As Tambrey said, please explore ALL your options, since the vet has yet to determine what and where the location of the mass is. If, for example, this were an intestinal lymphoma, it may be able to be removed, but please ensure this vet is a qualified and experienced veterinary surgeon before opting for surgery.
I'm a bit surprised that you took your baby in yesterday but he has yet to get the x-rays done today? Did he offer you an ultrasound?
weight loss
Re: weight loss
..........Traci
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Memphisbelle049
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:30 pm
Re: weight loss
Traci,
The vet saw how upset my daughter was to leave the cat, so he suggested we go ahead and take her home last night and bring her back first thing in the AM today. We were a "work in" on the appointment and it was closing time, so he wouldn't have done the xrays until this morning anyway. I just got off the phone with the Vet and he has verified that it is a tumor in her intestines. He will be operating on her tomorrow morning. He says that she is getting weak, due to dehydration, so he is pumping her full of fluids to fight the dehydration. Tomorrow morning he will operate and attempt to remove the tumor. He may be able to tell when he gets in if the tumor is benign or malignant, but more likely have to send off to a lab for the results. He said if it looks like he can remove the tumor and it's not cancerous, her recovery looks very good. She is a young cat and we want to try the surgery. However, if he finds the tumor is cancerous and has mestasticized to other organs, he will more than likely have to close her back up, let us say our goodbyes and put her to sleep. This has given us all a modicum of hope, and we are clinging to that hope. So, right now we are praying for the better of the two options, hoping the tumor can be removed and she can go on to live a happy and healthy life. When I told my daughter the news, you could see her eyes light up with hope, I just hope it all works out and she doesn't have to be crushed again. I'm afraid to let her hopes get too high, in case the worse comes to light.
Once again, I thank all of you for your support and understanding.
I will post tomorrow (if I can) with hopefully good news.
The vet saw how upset my daughter was to leave the cat, so he suggested we go ahead and take her home last night and bring her back first thing in the AM today. We were a "work in" on the appointment and it was closing time, so he wouldn't have done the xrays until this morning anyway. I just got off the phone with the Vet and he has verified that it is a tumor in her intestines. He will be operating on her tomorrow morning. He says that she is getting weak, due to dehydration, so he is pumping her full of fluids to fight the dehydration. Tomorrow morning he will operate and attempt to remove the tumor. He may be able to tell when he gets in if the tumor is benign or malignant, but more likely have to send off to a lab for the results. He said if it looks like he can remove the tumor and it's not cancerous, her recovery looks very good. She is a young cat and we want to try the surgery. However, if he finds the tumor is cancerous and has mestasticized to other organs, he will more than likely have to close her back up, let us say our goodbyes and put her to sleep. This has given us all a modicum of hope, and we are clinging to that hope. So, right now we are praying for the better of the two options, hoping the tumor can be removed and she can go on to live a happy and healthy life. When I told my daughter the news, you could see her eyes light up with hope, I just hope it all works out and she doesn't have to be crushed again. I'm afraid to let her hopes get too high, in case the worse comes to light.
Once again, I thank all of you for your support and understanding.
I will post tomorrow (if I can) with hopefully good news.
Re: weight loss
prayers for a successful and benign tumor removal tomorrow...
Re: weight loss
Thank you for clarifying, I understand.
I'm offering my prayers and healing thoughts, I understand how difficult this is. I do not want to offer false hope, but I do want you to know that many cats with intestinal masses have undergone surgery with good results. I would of course advise that the vet sends the biopsy to a lab for further information, that is truly in yours and kitty's best interests. If it was malignant, chemotherapy is an option, in which you could (and should) ask the vet to consult with a feline oncologist/specialist.
Prayers for an uneventful surgery, no malignancy and an excellent recovery....hang in there!
I'm offering my prayers and healing thoughts, I understand how difficult this is. I do not want to offer false hope, but I do want you to know that many cats with intestinal masses have undergone surgery with good results. I would of course advise that the vet sends the biopsy to a lab for further information, that is truly in yours and kitty's best interests. If it was malignant, chemotherapy is an option, in which you could (and should) ask the vet to consult with a feline oncologist/specialist.
Prayers for an uneventful surgery, no malignancy and an excellent recovery....hang in there!
..........Traci
Re: weight loss
Memphisbelle,
I'm so sorry about what you and your family are going through. I almost can't bear to think about it since I know how difficult it is. Kitties are special gifts to us, and you are obviously an animal lover in the best sense of the word. Unfortunately, it makes it hard when things are bad. They are remarkable creatures and are able to hide illness, so when things like this show up we are so shocked by it. I hope and pray that things will turn out for the better. You and your family are not alone. We understand what you are going through. ((hugs)) kk
I'm so sorry about what you and your family are going through. I almost can't bear to think about it since I know how difficult it is. Kitties are special gifts to us, and you are obviously an animal lover in the best sense of the word. Unfortunately, it makes it hard when things are bad. They are remarkable creatures and are able to hide illness, so when things like this show up we are so shocked by it. I hope and pray that things will turn out for the better. You and your family are not alone. We understand what you are going through. ((hugs)) kk
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Memphisbelle049
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:30 pm
Re: weight loss
Well, the surgery is over. The vet removed the tumor and had to take about 6" of her intestine. It is cancerous. He called us right after surgery and said she was pretty critical and that my daughter and I could come up to see her. When we arrived, he took us back and Cheddar was lying on the table with all the IV's, etc. She looked so tiny and pitiful. We kissed her and said her name and she managed a very strained, meowwwwwww! The vet said she knew we were there, even through the anesthesia, because they had not heard a sound out of her since we left her there yesterday. Of course my daughter and myself both fell apart. The vet said that if she makes it through recovery, in a few days we can bring her home. He said that this surgery has bought her time. Of course we'll take any amount of time we can get right now. I asked if she would be suffering and he said not for awhile. He can't say how much time she will have, but he sees noproblem with her coming home and living a fairly normal life with us for awhile. So, right now we are taking it hour by hour. Everytime the phone rings, my heart stops, I'm afraid it's the Vet saying she didn't make it. It is now after midnight here in KC and no call from the Vet. We are going to the Vet tomorrow morning. If she has grown stronger, that is a sign she will recover from this part anyway. Nights are the hardest on my daughter. Cheddar sleeps with her of course, she has her own spot right next to her in bed. My daughter is having a very hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep.
One step at a time. There are always miracles, right???
Re: weight loss
yes...there are always miracles....praying for a miracle for your Cheddar...
{{{hugggggs}}}
I know Traci may be able to offer more information and possible options and things to ask your vet...
Prayers and Peace Be With You
{{{hugggggs}}}
I know Traci may be able to offer more information and possible options and things to ask your vet...
Prayers and Peace Be With You
Re: weight loss
Did your vet send the tumor to a pathologist? When did he say to expect the results? Did he discuss the option of chemotherapy and other medications with you? If not, once Cheddar has recovered, I'd strongly suggest a consult with a feline oncologist promptly.
Prayers continuing for Cheddar, and for a smooth recovery. Hang in there, we're pulling for her!
Prayers continuing for Cheddar, and for a smooth recovery. Hang in there, we're pulling for her!
..........Traci
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Memphisbelle049
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:30 pm
Re: weight loss
He did indeed send out to a pathologist, in a couple of days we should get the results, but he is almost 100% sure it is cancerous. We went to see her today. Mydaughter has a canvas bag that Cheddar has adopted as her very own blanket. She sits on this bag on her chair and on my daughter's bed and just loves this bag. We took her canvas bag to her today. The vet let us open the door on the cage so we could pet her. We laid the bag down right in front of the cage and opened the door. Poor thing is so weak, but as soon as she heard our voices she started talking to us. Then----she smelled her bag! That cat pulled herself up and walked, albeit very slowly and with much effort, out of the cage to the bag and laid down on it, then tried to push her body up against our bodies as close as she could. The vet allowed us to keep her bag with her, so she has something from home, something to comfort her. She looks so much better today.
Thank you all for the prayers for our beloved Cheddar. If this improvemnt keeps up, I know we will be able to bring her home soon. The vet says that when the time comes to take her home, he will give instructions on diet, etc. One day at a time, but today is better than yesterday and hopefully tomorrow will be better than today, and so on and so on.
Traci, how long, in your opinion, would her surgical recovery be? Are we talking a few days, a week? I know cheddar wants to come home so bad and we miss her so terribly, but we don't want to do anything that would put her recovery in jeopardy. Also, she urinated while we were there, which I assume is a very good sign.
Thank you all for the prayers for our beloved Cheddar. If this improvemnt keeps up, I know we will be able to bring her home soon. The vet says that when the time comes to take her home, he will give instructions on diet, etc. One day at a time, but today is better than yesterday and hopefully tomorrow will be better than today, and so on and so on.
Traci, how long, in your opinion, would her surgical recovery be? Are we talking a few days, a week? I know cheddar wants to come home so bad and we miss her so terribly, but we don't want to do anything that would put her recovery in jeopardy. Also, she urinated while we were there, which I assume is a very good sign.
Re: weight loss
Most likely a few days in the hospital, then full recovery at home, an additional two weeks. She is going to be painful, so please ask your vet at the time of her release if pain medication can be sent home for you to give her for the first few days at home (this needs to be dosed carefully, and judicious administration at home). During recovery, you'll want to limit her activity to some extent (no running, jumping, rambunctious behavior, but she will probably self-limit herself), and you'll want to ensure there's no stress for her to endure. Your vet will probably want to ensure she is eating well enough at the hospital before releasing her.
She'll have sutures or staples at her incision area, so you'll need to watch the incision area carefully until they are removed (usually at 7-10 days post op), your vet may suggest an e-collar for her during this time so she can't pull out sutures or staples or manipulate the area.
She'll have sutures or staples at her incision area, so you'll need to watch the incision area carefully until they are removed (usually at 7-10 days post op), your vet may suggest an e-collar for her during this time so she can't pull out sutures or staples or manipulate the area.
..........Traci