My cat has cancer.

Patient: cat

Sex: male, neutered

Breed: European ginger cat

Age: 8 years

Weight: 6,6 kg

Location: Bucharest, Romania

Fed in the last 4 years: only PURINA OBESITY MANAGEMENT

Medical history: obesity, maximum weight 9,5 kg. No others events.

SYMPTOMATOLOGY

Owner observations for the last 30 days:

- decrease in appetite

- weight loss

- lack of energy

- less snuggling

 

Vet exam:

- fever 40 Celsius degrees

- ultrasound scan: abdominal mass, well defined, round shape, 7 centimeter diameter

- blood chemistry and hematology according attach: http://redclover.ro/i/ROMGERVET_Analyzes.pdf

                                                                                                    http://redclover.ro/i/VET_MEDICAL_CONSULTING_Analyzes.pdf

 

Vet recommendation: exploratory abdominal surgery performed on 19.01.2015 (4 days ago)

Surgery conclusions, according to the attached movie: 
- inoperable tumor involving all the blood supply of the small intestine

- infected ascitic fluid

- closing surgery

- 5 days antibiotic therapy

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Has anyone else been through this?  We would appreciate hearing your experience.

Thank you for your time.

Mod Note:

Just a reminder to our members that we do not give medical advice; however if you have any experience with this condition, perhaps you could share it here.

That's a pretty big tumor. Since your cat is losing weight and not eating he must not be feeling very well. The vet has told you it is not curable so there really isn't much hope for him. He will get worse. I have had cats with liver tumors and I did the best thing I could do for them and ended their suffering.

Having been there the best I can tell you is to set up a time for the vet to come to your home if possible, give a favourite meal and keep it as stress free for your fur person as possible.  You can't explain why you are doing surgery, and in the end it doesn't really fix anything, it just makes your/his last days so much harder.  Just love him a lot and let him go peacefully.

Thank you all very much for the kind thoughts! 

I've been to this site hundreds of times as a visitor, I signed up tonight to post my experience so you might see your situation from a

different point of view.  If it's black and white, decisions are easy.  With our pets, any grey at all gives us reason for hope.  Not always

a good thing for our pets.  Tears hit the desk now and it's been over two years since I caused more suffering, not less, for my baby.

My gal Kona was 7, a stray, she adopted me, she sat up high on the center armrest of my truck always looking for the next adventure. 

Our next adventure was 8 months of heart wrenching ups and downs always with the knowledge that she'll beat this thing, she has to!

The best of everything, vets, specialist, food, supplements, medications etc.  I spent hundreds of hours on medical research so I could

understand what she couldn't tell me and make the right choices for her.   Making sure she was comfortable was our main priority and

keeping her relatively pain free was an emotional and physical challenge.  Her frequent blood tests kept us up to date on the fight within.

Everything was looking good, she appeared to be pain free, happy, even fell asleep during Bi-weekly acupuncture sessions. 

Life was good, until I looked in her eyes one Saturday and saw that she was done with the fight, the flareups had returned. 

We called our vet, told him we'd be in on Monday.  He came out to my truck when we were ready and gently, peacefully put her to sleep.

If you decide to fight:

Know the subtle changes in your cats mood, look, reaction, eyes, posture etc to monitor pain.  (google "different signs of a cat in pain")

Too many cats live in pain with their owners oblivious to the fact.  Instinct tells them not to show pain, you need to "see" between the lines.

Research to find a vet that has the experience needed  AND is willing to work with you regarding PAIN MANAGEMENT.

Buprinorphine seems to be the #1 pain med for cats (side effects, toleration etc.). It's a triplicate drug, some vets don't like to put their name

on the DEA list more than X amount of times per year.  You and your cat don't need a non caring chicken s#!t vet like that at this time.   

Ask the vet before you spend any money what their policy is re. Rx for pain meds and long term pain management.  You may not always use

them but you should always have them.

Blood Tests.   Don't settle for  "oh, we'll just run a (?) test and check the results tomorrow."  Spend $100-$150 and get a full CBC. (Chem Blood Ct)

Every cat owner should try to have a CBC done when their cat is healthy.  This serves as a Benchmark to future CBCs. An invaluable diagnostic tool.

Acupuncture:  Three years ago I would have said "acupuncture for a cat, are you effing kidding me?  

                        Two years ago I saw a cat that would shred a strangers misplaced hand, have tiny needles placed with precision down her back

                         and on her head and falling asleep on the table for the next 20 minutes until the session was over.  Weeks without the need for

                         pharmaceutical pain meds and a peaceful, relaxed cat changed my view in one week.  I had Acupuncture for my back and refer

                         it to friends and family.  I hate needles and can't watch doctors giving injections.   Acupuncture works!

If it's time to let go:

There are vet services that will come to your house.  $200-$500 Some good, some not so good.  Ask which method they will be using.

Ask your vet if He/She is willing to perform the procedure in the comfort of a favorite blanket or bed in a separate quiet room without dogs barking

or better, out in your car to prevent the stress of going in, for you and your cat.  You can prearrange all this on the phone.

There are Three methods in CA commonly used.  Each method will have a general description without the names of the drugs used.

1- Vet gives direct injection of the heart stopping drug.   Most economical and sometimes not for the easily bothered. 

2- Vet applies a small catheter/IV on a leg and administer the 1st drug. This puts them to sleep slowly, peacefully. You can hold, pet and say good by.

When your pet is completely asleep (you will know, don't let them rush ), the vet usually asks if it's OK to administer the 2nd drug, this will stop the heart.

Note: There is the possibility of your pet to release bodily fluids at this time. A blanket or wrap around your pet and protection underneath is suggested.

3- Vet places your pet in a small chamber within a room.  The chamber has a "sleeping gas" pumped in and your pet slowly goes to sleep.  Vet will verify

your pet is completely asleep before injecting the heart stopping drug.  

* The "sleep" referred to in methods 1 & 2 is the same type of sleep that we have induced prior to a major surgery.  Totally out!

* Not all vets, shelters or animal hospitals have the chamber rooms, you may need to call around, but your vet should know.

You may have the choice of taking your pets body with you or having the vets office take care of those details.

Prices vary wildly on all methods. Try to get pricing ahead of time. 

Don't feel guilty, feel positive that you are honoring the trust your pet has given you.  For all the love you have received, setting them free of pain and suffering

is your last and most important gesture of your love for them. 

I'm sorry for the long post.  Just my thoughts and observations having gone thru it.  Hope it helps in some small way.

Tippy is still with me and between the vet's care and mine, he still has quality of life.  When the time comes I will do what is best for him.  I know that grief and sorrow are waiting for me down the road but until that time comes I will treasure the time that I am having with him.

 Dad2many,I want to thank you SO much for such detailed information. My almost fourteen year old has an enlarged heart and has been slowly losing weight, so I am thankful for your suggestions. I don't want my precious baby to be in a lot of pain, I want to spare him that. He is fine right now, still runs and plays with his toys, I just pray with all my heart he dies in his sleep at a ripe old age, but what are the chances? I will remember your advise on that 'chamber', my vet does have one and if I could spare Burt the terror of getting an IV I will, he is petrified of the vet's office.  It sounds like you did what you could to ease your Kona's pain, she was so lucky to have found someone like you to love her! I know the heartache of losing these sweet cats that steal our hearts, it is never easy on the heart or soul. My heart goes out to you, please accept my condolences. You can contribute a lot to this site, please share your knowledge and maybe even comfort those on Crossing the Bridge, these shattered souls need all the comfort they can get. RIP beautiful Kona, you were greatly loved and will never be forgotten!

Dear smutul, my heart goes out to you also, I'll pray that things go well, and that your precious baby does not suffer. You have done all you can and now need to love and give what comfort you can. I am crying as I post, I know the horrible pain you are going through and want you to know you are with people who understand what you are feeling and are reaching out to you with prayers and tears. Be strong in the days ahead and kiss your sweet baby for me. Take care......

Wow, that sure is a lot to process mostly the last part of what you described dad2many. I am very sorry to hear about it all and I cannot even fathom the tghought of having the courage of just imagining that moment...

Over these days I have gathered lots of useful information from various sources and I'll go and sort it out with my vet. My luck is that my boy is still eating by himself, still has an appetite and today he even played with an olive which is about the only thing he plays with, he being lazy and all.

Thank you very much again for the kind thoughts and advice u gave me. Hope for the best to you and your kitties!

When we let Min go...we did have a service come to the house and it was described as your #2.... it was as peaceful and I had hoped..and will do it again for kitty #2 when needed.

keyes said:

 
Tippy is still with me and between the vet's care and mine, he still has quality of life.  When the time comes I will do what is best for him.  I know that grief and sorrow are waiting for me down the road but until that time comes I will treasure the time that I am having with him.

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Don't let anyone else tell you when it is time for your baby to go, listen to your heart. When Cindy had cancer, she had a good quality of life for nearly two years. When the end came, we had the pain medicine and she went peacefully at home on her favorite blanket.  We took her to be cremated in a private ceremony.  When Darcy had FIP and the day we could see her good days were at an end, we called the vet. Fortunately, we have a vet who doesn't require us to make a 48 hour advance appointment (I couldn't do that). She used dad2many's described method #2. Darcy went peacefully, but it was one of the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It haunts me and will forever and I'm sobbing right now. But it was the right thing to do, I guess. We had the vet take care of having Darcy cremated. 

Definitely enjoy every minute with your Tippy.  Each day is a precious gift.