Hello! New member, first post.
I have a 12 year old male albino, who until about 3 weeks ago seemed to be in fine shape. I got back from Christmas holiday to find a cat with a huge lump in his armpit, who had almost no energy, wouldn't eat, and could barely walk. I had taken him to the vet a week earlier because he had been vomiting and had licked the hair off his belly, but whatever had made him do that had stopped and the hair was growing back. The vet recommended a different food for him (suspecting an allergy of some kind) which I had just transitioned him over to before I left for the holiday. There was no lump when she checked him.
I had him back at the vet two days ago for tests and x rays. They tell me they suspect he has cancer, and the lump is a secondary infection. They were unable to confirm the diagnosis because they couldn't get a good sample through the lump despite trying three times. I don't know why. The x rays showed a solid mass inside the lump, but that it hadn't spread anywhere. They were shocked at the speed at which the mass appeared. They gave him antibiotics, an anti inflammatory medication, and sent me home with pain killers and an appetite enhancing medication to give him, which despite my best efforts - which have included crushing it and mixing it into wet food - I have been unable to get him to take. I can get him to take the pain medication though, thankfully. On a more positive note, in the last day or so he seems to have increased energy and actually ate more than a bite of his food for the first time in about a week. I even got him to eat a handful of temptations treats. The mass, however, does not appear to have shrunk at all.
I've been devastated all week as until yesterday I was almost certain I'd have to have him euthanized due to the sudden appearance of the massive tumor combined with not eating. It looked like he had completely given up on life for a few days there. Now I'm not sure. I have another appointment with the vet tomorrow to give him a look over. I was going to ask about in home euthanization, but since he's showing some improvement now I want to ask about treatment.
This is my first experience with a sick pet. How long should it take to see signs of improvement after an antibiotic treatment? Is cat cancer treatable? Is it ethical to try to treat it or is it selfish of me to put him through it? Is there reason for hope here, or is hope delusional thinking? Should I just let him go?
Thanks for any reponses! I'm a bit overwhelmed here and while the vet has provided lots of information, she hasn't done it in a way that has helped me understand his condition very well, or the best course of actionto take moving forward.
I have a 12 year old male albino, who until about 3 weeks ago seemed to be in fine shape. I got back from Christmas holiday to find a cat with a huge lump in his armpit, who had almost no energy, wouldn't eat, and could barely walk. I had taken him to the vet a week earlier because he had been vomiting and had licked the hair off his belly, but whatever had made him do that had stopped and the hair was growing back. The vet recommended a different food for him (suspecting an allergy of some kind) which I had just transitioned him over to before I left for the holiday. There was no lump when she checked him.
I had him back at the vet two days ago for tests and x rays. They tell me they suspect he has cancer, and the lump is a secondary infection. They were unable to confirm the diagnosis because they couldn't get a good sample through the lump despite trying three times. I don't know why. The x rays showed a solid mass inside the lump, but that it hadn't spread anywhere. They were shocked at the speed at which the mass appeared. They gave him antibiotics, an anti inflammatory medication, and sent me home with pain killers and an appetite enhancing medication to give him, which despite my best efforts - which have included crushing it and mixing it into wet food - I have been unable to get him to take. I can get him to take the pain medication though, thankfully. On a more positive note, in the last day or so he seems to have increased energy and actually ate more than a bite of his food for the first time in about a week. I even got him to eat a handful of temptations treats. The mass, however, does not appear to have shrunk at all.
I've been devastated all week as until yesterday I was almost certain I'd have to have him euthanized due to the sudden appearance of the massive tumor combined with not eating. It looked like he had completely given up on life for a few days there. Now I'm not sure. I have another appointment with the vet tomorrow to give him a look over. I was going to ask about in home euthanization, but since he's showing some improvement now I want to ask about treatment.
This is my first experience with a sick pet. How long should it take to see signs of improvement after an antibiotic treatment? Is cat cancer treatable? Is it ethical to try to treat it or is it selfish of me to put him through it? Is there reason for hope here, or is hope delusional thinking? Should I just let him go?
Thanks for any reponses! I'm a bit overwhelmed here and while the vet has provided lots of information, she hasn't done it in a way that has helped me understand his condition very well, or the best course of actionto take moving forward.
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