Feline Cancer Symptoms and Treatments

Cats can succumb to cancer of just about any organ in the body just as humans do. Distressing though the circumstances may be, owners can take comfort in the fact that there is widespread documentation about all forms of feline cancer and that the treatment chosen will be the very best that can be found.

In fact treatment doesn't differ much from that offered to human cancer patients. Cats need care and attention and careful handling, and in many cases they can share a few more months with their owner before they are overcome by the cancer. It is only rarely that cats fully recover, and that seems to be if the cancer is caught in the earliest stages so that appropriate cancer treatment can be started as soon as possible.

The signs and symptoms for feline cancer are also those of other diseases and conditions and so it is sometimes difficult to know exactly what is wrong with the cat. However as in all cases of illness and doubt, the cat must be taken to the veterinary surgery as soon as possible so that diagnostic tests can be carried out to find out exactly what is wrong and commence appropriate treatment.

The signs and symptoms include the following:

General malaise
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Swellings or lumps that do not regress or disappear
Lesions, sores and abscesses that do not heal

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are likely to be the main choice of treatment, but careful watch needs to be kept on the cat in case of reactions to the regime. In particular, because cats are not susceptible to the vomiting that many humans suffer when receiving cancer therapy, if vomiting is noticed it should be treated straight away otherwise the cat is likely to lose a lot of much needed fluid, salts and minerals that are essential for as balanced a blood chemistry as possible.

Control of vomiting is also important because a lack of vital proteins in the blood for any length of time can lead to severe hyperlipidosis, a condition of the liver which occurs when the body starts to draw on its own fat reserves in starvation. Your veterinary surgeon will also prescribe treatments if your cat suffers with diarrhea, as this also is a major loss of water from the body and salts.

The most important treatment your vet can give to your cat during cancer therapy is adequate pain management. It is not enough to give analgesia when your cats cries out or appears distressed; it has to be given on a regular and constant basis so that pain is managed and controlled effectively.

Compassion has to be the cornerstone of any care given to the cat, and he needs careful monitoring to ensure that all his needs are being met.

If he is being nursed at home he will need very careful handling, peace and quiet, and warmth to stop him getting stiff from underuse of his muscles. He may not want to eat or drink much, but this should always be monitored and sufficient water give so as to jeep the kidneys flushed and the urinary system fully functional.

Remember that your vet is there to look after you as well as the cat when it comes to deciding whether or not to let him go, as this is a particularly difficult time and it is a difficult decision to make.

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