflamed. Vet ordered new drops and Prednisone for a week with a re-check. Poor girl has lost hearing as her meow is so much louder than normal. I can just tell she isn't feeling well. She also has CRF and only weighs 6.3 lbs.

I hope Sam gets better quickly. You just feel so helpless when your babies are sick.
post #5 of 14
6/5/10 at 9:18pm
Thread Starter 
Sam was holding steady until this afternoon, when he started act off balance and fell from the coffee table. Worry is that this is a sign of spreading problem to inner ear, not what we want! Don't know what else to do other than continue as I am and call the vet on Monday and perhaps seek a second opinion just in case. He ate like a champ yesterday, but today the appetite is less, so I'm thinking I'm going to have to give the appetite stimulant soon.

This is so hard for me! I keep trying so hard and I love him so much, but it doesn't seem to help.

Any ideas on how to tell the difference between an abscess and cancer?

The vet didn't want to do a needle aspiration because of the profuse bleeding on Thursday...is there another way to tell (e.g. would ultrasound or xray do good, MRI is too expenseive), or is that the only way? Or might this not be a problem if the aspiration is done in a different place/angle?

Anybody have experience about recovery from surgery if it's needed to remove a tumor behind the ear?

I'm trying to hold it together here and be strong, but it's just so painful. He's not suffering, but he is struggling a bit, so I'm in a state of limbo...too soon to put him down as he might recover, but things aren't looking good either with this balance issue. Any advice or vibes will truly help, thanks all...
post #6 of 14
6/6/10 at 1:02am
Don't have any advise but I will send lots of and your way that your precious furbaby will get better.
post #7 of 14
6/6/10 at 3:31am
I have had a couple of cats with Dizzy Kitty Syndrome. The balance goes haywire when something in the inner ear if affected.

I can sympathize with you being so concerned. I m the same way. I think we all are.

Just get through today and tomorrow call your vet. I also think a second op might be good. Even just to clarify. At least you will have a bit more peace of mind.

Prayers for you and Sam. I had a Sam once too.
post #8 of 14
6/6/10 at 9:57am
I would take the cat to the vet tomorrow. Mine got over the problem of falling through a regimen of steroids and omoxicillin for the ear infection. He was up in a week or so and within a month he was back to zooming around. Does your cat have any head tilt or do you notice any difference in his left eye? Good luck.
post #9 of 14
6/6/10 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
Thankfully no head tilt, but the eye on the affected side was the first thing that tipped us off to a problem way back as it did not blink. Thankfully his balance is holding steady at the level it was at yesterday...diminished but not terrible. He can still walk up the stairs on his own, although I am just inches behind him in case he needs me! He seems perturbed, but not in pain.

My biggest fear is that it is a cancer that is expanding and now beginning to affect the inner ear. But does cancer grow that fast? It would make more sense to me that inflammation from infection could swell that quickly instead...will be asking about this on Monday, I'm sure.

Wish I knew of a way I could tell an abscess from a cancer...the site is warmer than the rest of him, do you think that's indicative of immune response to infection?

Inner ear experienced people - Does this imbalance stay as long as there is an inner ear problem? Or will he adjust to it in a day or two and be more steady even if this mass is still there? He's already on antibiotics...

Oh geez, the questions could go on forever! Thanks for the vibes and advice all, will let you know when I find out anything.
post #10 of 14
6/6/10 at 12:27pm
for a quick, specific diagnosis and treatment.
post #11 of 14
6/6/10 at 6:01pm
I work in a surgical office and with people when the area is warm to the touch it generally means there's an infection going on.

Sending more good vibes your way....
post #12 of 14
6/6/10 at 6:07pm
I would go for the second opinion. An abscess has to be OPENED to heal, so it makes no sense to me that your vet said it is either/or. An abscess is pretty obvious what it is, I would think. Or perhaps I misunderstood something, and the lump was opened?

I'm sorry you and Sam are going through this and hope and pray it is not anything too serious. Some cancers do grow very fast, but let's hope for the best that it is not.

Sam
post #13 of 14
5/3/11 at 1:10am
Thread Starter 
For anyone who might find this thread when looking for guidance, I wanted to update that I lost Sam a few months after this post despite struggling to bring him back to health with tons of vet visits, syringe feeding, etc. Did several procedures to drain and clear the abscess, but it kept reforming again and again. Still don't know for sure what the issue was, but the vet guessed it was probably a very rare cancer. That said, it seems theoretically possible that it was an extreme infection that didn't respond to the meds.

For anyone whose cat might be experiencing the same symptoms:

At the first sign that the problem has recurred and isn't just a routine ear infection, I would recommend sedation and complete flush of the ear canal with either saline or if more advanced/seemingly resistant, with a TrizEDTA solution as someone recommended to me. There was also a 2 week long lasting gel type medicine that the vet has custom made and put in the ear (also contained TrizEDTA) that might have been a good first choice in initial treatment if I had the choice early enough.

Best of luck to all of you, may all your kitties be healthy Hap-E-Cats and thanks to the board for all of the support during my difficult time.
post #14 of 14
5/3/11 at 1:23am
I'm so sorry for your loss Maybe when your ready you can put Sam in the Bridge?

Until then i'll close this thread now, but thanks for passing on your advice for others who may be in this situation one day

SAM
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