Growth under tongue

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catsandplants

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Hi!  This is the first time I've posted and I am hoping to get some input from you.  I took my 17 year old ginger cat  to the Vets yesterday because he has been unable to crunch up larger oral care dry food.  He has also lost some weight.  Under his tongue  a large growth was found and it  will be biopsied next week.  I am devastated.  He is such a sweet old guy.  His blood work was all normal and we started him on Buprenorphrine this morning in case he is having pain.  The outlook looks pretty poor but I guess the biopsy will be the final answer.  Has anyone tried any natural remedies for their cat's mouth cancer?  What has worked or not worked to help with comfort.  I'd appreciate any input.
 

stephanietx

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I'm sorry you and your kitty are going through this.  I have no experience, but will bump this up hoping someone else will come along with more info for you.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I have heard of people using natural remedies in ADDITION to chemo, but that's about all that I remember reading about.  But first things first.  Before panicking, let's wait and see what the biopsy says. 


 
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catsandplants

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Catnip had the  biopsy done and I am awaiting results.  The growth was larger than expected and the vet was unable to remove the whole thing.  Meanwhile, my cat is miserable.  He can't eat without gagging so am using a syringe a few times a day to feed him.  He is drinking water so is keeping hydrated.  On pain meds and prednisone and still has interested in walking in our woods.  I am heartbroken as I see him deteriorating but am hoping the food issues will turn around.  I have tried lots of different canned and dry foods, tuna (he likes the juice, baby food.  I've tried watering wet and dry foods but nothing can tempt him.  Any new ideas are welcome. Thanks for listening.  This is impossibly sad.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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When did he have the surgery?  How is he doing today...any better about eating?  I'd imagine it would be painful and difficult with an incision right under his tongue 
   As a matter of fact, I'm surprised he can drink, since that REALLY involves using the tongue

Are you syringe feeding him Hills A/D or some sort of nutritionally rich food?  Anytime of canned food works, but the A/D seems to work better, since it's made for that type of feeding.

that the biopsy comes back negative and he heals up with no repercussions.

 
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catsandplants

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Catnip had the surgery on Wednesday, (4 days ago).  I syringe fed him a can of Hills A/D from Friday thru Saturday night and he was drinking water on his own.  Woke up today to a lethargic cat who now avoids food and water bowls.  He looks miserable and is pretty suspicious of me so I have not  syringe fed him today.  He has had a little tuna juice but thats it.  I will try to get a little HIlls A/D in him tonight.  I'll check with the vet tomorrow (Monday) and hopefully there will be a new plan.  I don't want to give up until we know the biopsy results but things are not looking great tonight.   
 
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catsandplants

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Yes, pain meds but prednisone is hard to get down.....the solid thing makes him gag.  Pill popper works sometimes only.  He is hungry for tuna juice so gave him some last night and also 10cc of A/D via syringe.  This morning he was at his food dishes (yay!) so I gave him tuna juice again but he left anything solid in the bowl.  He did drink a little water this morning, too.  I just don't get the extreme gag reflex for anything solid.  I'll be making another call to vets soon.  Thanks for any comments and support.
 

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Yes, I'm sure eating hurts right now. I'd call the vet and ask about continuing to syringe feed A/D.
 
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catsandplants

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Home from a vet visit.  Somehow Catnip has gained a little weight since Friday.  I guess the A/D has lots of calories.  The vet could not find a specific reason for him to still be so uncomfortable so we continue on and see if it can be turned around.  He was given sub-q fluids and  I will be able to give more tomorrow if he seems dehydrated.  I'll keep enticing him with tuna juice and syringe feeding  a few times a day.  Nothing really new to try but they did give him a predinsone shot so I can stop the pills.  I have tried all types of foods and will try some mackerel next.  Any other ideas?  Right now he is outside enjoying some woodsy adventure so he felt well enough to go outside for a bit which was unlike his lethargy yesterday.  Thanks for the support.  This is really so hard.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Hopefully the Sub-q fluids will make him feel better.  Have you tried using toppers on his food.  You can even use tuna juice to top off his food, or freeze dried bonito flakes, freeze dried chicken (Wholelife brand powders up nicely)   I THINK they sell it at Petco or Petsmart in the dog section...if not, most natural pet food stores sell it.  Or have you tried parmesan cheese (yes, the stuff in the green can!) as a topper.  Or if he has any favorite treats or kibble, you could try crushing those and sprinkling them on top of watered down wet food.
 

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Do you have a food processor or blender? I used a magic bullet blender to puree other canned foods my cat preferred. Maybe some chicken puree? Cheese?
 
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catsandplants

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Thanks!  Those are both great ideas.  Catnip does not go for many treats but I have given him  freeze dried chicken before and have a pouch here to try in the blender.  It seems the solid feel of the food is the problem but maybe if I really puree his regular dry food and add tuna juice it could be tempting.  Meanwhile, he is more perky this afternoon and did better with the syringe feedings.  He did not like the Mackerel but drank tuna juice twice.  Thanks for the ideas and the care.  I'll let you know what works!
 
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catsandplants

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Catnip is eating on his own!  Yay!  Only a/d watered down but he is able to lick it up himself.  Tuna juice is still a favorite, too.  He's eaten a tiny bit of other soft cat food so we'll see how this goes.  Thanks for all the ideas and support!  Now to look into some holistic treatments to help his immune system and slow the tumor growth.  The biopsy was no surprise...squamous cell as expected.  So we will keep him comfy and try to offer physical support.  I've told my family that he gets to do whatever he wants.  Right now he is outside sitting on a rock, looking for rodents.  Doubt he could catch one but it must be entertaining.  Thanks again.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Well, so good news/bad news sort of thing.  Glad he's eating, but bad news on the squamous cell diagnosis
.  At least he's feeling like "hunting"
  That's a good sign! 

for many good days ahead
 
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catsandplants

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I wanted to let everyone know that Catnip died just before Christmas.  He had some really good weeks, lots of outdoor walks, naps by the wood stove and cuddles with us. It was almost two months between diagnosis and his death which is pretty typical with squamous cell CA of the mouth.  His last couple of days were not happy ones...I think because his pain meds were changed on a Friday and we had to wait out the weekend.  By then he was too weak and in pain to go on and we had him euthanized.  If I had to go through this again, I would not have allowed this med change. A vet taking over for my regular vet who was away made this change when we went in for an emergency visit for a mouth infection.  Not sure why she thought she knew better but I will always regret this and Catnip's discomfort.  My lovely vet was back working when we took him for the last visit and she was so sympathetic and sweet.  What a tremendous job she did with us and him.  

I want to thank all of you who responded when I was in such shock with his diagnosis.  You are a lovely group and offered such care and suggestions.  My best to you all.
 

scarlett 001

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So sorry. I know all too well what you are going through. I adopted a senior cat in 2005, and after 4 years with me I lost him to oral cancer (in the soft palate). I had nearly 3 months from diagnosis until I had to let him go. I got in some amazing quality time for him and with him, but it was a heartwrenching experience. So sorry for your loss.
 
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