***REALLY*** need some help with my cats health!!

I have a 12 year old fixed, male Persian. To make a long story short, I will run through what has been going on in the last year. Last year I noticed a fast large lump growing on his chest/leg area. Took him into the vet, and they recommended a specialist. So I took him to the specialist, and they suggested an MRI, etc. and surgery.

The lump was removed and the biopsy indicated that the mass was undifferentiated. Basically they did not know what it was, it was not malignant according to what they indicated. The vet pushed very hard chemo/rad, which I refused, really no point, at that point - maybe buying a year.

The lump has not returned to this day.

Fast forward a few months and I noticed that my cat was really scratching his ear, so much that it was scabbed. Took him into a different vet (regular) and they noticed that his ears were a little dirty. So they cleaned them out. About 1.5 weeks later I noticed that his lymph nodes were becoming enlarged. So I took him back and they did an aspirate. They also noticed that a couple of his teeth were rotted. Had the teeth removed. Eventually the lab results showed no cancer, just inflammation. The vet prescribed antibiotics (clavamox/clindamycin), and it seemed to work a little, but after about a week, I noticed that they were getting bigger.

Took him into the specialist, and they once again did ANOTHER aspirate, and prescribed a steroid for the inflammation, and more clindamycin. They once again pushed chemo/rad even though they did not know what it was. Set up an appt. for an IM vet and went to the appt. Results showed no cancer, just inflammation. Once again pushed chemo/rad. Lymph nodes seemed to shrink with second dose of antibiotics.

Here recently they came back - about 3 months ago. Found a completely different vet, and explained everything. She is actually very good, and after she read the specialist reports indicated that it seems they had no idea what was going on.

Had ANOTHER aspirate done, including full blood panel, fungal test, SNAP viral test. Everything came back clean. She prescribed marbofloxacin which really cleared up the size of the lymph nodes and what now appeared (and perhaps was always evident - just didn't know) to be swollen salivary glands. Around the same time my cat developed a crusty, pimple type of things on his back - area he was unable to scratch at, so I don't think it was self induced. Vet prescribed a special shampoo which has taken the problem away. Secondary infection?

So he finished the marbofloxacin about 1.5 months ago and everything was back to normal. Here within the past 2 weeks, especially within the last week, his salivary glands, and I assume lymph nodes have literally blown up, massive. When I saw the vet last week she said perhaps it was a bacterial infection in the inner ear, or head? She prescribed another round of marbofloxacin, higher dose, and longer application period. I am now about 6 days into giving it to him, I have not seen much change in the inflammation and size of the glands, though I don't remember how long it took to clear things up last time. Will probably give it a few more days before becoming concerned.

He eats fine, and plays, just concerned that this could lead to breathing problems? The vet literally has no idea what is going on. Can ANYONE suggest something to look at??? I don't mind communicating thoughts and suggestions, and she is very welcome with receiving them. Every test that has come back said he was fine and in good health, yet his salivary glands and lymph nodes are extremely inflamed. She checked for salivary mucoceles under his tongue and did not see anything. I don't even know where to go from here. This whole experience has not been cheap, and yet I feel somewhat compelled to help my little buddy out... I just hate throwing good money down a hole, without getting any type of answer...

Thanks.

I'm sorry I don't have experience with this issue. But I am sending prayers for your little one.

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cancer/c_ct_lymphadenopathy

Pet MD is helpful as a starting point and based on researching what they say and checking out the conditions mentioned, you might get some clues that hadn't been taken into consideration with your kitty.

What I have found to be helpful is for a specialist vet cytology lab to read the blood test results. That can get expensive but you could ask your vet to send some samples of the blood to a specialty vet cytology lab. They would look at the make up of the cells and have the expertise to notice subtle differences that a vet generalist just might not have. 

I have a 12 year old fixed, male Persian. To make a long story short, I will run through what has been going on in the last year. Last year I noticed a fast large lump growing on his chest/leg area. Took him into the vet, and they recommended a specialist. So I took him to the specialist, and they suggested an MRI, etc. and surgery.

The lump was removed and the biopsy indicated that the mass was undifferentiated. Basically they did not know what it was, it was not malignant according to what they indicated. The vet pushed very hard chemo/rad, which I refused, really no point, at that point - maybe buying a year.

The lump has not returned to this day.

Fast forward a few months and I noticed that my cat was really scratching his ear, so much that it was scabbed. Took him into a different vet (regular) and they noticed that his ears were a little dirty. So they cleaned them out. About 1.5 weeks later I noticed that his lymph nodes were becoming enlarged. So I took him back and they did an aspirate. They also noticed that a couple of his teeth were rotted. Had the teeth removed. Eventually the lab results showed no cancer, just inflammation. The vet prescribed antibiotics (clavamox/clindamycin), and it seemed to work a little, but after about a week, I noticed that they were getting bigger.

Took him into the specialist, and they once again did ANOTHER aspirate, and prescribed a steroid for the inflammation, and more clindamycin. They once again pushed chemo/rad even though they did not know what it was. Set up an appt. for an IM vet and went to the appt. Results showed no cancer, just inflammation. Once again pushed chemo/rad. Lymph nodes seemed to shrink with second dose of antibiotics.

Here recently they came back - about 3 months ago. Found a completely different vet, and explained everything. She is actually very good, and after she read the specialist reports indicated that it seems they had no idea what was going on.

Had ANOTHER aspirate done, including full blood panel, fungal test, SNAP viral test. Everything came back clean. She prescribed marbofloxacin which really cleared up the size of the lymph nodes and what now appeared (and perhaps was always evident - just didn't know) to be swollen salivary glands. Around the same time my cat developed a crusty, pimple type of things on his back - area he was unable to scratch at, so I don't think it was self induced. Vet prescribed a special shampoo which has taken the problem away. Secondary infection?

So he finished the marbofloxacin about 1.5 months ago and everything was back to normal. Here within the past 2 weeks, especially within the last week, his salivary glands, and I assume lymph nodes have literally blown up, massive. When I saw the vet last week she said perhaps it was a bacterial infection in the inner ear, or head? She prescribed another round of marbofloxacin, higher dose, and longer application period. I am now about 6 days into giving it to him, I have not seen much change in the inflammation and size of the glands, though I don't remember how long it took to clear things up last time. Will probably give it a few more days before becoming concerned.

He eats fine, and plays, just concerned that this could lead to breathing problems? The vet literally has no idea what is going on. Can ANYONE suggest something to look at??? I don't mind communicating thoughts and suggestions, and she is very welcome with receiving them. Every test that has come back said he was fine and in good health, yet his salivary glands and lymph nodes are extremely inflamed. She checked for salivary mucoceles under his tongue and did not see anything. I don't even know where to go from here. This whole experience has not been cheap, and yet I feel somewhat compelled to help my little buddy out... I just hate throwing good money down a hole, without getting any type of answer...

Thanks.

I am a human specialist physician in internal medicine, not a vet and any advice that I give about a cat should be checked with your vet.

Lymph node enlargement can be due to an infection or a malignancy. If the former, then the nodes are usually tender and may be associated with a rise in temperature. (However I understand that tenderness may not be a feature in cats.)

If due to a malignancy, then the lymph nodes are usually hard and do not come and go as you have described.

From your history, it appears therefore that the lymph node enlargement is most likely due to due infection of the salivary gland(?s) with secondary involvement of the lymph nodes.

I have a few questions:

Are the lymph nodes enlarged on both sides?  Or just one side?

What do they feel like?

Does the cat have a temperature?

Is there any tooth infection? If so, then this could have spread to the salivary gland(s).

If infection is the cause, as is likely, then the organism involved may not be sensitive to the antibiotic. A culture of the salivary gland for organisms and sensitivity   would be indicated

I cannot believe that the infection could be from the inner ear without vertigo or unsteadiness being present and any infection from the head would be likely to be easily recognised - so we are back to infection of the mouth and/or salivary glands being the likely cause.

With kind regards,

Geoffrey  

Thanks. I do not know if he has a temp, will have to get a rectal thermometer. However, the side of his head where the inflammation is located does feel above normal - very warm.

Lymph nodes are both swollen but the predominate side is his left side - they seem much bigger. In addition it seems that although the salivary glands are swollen on both sides, the left side seems more pronounced as well.

The glands and salivary glands feel squishy, not hard. I checked this morning, and they do seem to be coming down a little, time will tell, so maybe the antibiotics are starting to work.

Last time I had him in the vet looked at his mouth and did not see any inflammation around his teeth or gums. She also checked his ears and they were clean, and indicated that an inner infection "usually" will manifest where you can see inflammation in the outer canal and/or drum area. So I am not sure why she mentioned an inner ear infection. He does not have vertigo, and I wonder if he is scratching the side of his head due to the inflamed glands on the side of his head.

Is it possible that he has something going on in his sinus cavity, or some type of drainage issue? I guess I would like to narrow this down. Would the salivary glands (pretty much all of them) be swollen as a result of swollen lymph nodes, or is it the other way around? Basically an infection localized within the salivary glands, thus inflaming the lymph nodes? Or could it be an infection somewhere else that is inflaming both the salivary glands and nodes? Would like to focus on WHAT/WHERE actually may be causing the salivary and lymph nodes to swell.

I should also mention that the nodes in his groin are also swollen, not sure if that is normal, or an indication of some type of systemic infection.

ANY help, is greatly appreciated!! Thank you for your assistance!

So, given what I have explained, Geoffrey, if this were your cat how would you approach it? Should I wait to see if the antibiotics kill the infection? Should I get an MRI done (though expensive), I'm not sure how to proceed, or take an active role, in suggesting or agreeing to the next step. I don't want to do testing, etc. that in the end was sub par, and a gross waste of money, without results.

As mentioned the Marbofloxacin did seem to work the first go-around, but after about 2.5 weeks of coming off of the antibiotic, the symptoms returned. The vet prescribed Marbofloxacin again, but a higher dose and longer duration. Would infectious symptoms become evident if this were something like a polyp, or some other benign growth? Would a growth of any kind induce some type of bacterial infection? Basically trying to figure out if this is just a bad infection, that may have been caused by previous dental work, that will eventually subside through a longer application of antibiotics, or something more serious, outside the realm of a simple infection - such as a growth or something that is inducing infection (if that is even possible).

Thank you again.

I've just gone through a lot with my cat and her teeth. So I was online looking at a lot of websites and mouth issues (infections) in a cat can go systemic and become septic. My cat has a disease where her body is reabsorbing her teeth. Supposed to be pretty painful and I hope we've had it taken care of. But during my reading I found out about Somatosis (sp?) which is a mouth disease where the cat is allergic to the plaque build up on their teeth and they need all their teeth removed. This disease could cause a lot of inflammation and/or infection. I wonder if these rotten teeth that were found could be part of the problem. My regular vet who did my cat's cleanings did not pick up on this disease, it was when she saw a cracked canine and several other teeth suddenly bad that she suggested I see a vet dental specialist who could do X-rays of my cats mouth. I think it made all the difference because the vet could then see what she was dealing with. Keep up with the antibiotics, maybe a different one should be tried....I feel for you, it's so hard when the vets seem stumped.

He just had his teeth cleaned. I just looked in his mouth and I do not see anything red or swollen. No plaque that I can tell. I should also mention that his eyes are now draining and are a rusty brown.

I don't know what to do. I don't if I should spend the money on an mri (especially this one), or xray or ultrasound... only to have the vet tell me nothing is wrong... I know he is in pain. He keeps scratching the side of his head where the enlarged salivary glands are. This is day seven of the marbofloxacin but I am not sure if it is working, or if it takes longer?? HELP...

So sorry for what your kitty is going through.  I don't have any insights on this - I just wanted you to know he is in my thoughts and I am hoping for the very best for him.

Called vet very concerned. Salivary glands and nodes do not seem to be going down, very, very big. They said to wait another week, to give the antibiotic a chance to work. I don't know what to think...

I am at a loss as to what to suggest but I do know kitties can get Lupus--systemic lupus which is random ailments. My mom has this and we were surprised to find out cats can get it too. Perhaps have your vet check this in your kitty? It's likely not a test normally run, but Lupus is an over active immune system which could explain enlarged nodes.

I do hope you find answers!!!

Thanks everyone. I have an appt. Monday morning. I was reading up on Lupus, but from my understanding the red and white blood cell count would be off, correct? He just had a FULL panel blood test and everything was completely normal.

I am wondering if this may have anything to do with his mouth? Maybe someone can chime in... but why would BOTH salivary glands be inflamed, seems odd, unless the central issue is the mouth? He did have some dental work several months ago, and shortly thereafter this all started, but not as bad. I know about a month or so ago, when I took him to this new vet, she commented on how he favors one side of his mouth when eating - she gave him a treat and was observing him. She took a look in his mouth and found a partial tooth remaining in the back, from what I assumed was not completely removed from the previous vet dental surgery. I asked her if there was any teeth remnants left and she said she could not tell (its a cat - don't like their mouth forced open), and would have to be done under a sedative. She was confident that she did not think anything was left.

Now this has me wondering. I wonder if an xray would show an abscess, etc? His teeth and gums do not look inflamed, but while talking with a co-worker whose dog had a similar issue, she mentioned that her dogs teeth looked perfectly good inside, but noticed a red bump by his nose. Thought it was a bee sting. Come to find out, it was an internal abscess that broke into the nasal cavity.

I know its a reach but I wonder if that could be something similar? If so, would a bad infection perhaps not be visible, and could it exhibit similar symptoms? ,,,and would it cause the antibiotics, the second go-around, to not be as effective?

Eeks! That could easily cause an abscess and would explain why his system keeps getting enlarged nodes. The body is fighting a massive infection. But his WBC would be high if that were the case, unless the abscess is contained?? I would see if she could xray----I work with horses, and very often, dental issues go un noticed until a horse stops eating or starts dropping weight--very often in older horses they have dental issues in the back teeth that require sedation and a specialist to see and extract. Horses teeth though constantly grow like a rabbits so their teeth constantly need monitoring. However, I have seen several horses with broken teeth that abscessed and the horse never once showed any signs, other than brief, odd behavior that finally had us have a vet come out.

Best of luck for you!! Did you say he did better on antibiotics? That would mean there is an infection somewhere that hasn't been identified...but if he was that bad/that long lasting, would it not make him progressively sicker?