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- Jun 1, 2014
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This is my first time posting here (or any cat forum) but I'm starting to get desperate.
I've had my three-year-old DSH (George) for about eight months now. When I adopted him from the shelter, he had two swollen lymph nodes in his jaw. Tests came back "Moderate Pyogranulomatous Lymphadenitis" (vet notes at the bottom), so he was getting antibiotics. After two rounds, there was no significant improvement or change, so the vet discontinued the meds and told me to keep an eye on them for any changes. Around the same time, he was having breathing issues where he was easily winded, harsh breathing and wheezing, etc. There was one occasion of a loud, dry hacking cough out of the blue. The vet wasn't able to determine much from a brief exam. She told me to bring him back if it continued or got worse for chest xrays.
It never got better or worse for a few months, and there were two more occasions (spread out) of the dry hacking cough. In the past month, I've noticed he's breathing through his mouth more nearly 85% of the time. A few weeks ago, the vet looked at him again. She noted that the swollen lymph nodes had gone away. During the exam, she tried to get xrays, but they didn't give her much information because he was very difficult to restrain long enough for a clear image. She then tried to pull blood which he fought tooth and nail, so she was only able to get enough for minimal blood panel and heartworm test. Tests came back normal.
The vet isn't too concerned at the moment and can't really justify stressing him out with more tests. I'm not really able to afford extensive vet care unless it's needed. She recommends the next step would be to sedate him to get a full blood panel and more xrays. I can't really justify the added expense and stress for George unless it's needed.
The past few days I've noticed a change in George's meow. It doesn't really sound hoarse, but it's not high-pitched. I think it sounds like he's straining a bit to get the noise out...? I'm not really sure how to describe it, but it's definitely different!
Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid, as I tend to be when it comes to my cats' health. Any ideas on what may be going on with him?
I don't know if this information is useful at all... The family that surrendered him to the shelter had him for ten months and adopted him from a different shelter in the area. He was two years old when he was neutered (by the clinic staff of the shelter where I got him) so I'm guessing he spent the first two years of his life as an outdoor tom cat.
And I don't know if the previous owners or the shelter where they got him noticed any health issues.
Thanks for any advice!
Vet notes about lymph nodes:
I've had my three-year-old DSH (George) for about eight months now. When I adopted him from the shelter, he had two swollen lymph nodes in his jaw. Tests came back "Moderate Pyogranulomatous Lymphadenitis" (vet notes at the bottom), so he was getting antibiotics. After two rounds, there was no significant improvement or change, so the vet discontinued the meds and told me to keep an eye on them for any changes. Around the same time, he was having breathing issues where he was easily winded, harsh breathing and wheezing, etc. There was one occasion of a loud, dry hacking cough out of the blue. The vet wasn't able to determine much from a brief exam. She told me to bring him back if it continued or got worse for chest xrays.
It never got better or worse for a few months, and there were two more occasions (spread out) of the dry hacking cough. In the past month, I've noticed he's breathing through his mouth more nearly 85% of the time. A few weeks ago, the vet looked at him again. She noted that the swollen lymph nodes had gone away. During the exam, she tried to get xrays, but they didn't give her much information because he was very difficult to restrain long enough for a clear image. She then tried to pull blood which he fought tooth and nail, so she was only able to get enough for minimal blood panel and heartworm test. Tests came back normal.
The vet isn't too concerned at the moment and can't really justify stressing him out with more tests. I'm not really able to afford extensive vet care unless it's needed. She recommends the next step would be to sedate him to get a full blood panel and more xrays. I can't really justify the added expense and stress for George unless it's needed.
The past few days I've noticed a change in George's meow. It doesn't really sound hoarse, but it's not high-pitched. I think it sounds like he's straining a bit to get the noise out...? I'm not really sure how to describe it, but it's definitely different!
Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid, as I tend to be when it comes to my cats' health. Any ideas on what may be going on with him?
I don't know if this information is useful at all... The family that surrendered him to the shelter had him for ten months and adopted him from a different shelter in the area. He was two years old when he was neutered (by the clinic staff of the shelter where I got him) so I'm guessing he spent the first two years of his life as an outdoor tom cat.
And I don't know if the previous owners or the shelter where they got him noticed any health issues.
Thanks for any advice!
Vet notes about lymph nodes:
| The sample is moderately cellular and slightly bloody. There is a predominance of small mature lymphocytes with occasional mature plasma cells and rare larger lymphoid cells. There are also a moderate number of epithelioid macrophages along with a lower number of nondegenerate neutrophils indicating inflammation. No bacteria or other microorganisms are found. No neoplastic cells are identified either. These findings are consistent with an inflamed lymph node. An area of mixed inflammation that is predominantly granulomatous in tissue adjacent to lymph node is not ruled out. Recommend evaluation for a site of inflammation or infection in the area drained by this lymph node (head, neck, face, and oral cavity). Rx Clavamox 1.5mL PO BIDx7d |
