Kasey, my rescue tortie who I have quite a bond with, is scheduled to go the vet on Dec. 28 for a procedure to remove a cyst.
This is a cyst on the right, fore-most nipple which looks like a blister, about the size of a pea. The vet said it did not look cancerous, he drained the fluid from it with a hypo and sent it away for pathology. They confirmed it was not cancerous but could not identify it, they said there was a chance it was pre-cancerous.
After draining it, it came back in a few days, no bigger, just the same size as it was.
She is happy, acting normal, the cyst doesn’t bother her, it is mobile with the skin.
We went through quite a process of questions with the vet and did not come to this decision lightly, basically, the thought process went like this;
Want to do the right thing, dilemma;
Surgery best option; or over reaction to something that is benign?
Wait and routinely observe best option; or ignoring something that needs treatment?
1.) What would the procedure be, i.e., how complicated might it be? (Answer; not overly so)
2.) Assume general aesthetic? (Answer; yes)
3.) If general aesthetic, how much risk/issues for a 10+ year old cat? (Answer; they are confident it is a non-issue)
4.) She has problems with her back legs due to old injury, doesn’t voluntarily stretch them out to the rear, would this be a problem during surgery? (Answer; will be taken into account)
5.) How long would she stay away from home? (Answer; she goes in at 8:30, home in the afternoon)
6.) If she was under general aesthetic, could her teeth be cleaned at the same time or would that be too tough on her? (Answer; yes, no problem. this is a a good by-product of the process, she could use it)
7.) If surgery is done, best to do after the holiday season? (I am home that week, the vet office is open on the 29th and 30th, for two days after the procedure)
I asked one more question that I always ask a vet; ïf this was your cat, what would you do?”, they said they would do it.
They will do blood work before the procedure to check for any issues that might cause problems with the aesthetic.
I am not one to choose surgery lightly, as an option, all I can go on is an educated opinion and I have decided this is the right thing to do for her.
This is a cyst on the right, fore-most nipple which looks like a blister, about the size of a pea. The vet said it did not look cancerous, he drained the fluid from it with a hypo and sent it away for pathology. They confirmed it was not cancerous but could not identify it, they said there was a chance it was pre-cancerous.
After draining it, it came back in a few days, no bigger, just the same size as it was.
She is happy, acting normal, the cyst doesn’t bother her, it is mobile with the skin.
We went through quite a process of questions with the vet and did not come to this decision lightly, basically, the thought process went like this;
Want to do the right thing, dilemma;
Surgery best option; or over reaction to something that is benign?
Wait and routinely observe best option; or ignoring something that needs treatment?
1.) What would the procedure be, i.e., how complicated might it be? (Answer; not overly so)
2.) Assume general aesthetic? (Answer; yes)
3.) If general aesthetic, how much risk/issues for a 10+ year old cat? (Answer; they are confident it is a non-issue)
4.) She has problems with her back legs due to old injury, doesn’t voluntarily stretch them out to the rear, would this be a problem during surgery? (Answer; will be taken into account)
5.) How long would she stay away from home? (Answer; she goes in at 8:30, home in the afternoon)
6.) If she was under general aesthetic, could her teeth be cleaned at the same time or would that be too tough on her? (Answer; yes, no problem. this is a a good by-product of the process, she could use it)
7.) If surgery is done, best to do after the holiday season? (I am home that week, the vet office is open on the 29th and 30th, for two days after the procedure)
I asked one more question that I always ask a vet; ïf this was your cat, what would you do?”, they said they would do it.
They will do blood work before the procedure to check for any issues that might cause problems with the aesthetic.
I am not one to choose surgery lightly, as an option, all I can go on is an educated opinion and I have decided this is the right thing to do for her.
