Looking for Answers

elishiva

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It's 12:30am as I am typing this. My cat of 16 years is sitting next to me having trouble breathing. I hear him struggling for breath... on occaision he will open his mouth and gasp. Doctor has diagnosed him with cancer in his nasal cavity. Nothing can be done at his age ... not that will really help him to add any years. He has a great appetite, his lab work is also exceptional for a cat his age. He uses the box often. Drinks lots of water and still plays with our new kitten but he has blood constantly dripping from his nose, that's the cancer. It coagulates in there and blocks him up. I try to keep it clean. Tried an asperator with saline solution. He HATES that and I'm not sure if forcing him to endure the treatment is the answer... but I try. We have him on anti inflamatories which causes stomach upset so he is also on a pepcid to help that. I have used a warm wet washcloth which he tolerates for a few minutes but then is done with the whole thing. He is going to die and this I can't help but I am trying so hard to give him a comfortable end. So I wait for the inevitable. The vet said he's okay now but when he goes down hill, it will be very fast.

I was there the day he was born behind my roommate's television. Him with 3 other brothers and a sister. He was the runt. We have been through boyfriends, marriage and midlife crisis. He's curled up next to me when I was sick only to leave to eat a little and use the kitty box but always there till I felt better. He looks up at me with the most beautiful blue eyes and I see the love he has for me.

It kills me to not be able to do anything to help ease his discomfort, so I'm coming here... to you guys to ask you to please give me any and all ideas to help him breath easier till he gets worse.

Thank you.
 

batiste

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Im going through a very similar situation. Im laying in bed with my cat, who can barely breathe, has his eye membrane covering half of his eye... all due to small cell lymphoma of nasal/orbital region. Pain meds will help your cat. If you have the financial resources the type of cancer you describe, if isolated small cell, responds (typically) well to radiation. Im not sure how far along he is. Uggh... my cat is grasping for air now... Im not sure what Im going to do either. Pain meds, and perhaps the steroid/leukeran one-two punch may help your cat. The nose bleeding sounds scary. Truly, my heart goes out to you.
 
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elishiva

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Thank you. He actually is not in pain. Believe it or not...Just the blood clogging his sinuses. My vet recommended not putting him through the chemo. Not at his age. It's do hard to watch or babies go through this. :-( Blessings to you.
 
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stephenq

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My vet... not my very
The difficult thing is to evaluate his comfort or lack there of and decide when his discomfort has brought him to the point where you need to let him go.  I'm very sorry you are dealing with this.  As to his breathing, I would contact your vet.
 
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elishiva

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It's a tough call StephenQ...

He has a healthy appetite, he plays with the kitten, he cuddles and purrs and acts like he always has but he has the blood dripping from his nose and hardening in his nostrils. This blocks his breathing. I know that is annoying for him like having a stuffy nose but I'm not sure it warrents putting him down yet.

I have taken him to the vet... they were the ones who gave us the anti inflamitories and the pepcid.
They suggested the saline spray and aspirator and warm wet washcloth. I get a shrug when I ask how to help his breathing. The medication that worked in helping his congestion, makes his stomach hurt and he vomits several times before he stops just from one pill.

I'm just looking for ideas to help with the clogged nostrils. A friend at worked recommended taking him into a bathroom where the hot shower has been going to get some mist up there. I know it clears out my sinuses when I have a stuffy nose.

But the vet is not an option... they are waiting for him to deteriorate.
She feels he is living just for me. But when the cancer takes over, "it will go fast".

So anyone else have any ideas on helping him with his stuffy nose???

Something I can feed him or rub on him ... I'm looking for anything.
 

stephenq

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You can try pediatric Basel spray, saline non medicated. One brand is called Little Noses. The shower idea can be helpful too.
 

grumpy150

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First, I am so sorry your boy is going through such a rough time... Second, have you considered seeing a holistic vet for some ideas ? I know there are some natural extracts that can be humidified with a household humidifier that help kittens with breathing issues due to colds and it's non traumatic to vaporize. I don't know if it would be safe for his cancer though. Your a good friend to stay up with him and try to help him feel better... Best of luck ! 
 
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elishiva

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My reiki person passed away a few weeks ago. She is the only holistic person I know around me but I'm going to look around. Thank you.
 
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elishiva

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Thank you StephenQ... I have tried Ocean drops. He HATED that but I'm still going to do it.
 
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