Rescued a kitty yesterday - mystery eye condition...

[Magical_isis]

Hi there,

I'm new here, but we're long-time animal devotees and many animals in need just seem to find us....

Sunday afternoon my sweetie was taking a walk, and he saw a kitty who just came up to him and looked at him with an "I need help" look, but she wouldn't come up to him. He told me about it and I immediately went back there but couldn't find it. The next morning, our baby and I went for a walk and I just said "let's see if we can find that kitty..." and as if on cue, the poor matted thing came nearly running over to us. She's completely matted - even though the outer coat looks a little fluffy, the undercoat is solid - covered in mud, eyes swollen and oozing. I took her to the vet right away, and they're working on her. (not sure of gender still, but assuming female just from the energy!) VERY sweet and loving kitty, we were in tears when I got her home and preparing to go to the vet because it just breaks our hearts that someone could let an animal get into this condition.

The vet says she's about 6-7 based on her teeth, although she was expecting a much older cat from the body, and is Felv and FIV neg. She has ear tumors and a very strange eye thing going on. My vet doesn't know what it is but is contacting colleagues about it - basically, there are what appear to be very dark brown and black growths all around the eyes. I thought it was an unchecked eye infection, but apparently not. After digging around, I'm wondering if it might be apocrine hidrocystoma, but I don't know if that's uncommon enough that my very experienced vet wouldn't have come across it?

Anyway, attached are a few photos - I *really* appreciate any input or ideas!

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk21 ... aycat3.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk21 ... aycat2.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk21 ... cat1-1.jpg

[Magical_isis]

(don't know why those smilies showed up after the pics - obviously not smiling about her condition! I thought I put them up after the first sentence!)

[Auntie Debbie]

Bless you for taking the poor kitty to the vets. I hope they can determine the cause of the eye problem. I hope Traci will post. I did q quick searc (I'm at work right now) and did come up with a possibility

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ca ... lomas.html

In the meantime, what kind of tumors were found in the ears? Did the vet do a complete blood work up on her? That could determine alot of things.

I will try to do some more digging when I can, and please post when you learn more about how the kitty is doing. Again, thanks so much for taking him in like you did. You may have just saved his life.

[Auntie Debbie]

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/pemphig ... aceus.html

http://www.petplace.com/cats/eyelid-tum ... page1.aspx

http://www.worldofdani.com/healthproble ... infection)

Has the vet done a biopsy? That would be a good idea and if sent to the right place may provide the cause.

[Tambrey]

OHHH....her pictures brought immediate tears to my eyes.....thank you sooo much for taking her in and getting her the care she needs.....

She is gorgeous and will be quite the queenly lady (assumimg she IS a she?!) when she is feeling better....

[Traci]

My guess would be pemphigus (since you said they are also appearing in the ears), but unfortunately, the only way to definitively diagnose is with a biopsy. The vet could start with both a bacterial and fungal culture, cytology of the discharge, but a tissue biopsy would be a more definitive diagnostic.

If your vet isn't experienced, don't wait around for him to consult, since any specialist will require seeing kitty and persuing diagnostics, he should be referring you immediately to a feline oncologist or specialist, for both diagnostics and definitive diagnosis. You will have to be careful with anesthesia since she is a brachychephalic breed (persian), I strongly advise full bloodwork prior to any anesthetic procedure (full chemical profile and CBC), and possibly starting first with bacterial and fungal cultures and cytology, at least until bloodwork results show she is an acceptable candidate for anesthesia for a biopsy, and in otherwise good health (weight, dehydration, nutritional needs addressed, etc). The specialist will also want to carefully evaluate her eyes/cornea first, and nasal/sinus/respiratory to ensure she is not compromised in any way prior to anesthetics.

Be prepared, this might be a long road ahead regarding treatment. But, most of these type of problems can be treated effectively if caught early on, diagnosed appropriately, you have to expect them to take time, and not give up!

Thanks for taking her into your heart and home, she obviously needed someone to help her!!