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- Sep 26, 2006
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We got the results back from the tissue sample that was removed from Plushy during surgery. It turns out Plushy had adenocarcinoma. I guess it's a pretty rare form of cancer that affects older cats. The prognosis is usually poor and cats rarely live over a year with it. Surgery is recommended to remove it, but it has a high rate of metastasis.
The vet also said that sometimes (like in Plushy's case) the inflamed tissue can calcify and therefore the intestines can't stretch properly to let things pass. He said that in Plushy's case, the blockage was in that sphincter that is between the small and large intestine that stops the material from going back into the small intestine. He had said the other day that the blockage seemed oddly far down. Usually they catch them in the small intestine b/c that's when symptoms present. He thinks the material he ate would have passed (since it was already so far down) but that it didn't b/c the calcification didn't allow the intestines to stretch enough. Also, he said that cats with gastrointestinal upset will often eat inedible items like plastic, so the plastic eating that we observed before symptoms occurred might have actually been an early symptom of the cancer. Hard to say though.
Looking back, all of his symptoms line up with the diagnosis. I was also informed that the cancer was in his lymph nodes, so even if the surgery had been successful, he would have had a very short time with us-- which means we probably would have ended up putting him down: A choice I have been dreading with any of my animals. I guess Plushy knew it was his time to go and didn't make me make the difficult decision.
As sad of a diagnosis as this is, I almost feel better knowing that this wasn't something we could have prevented. It makes me feel better knowing that he isn't suffering. I miss my baby.
I hope this information will help others that may (god forbid) see the same symptoms. From the time I spent with him, I believe that Plushy was still overall a happy kitty up until the last few days of his life when he took a turn for the worst. We love and miss you Plushy!!
The vet also said that sometimes (like in Plushy's case) the inflamed tissue can calcify and therefore the intestines can't stretch properly to let things pass. He said that in Plushy's case, the blockage was in that sphincter that is between the small and large intestine that stops the material from going back into the small intestine. He had said the other day that the blockage seemed oddly far down. Usually they catch them in the small intestine b/c that's when symptoms present. He thinks the material he ate would have passed (since it was already so far down) but that it didn't b/c the calcification didn't allow the intestines to stretch enough. Also, he said that cats with gastrointestinal upset will often eat inedible items like plastic, so the plastic eating that we observed before symptoms occurred might have actually been an early symptom of the cancer. Hard to say though.
Looking back, all of his symptoms line up with the diagnosis. I was also informed that the cancer was in his lymph nodes, so even if the surgery had been successful, he would have had a very short time with us-- which means we probably would have ended up putting him down: A choice I have been dreading with any of my animals. I guess Plushy knew it was his time to go and didn't make me make the difficult decision.
As sad of a diagnosis as this is, I almost feel better knowing that this wasn't something we could have prevented. It makes me feel better knowing that he isn't suffering. I miss my baby.
I hope this information will help others that may (god forbid) see the same symptoms. From the time I spent with him, I believe that Plushy was still overall a happy kitty up until the last few days of his life when he took a turn for the worst. We love and miss you Plushy!!
