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Cat's neck swollen
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 1 June 2010 05:27AM | viewed 28117 times
Q Helen asks:
There is a swollen area between my 13 week old kitten's shoulder blades. It is definitely uncomfortable when touched. It doesn't seem to be a defined lump like a lymph node etc, more a patch of swelling roughly 1 diameter. He hasn't had any injections recently, and hasn't been cutscratched in any way. The fur in the area is normal as is what skin I can see. He seems otherwise normal and happy. We have been scruffing him as a method of training, although never roughly, and I wondered whether this could have caused it, as if I gently feel his scruff it is that area that feels thicker and tender. Until this swelling problem, he has never showed any pain at being scruffed, just cross as is expected.
Q Our vet says: It is unlikely that scruffing your kitten has caused this mass to appear.

The position of the area of swelling in a kitten of this age would suggest that a reaction to a recent vacination may be a possibility. Most kittens have a vaccination at 12 weeks and this may have caused some skin reaction.

I certainly have seen some young pets which have had an area of swelling following vaccination which usually resolves on its own. However it would be wise to get your kitten checked by your own vet to ensure that there is nothing more serious going on, especially if your kitten starts to show any other signs such as going off his food or lethargy etc.

It may be wise not to scruff your kitten until this issue is resolved since the pain associated with this may cause him to develop a fearful reaction towards you.

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Surgery
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 29-May-12 09:33AM | viewed 13036 times
Q Carol asks about Max (cat) :
Max is a six year old neutered male cat who had to have a cut under his front leg stitched under anesthetic. He was fine and recovered OK with no infection in the wound and the stitches were removed after about a week. About a week after this I felt a small soft lump just past the end of the wound is seemed to spread and has now formed a mat of approx 3cm of small hard lumps under the skin. It does not seem to bother him but after two visits back to the vet and three vets looking at it they can’t seem to decide what it is but suggest removal in case it is mammary cancer. I am reluctant to put him through another operation but I am afraid to leave it, does it sound like cancer?
Q Our vet says: That does sound as if surgery would be a sensible option.

Masses or lumps are virtually impossible to diagnose on palpation (by feel) alone. If you are to find out for sure what these masses are they will need to be removed (or at least part of the lump removed) to be sent to a laboratory to examine.

Vets can also offer to take a small sample with a fine needle which might be helpful. However in my experience a fine needle aspirate such as this often does not give a definite answer.

If this were my own cat I would certainly be taking a surgical approach.

I know it is a worry to have a pet under anaesthetic and undergoing surgery but often the benefits do outweigh the risks.
Gallbladder stone
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 13-Nov-11 11:52AM | viewed 21804 times
Q Carmina asks about Fluffy (cat - Birman, F) :
Our 13 yo birman cat has the following symptoms: loss of weight (from 3.2kg to 2.7kg), lethargy, vomiting (not severe), lack of appetite. We took her to the vet who ordered blood tests and an ultrasound. The tests showed an increase in ALT and bilirubine. The ultrasound revealed a small gallbladder stone which is not obstructing the duct and a few small urinary bladder stones. The vet is unable to diagnose precisely the disease and has put the cat on steroids and antibiotics (metronidazole). Since getting the medicine two days ago she has not improved. Could you help us pinpoint what to do next? Thanks!
Q Our vet says: I am sorry to hear that Fluffy has not been well. The signs of weight loss,vomiting and reduced appetite are not specific for any particular disease but are a sign that your cat is generally feeling "unwell".

The blood sample and ultrasound was a logical step for your vet to take in trying to diagnose the condition, however in Fluffy's case they did not lead to a specific diagnosis. This can sometimes be the case, but it still has given a clearer indication of Fluffy's state of health since it will probably have allowed your vet to rule out some diseases. (This is often very important for vets- but can seem frustrating to owners because you still do not have a specific "answer")

I do think that your vet's treatment is a good first step under the circumstances. But it can take a little while for medicines to have an effect and two days may not be enough to make a judgement regarding success.

If your vet has given a longer course of treatment, do continue with it (unless there are untoward side effects- in which case stop and let your vet know, so that an alternative can be provided).

It can be tempting to expect immediate improvement when medication is being given but usually this will not be the case- so do continue until the course is finished.

The most important thing to do is keep your vet informed and communicate with them. You and your vet are a healthcare team for Fluffy and it is important to work together.

I hope Fluffy feels better soon and makes an excellent recovery.
Excessive drinking whilst on felimazole
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 07-Nov-11 01:51PM | viewed 22170 times
Q Louise asks:
Cat drinking a lot of water My 14 year old cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in July. Currently he is being treated with felimazole, 2 5mg tablets a day. Recently I have noticed he seems to be drinking more water than he used to. I wondered if this was related to the thyroid tablets or if something else is going on. He has gained some weight on the treatment, he was 3.8kg before now he is about 4.7kg and he still loves his food. There is no vomiting or diahrreah. He is quieter than he used to be but I put this down to the tablets and his age. He is booked in at the vets for his thyroid check soon. Should I be worried about his drinking and could it be due to the felimazole?
Q Our vet says: When cats are drinking more than usual it should always be viewed a a cause for concern. Cats with hyperthyroidism can often develop other problems such as renal failure as time goes on. When you see your vet do speak to them about your cat's drinking, they will be able to assess him and perhaps will need to carry out blood tests to check how the thyroxine levels are doing and also to find out if there are any other problems which have developed since treatment started.
Do keep going with the Felimazole until you have spoken to your vet. It is most likely that treatment is going well but something else has developed or is now showing up as the hyperthyroidism is coming under control.
Cat keeps shaking his head & tongue around
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 22-Jul-11 09:45AM | viewed 28785 times
Q Tina asks:
My cat keeps shaking his head and thrashing his tongue around in the same manner as he does when he has a big lump of fur that he is attempting to swallow. When he tries to eat his dry food he constantly shakes his head and tongue around
Q Our vet says: Dear Tina
This kind of behaviour may indicate that your cat is in discomfort or pain. When cats are eating and shake their head it can often mean that they have pain from their teeth. Cats may have periodontal disease (gum disease) which is painful. They also may suffer from resorptive lesions at the base of their teeth which can be very painful. Your cat may have a foreign body stuck in his mouth or a loose tooth causing a problem. Other issues to consider might be oral tumours, inflammation, jaw problems or neurological issues. I recommend that you get your cat checked by your local vet.
Laser Surgery for Stenotic Nares (Persian Cats)
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 02-Aug-10 01:45AM | viewed 31394 times
Q Si asks:
Our persian cat is 5 months old and although he was born with nice, open nostrils they seem to be becoming more narrow as he gets older. He has trouble breathing because of this during play and sleep and needs to also have his mouth open sometimes after playing. At night, his nostrils make a whistling sound, which is becoming more prominent over time. When we picked him up from the breeder, we also bought the mother, who is now 2 years old. She suffers from the same problem. She also makes snorting noises if you try to play with her, as if she has mucus in her throat, that kind of noise. We previously had a persian for 18 years without this issue and wasn't expecting it. I wish they weren't bred like this! The breeder had only commented on their runny eyes, telling us that it was a trend they were trying to move away from, for the health of the cat. She didn't mention the breathing though. I have read snippets of info on the net about laser surgery to widen the nostrils, but I can't find any decent information about it in the UK. My questions are How safe and effective is it? How much would I expect to pay, or would it be covered by PetPlan? (We have their topmost expensive policy for both cats). Do you have any recommendations for places in the South-East of England that perform this? I hate hearing them have breathing problems. They are still young enough to have a decent life without this problem, so if we can help then we'd love to. Thanks, Si
Q Our vet says: I am sorry to hear about your young Persian cat. Stenotic nares are a problem with this breed and it can be difficult to tell how badly a cat will be affected when you are choosing a young kitten.

Your best course of action would be to take your cat along to your local vet who, if necessary, will be able to refer your cat to a specialist for further treatment. Your local vet will be able to give you a better idea of the likely costs involved once they have assessed your cat and perhaps spoken to the referral centre if required.

Laser surgery is certainly becoming more widely available in the UK, but the choice of procedure, if any, should be made on the basis of what is right for your cat.

The safety and efectiveness of any surgery is something which the veterinary surgeon undertaking the procedure will be able to discuss with you, since they can see the severity of the problem and assess your cat's general state of health and make an informed decision with regard to the particular case. There is of course always some risk to any anaesthetic or surgery.

As regards the insurance cover available it is always wise to call your insurance provider to ask if a particular treatment will be covered before going ahead with any procedure. Only they can say whether your policy will cover the treatment costs or not.

I hope all goes well for your cat.
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