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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / June 200510 yr old cat - very boney but swollen abdomen
Noticed over the last few months that, Neil, our 10 yr old scruffy cat has become very boney (you can feel his spine) but his abdoemn looks very swollen indeed. At first, we thought it was just him getting fat because hes spolit and a bit lazt but now I'm not so sure. I know we've got to take him to the vets but I've got a nasty feeling its going to be bad. He always seems to be hungry and is sick a fait bit... We know its not worms because he regularloy gets treated. Anybody got any guesses what it might be ? > We know its not worms because he regularloy gets treated. Anybody got > any guesses what it might be ? Yes, he needs to see a vet very soon. I can think of all sorts of bad things it could be, unfortunately. He could have fluid in his abdomen from cancer or FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) or FeLV. If he's sick a lot, he is probably feeling quite bad as cats can mask their symptoms very well. On the other hand, he may have something that can be treated fairly easily and allow him to live a few more years. Chronic renal failure, hyperthyroidism, all sorts of diseases common in older cats that can be treated successfully. Candace > > We know its not worms because he regularloy gets treated. Anybody got > > any guesses what it might be ? > > Yes, he needs to see a vet very soon. I can think of all sorts of bad > things it could be, unfortunately. He could have fluid in his abdomen > from cancer or FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) or FeLV. > Candace I hate to mention it, but the FIP cats I've seen look like that. Hope it isn't that. Sherry > Noticed over the last few months that, Neil, our 10 yr old scruffy cat > has become very boney (you can feel his spine) but his abdoemn looks [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > We know its not worms because he regularloy gets treated. Anybody got > any guesses what it might be ? Vet... ASAP! ...and you have allowed this to go on for months? <shaking head> Good luck to Neil -- please let us know what the vet has to say. Worms would be the easiest to cure but if you regularly worm him, I'm afraid it could be something very serious. Keep us posted. Rhonda > Noticed over the last few months that, Neil, our 10 yr old scruffy cat > has become very boney (you can feel his spine) but his abdoemn looks [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > We know its not worms because he regularloy gets treated. Anybody got > any guesses what it might be ? Vets Monday for Neil... Been looking into FIP. It certainly could be this I guess - I hope not ! And I hope our other cat, Kevin, doesn't get it as well. Fingers crossed for Neil... I posted a message earlier in the week on my cat who is showing the same symptoms. Our vet did many tests and suspects lymphoma. Going to specialist next week. I'll be watching to see what you find out for Neil. Good luck! > Vets Monday for Neil... > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Fingers crossed for Neil... I hope Monday is not too late. > Vets Monday for Neil... > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Fingers crossed for Neil... I hope it's not that, too. Maybe since he has had whatever it is for several months, that might indicate that it is not FIP? I don't know. It is now generally thought that FIP isn't contagious. The corona virus is contagious but it is also very common among cats, esp. in multi-cat households. It is thought that FIP is a mutation of the corona virus. So it would be unlikely for it to mutate in both cats. My hyperthyroid cat had a bony spine but he didn't have the swollen abdomen. Good luck to Neil. Candace I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It came on very suddenly. She only lived another 2 weeks. The diagnosis was lymphoma and we were just about to start chemo which can be quite successful with some cats. Unfortunately she just went downhill too fast. When I feel that bone I know it is ominous. The only cat whose bone I felt and went on to be okay was Pepper's who now is on Tapazol for thyroid and gained back her weight. Let us know what the vet says. -- Barb Of course I don't look busy, I did it right the first time. > I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It came on > very suddenly. She only lived another 2 weeks. The diagnosis was lymphoma [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Let us know what the vet says. After the vet visit, the vet thought that Neils Liver seemed a bit big, and they took some blood for testing. Result of the tests indicate it looks like a tumour but hes having x-ray and ultrasound today and more blood tests. Vet has mentioned low does chemo if its a tumour but has mentioned probs if theres a small child in the house... > > I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It came on > > very suddenly. She only lived another 2 weeks. The diagnosis was lymphoma [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Vet has mentioned low does chemo if its a tumour but has mentioned > probs if theres a small child in the house... Why? Would the child pass on something that his immune system couldn't handle?? >> > I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It >> > came [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Why? Would the child pass on something that his immune system couldn't > handle?? ALL chemotherapy suppresses immune system activity to dangerously low levels of protection. > >> > I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It > >> > came [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > ALL chemotherapy suppresses immune system activity to dangerously low levels > of protection. Yes, I know. That's what I meant. I wondered if the vet thinks toddlers pass on more sickness than adults. I have just never heard this concerning youngsters in the house. > > >> > I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It > > >> > came [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > on more sickness than adults. I have just never heard this concerning > youngsters in the house. Well. Looking at some of the stuff on the web it does recommend that you take precautions when dealing with chemo drugs for your pets. Such as wearing rubber gloves, disposing of stuff properly, cleaning sleeping/eating areas etc. With a toddler in the house, although its straightforward to keep him away from the stuff, I suppose he would have exposure to the treated cats bodily fluids (e.g. excrement etc in the garden) possibly... But then surely due to the size of a cat the dose can't be that big (compared to a toddlers size) and how much of the 'active ingredient' of the chemo is passed through the cat ? And finally what are the dangers of exposure to a very small amount of chemo if you dont really need it ? No the cat will shed radiation into the environment making it unsafe for the child. Shadow Walker > > > I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It came > on [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Why? Would the child pass on something that his immune system couldn't > handle?? I'm sorry I ment chemicals shed into the enviroment.Doh. Shadow Walker > No the cat will shed radiation into the environment making it unsafe for the > child. [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Why? Would the child pass on something that his immune system couldn't > > handle?? No the cat will shed radiation into the environment making it unsafe for the child. Any radiation and small children or even adults is not safe. They recommend anyone who has had cancer or a family history of it to stay away from people who have had chemo or any test that requires radioactive isotopes. Shadow Walker > > > I took my Sapphire to the vet as soon as I felt her spine bone. It came > on [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Why? Would the child pass on something that his immune system couldn't > handle?? I think radiation is what they are worried about, not chemo. I had breast cancer and had radiation. This would not have stopped me from letting my Sapphire have chemo. -- Barb Of course I don't look busy, I did it right the first time. Chemo drugs are carcenigetic and are eliminated in the poop/urine. Having contact with the poop/urine would raise your cancer risk and the concern is that kids may contact them. Treating a tumor with beamed radiation (not indictable like I 131 for thyroid problems) will not result in any lasting radiation after the beaming is over. No radiation is shed.  SignatureLarry - Owned by nine cats > I think radiation is what they are worried about, not chemo. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Of course I don't look busy, > I did it right the first time. |
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