Our 14 year old domestic short hair has had a hard time this winter. We took him in because of sneezing and coughing when eating, and his third lid was up on one eye. Vet said he needed teeth cleaning (we had this done once a few years ago) and suspected an abscess causing a huge hole in the roof of his mouth. She said she could try to repair when he was under for teeth cleaning. Well, we had the cleaning, she tried to repair (really wish we hadn't had this done) and the repair failed, leaving larger hole in roof of mouth. This hole is getting bigger (we monitor) and now I suspect a mass growing there. I know if we take to the vet she'll want to biopsy. Is that a reasonable procedure to have done? reading about oral masses in cats it doesn't sound good. I guess I wonder what kind of pain he's facing, what kind of terrible decline we can expect, how to know when this should be over? I don't feel hopeful.
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Cat with hole in hard palate, oral tumor?
- Thread starter lnzsmith
- Start Date
I think I would seek the advice of a specialist. Perhaps a dental specialist since the area of concern is in his mouth.
Maybe talk with your vet and see if there is such a specialist in your area. They're more common than you would think.
As for the biopsy...
In order to get a definitive diagnosis, it may be necessary. But, you can certainly weigh the pros/cons with that.
If it is oral cancer, my experience (not personal, but with 2 friends, so not sure if this happens with most cases or not) is that it can progress rapidly. It can get into the bones of the jaw, causing the bone to break. This is painful.
How is your cat's appetite and weight? Is he aspirating any food?
I guess my biggest concern would be food getting into the open wound and causing a secondary infection.
Is kitty on any antibiotics? What is the opinion of your current vet?
Maybe talk with your vet and see if there is such a specialist in your area. They're more common than you would think.
As for the biopsy...
In order to get a definitive diagnosis, it may be necessary. But, you can certainly weigh the pros/cons with that.
If it is oral cancer, my experience (not personal, but with 2 friends, so not sure if this happens with most cases or not) is that it can progress rapidly. It can get into the bones of the jaw, causing the bone to break. This is painful.
How is your cat's appetite and weight? Is he aspirating any food?
I guess my biggest concern would be food getting into the open wound and causing a secondary infection.
Is kitty on any antibiotics? What is the opinion of your current vet?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Kitty was on injected antibiotics after surgical procedure, then a round of Clavamox, and we have a second round to give him but haven't yet (it upsets his stomach, and since he's a touchy eater, it seems like a d-d if we do, d-d if we don't situation). He is eating, lively, purring and cuddly, does not seem to be in pain. He has never eaten very well though (a rescue kitty with food issues), and he seems to be eating a little less the last few days, which is why I started to worry about progression. There is a vet school in our town and no doubt a dental specialist. I guess we could seek a consult with them. A biopsy seems to be a needless procedure in the case of cancer, which I've read is almost incurable, and so why put him through the pain and fear? He doesn't aspirate food because he very actively coughs and whuffs out food I think after he eats. Vet gave us saline to flush area with but it didn't seem to have much effect. I don't know, it all seems so sad.
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here's a link for board-certified vet dentists just in case
http://www.avdc-dms.org/dms/list/diplomates-map.cfm
you might to get in touch with @puck
http://www.avdc-dms.org/dms/list/diplomates-map.cfm
you might to get in touch with @puck
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Responded to your PM LnzSmith. I just want to re-emphasize while deciding/waiting, your kitty may not "act" painful, such as wincing or vocalizing, but the bone and tissue loss is a source of not only inflammatory pain, but neuropathic pain. As mentioned in our messaging, doses of oral buprenorphine liquid, usually pre-drawn by your vet into small, 1mL syringes, to give on the oral mucosa, is highly recommended.
Gabapentin, also, to help with neuropathic pain. Depending on the nerves/anatomy involved, a wide range dose is used with gabapentin, so if he still seems reluctant to use his mouth or has diminished appetite, your vet can give a range to work within to effectively treat his pain. Typically, a compounded suspension or liquid of this is ordered from a compounding pharmacy, with flavor added, to mask the bitterness. A 50mg/mL or 100mg/mL suspension is what I usually request the pharmacist to make, so it's not so low a concentration you're having to get a volume greater than 1.5mL down your cat, especially considering he is at risk for aspiration.
I hope your lil boy is comfy, and you have enough information now to help you make a decision. He's very fortunate to have someone looking out for him! Good Luck, Becky
Gabapentin, also, to help with neuropathic pain. Depending on the nerves/anatomy involved, a wide range dose is used with gabapentin, so if he still seems reluctant to use his mouth or has diminished appetite, your vet can give a range to work within to effectively treat his pain. Typically, a compounded suspension or liquid of this is ordered from a compounding pharmacy, with flavor added, to mask the bitterness. A 50mg/mL or 100mg/mL suspension is what I usually request the pharmacist to make, so it's not so low a concentration you're having to get a volume greater than 1.5mL down your cat, especially considering he is at risk for aspiration.
I hope your lil boy is comfy, and you have enough information now to help you make a decision. He's very fortunate to have someone looking out for him! Good Luck, Becky
