20 y/o female cat sick with cancer?

jjohn5

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Hi everyone,

My 20 year old cat, Chloe, has recently been feeling under the weather. Last month for about two weeks, Chloe became lethargic, lost weight and started sneezing/gagging when trying to eat wet food. The vet put her on antibiotics, and anti-hairball medicine and Chloe instantly got better! She was energetic, playful, and most importantly, healthy! Recently, her illness has struck again, this time with more force. For the past three weeks Chloe has been sleeping, losing weight, and has even stopped meowing (something we never thought would happen). My daughter and I have taken her back and forth to the vet multiple times and they have run many tests on her. They tested her for leukemia which came back negative, although her white blood cell count has been elevated from 51 to 59. X-rays of her body show no signs of cancer or other problems in her organs. She has also lost 4lbs in 6 months. Since her upper respiratory problems have yet to cease, the vet thinks she may have a tumor in her nose or brain, or is suffering from bone marrow cancer. Chloe, the cute little rascal that she is, won't stay still to have her head x-rayed so the only way we'd be able to tell if she has a definite problem up there is if we put her under for the tests to be done. We are concerned with putting her under due to her old age. She still cleans herself, drinks water, purrs when we pet her, and eats small amounts of food at a time. We are wondering if anyone else has experienced these symptoms in their cat as well, and if they have any advice. Thank you!

Chloe's loving parents,

Jenn and Patty

Chloe's symptoms:

-Lethargic

-Increased weight-loss

-Very high white blood cell count

-Coughing/Wheezing

-Gagging when eating

-Sneezing clear discharge, or sometimes blood

-Occasional vomitting
 

catpack

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So, antibiotics the first time around helped, though only temporary? What antibiotic was used? Has a second round of antibiotics been tried? Is Chloe indoor or indoor/outdoor?

I haven't dealt with anything like this, but will talk thru what I'd do.

I know *some* blood work has been done, what exactly? Just thinking in terms of having her sedated...
I'd want a full CBC/Chem, a T4, Free T4 (this checks thyroid), and an SDMA done (checks kidney function, detects if there is 30% or more loss of function...regular bw doesn't do this.) I'd also want to check her heart.

So, I'd likely do a Pro BNP with CBC/Chem (this is test also includes the SDMA.) I'd also send out a thyroid test.

You could try another around of antibiotics, but do a longer duration (she's old, so her body won't respond as quickly if this is "just" infection.)

Another option would be to try a steroid to see if this helps with inflammation. I downside to a steroid is if it is upper respiratory related, the steroid can make it worse.

If you opt for sedation, I'd be very specific in what anesthesia is used. I wouldn't allow the clinic to "box her down" (this is where the cat is placed inside a plexiglass-type box and gas anesthetic is deliver via a tube attached to the box. Anesthesia annoy be controlled very well this way.)

You might consider getting a second opinion.

I'm not sure how much can be told from an x-Ray. Wondering if it might be better to see a specialist that can guide you better?
 

cleopatras mom

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I just want to add my support in this situation, as I cannot contribute much.. Is there anyway that the vets can hold her body down while they take an x-ray of her head? I know it can be extremely difficult, but I bet it can be done! High amounts of white blood cells can be due to basically anything, including cancer.

I would have suggested digestion issues like IBD, however high counts of white blood cells signify something else.
 
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