Looks like we are losing one of our cats.

She began having massive vomits about a month ago and has lost weight. Took her into the vet last week for blood work and x-rays. The X-rays shows a mass in her intestines but no diagnosis. Could be cancer, could be an object she ate. This cat is not known for being a Hoover but this is the way we want to think.

Fast forward to today at the specialty vet. Another set of X-rays and an ultrasound reveal an intestinal problem. Doc says it could be lymphoma or inflammation of the intestine.

To perform a biopsy it's about $3-4K with no guarantees or think is inflammation and give her steroids to heal. If the steroids don't work, it's likely cancer but can't do surgery because usage of the steroids voids that option for 30 days.

I hate putting a dollar figure on our cat, but she is 9 and if it is cancer, it's a 6 month to 2 year life span. Don't think her quality of life would be good enough to put her through that.

Trying the steroid seems like the best last option.

This sucks.

Let's hope that the steroid does the job.

I am not particularly a cat lover -- not that I dis-like them, I can take the or leave them -- but I hate to see any animal suffer.

Best wishes for a good recovery for your pet.

I really hope the steroids do it for her.

Best of luck to your little furry friend.

I'll suggest a second (third?) opinion, since trying Prednisolone and hoping it worked, killed one of my cats some years back. The Vet, who had been recommended to us as "the best" for cats in the area, said the Pred treatment would work, and when it didn't, refused to do anything else because of the 30-day restriction you are running into.

Another Vet, the one we use to this day, couldn't do anything, including testing, just confirmed the mass in her intestines. In our case, he said, he could have helped her if it hadn't been for the Pred.

Sad to say, we've dealt with cancer in several of our cats over the year, and it is difficult to treat successfully.

If you have the resources (time as well as money) I'll suggest contacting other specialists before committing to the steroids. I think there are even one or two who will advise you on the Internet, and your vet should be able to get you in touch with them.

Another possibility might be a Veterinary College in your area. Check for one.

^^^^. That's my dilemma. I don't want to give her a death sentence with the prednisone if it doesn't work.

Tonight she seems pretty active so it's tough. I know she has limited time now and want to make sure it's the best quality time for her as possible.

I have had several very bad experiences with prednisolone (the preferred type for cats as it doesn't damage the liver), and losing Miki was the last straw. The vet argued me into allowing it, and Miki died when she couldn't be treated after taking it for just a few days.

I'll see if we kept the on-line vet info and will post it for you if I find it, but don't wait for me. Try either the third opinion option if you can, or question the hell out of the current vet before proceeding with an experiment.

Sorry if I seem a bit hard here, but I'm still angry about losing Miki, since I feel it wasn't necessary. Three days ago was the anniversary of the day we lost her, too.

Follow-up on the on-line vets, we no longer have the website information. Two different vets we dealt with over the years used on-line help that was also available to pet owners, so ask your vet for the websites.

If you strike out, get back to me (PM the e-mail in my profile) and I'll contact the vet I use now. If you contact me by 11am your time, I should be able to get the info from my vet, and get it to you in time to contact them.

Check your e-mail. I got yours, did some research and replied just now.

Can anybody remember the screen name of our resident Veterinarian? I'm at a loss.

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:
Check your e-mail. I got yours, did some research and replied just now.

Can anybody remember the screen name of our resident Veterinarian? I'm at a loss.

Slabsides

Thanks, Skins.

Thanks NTS, I really appreciate the help.

You're welcome!

Don't forget how much we love our animals here, we'll await progress reports.