Well, Feline cancer anyway...

Here is where we can discuss canine cancers and treatment options to create a support system for those dealing with the disease.

Postby mnp13 » February 4th, 2013, 5:44 pm

We found a large lump on Merlin, my older cat, on Friday and took him in to the vet on Saturday. He has a lump about the size of a golf ball attached to the inside of his last two ribs that is growing into his abdomen. He's 16, so we're just going to monitor him and keep him comfortable. He's not in pain now, but as soon as he shows any discomfort (which is inevitable, since it's pushing on stuff) we'll do what we need to do.

He's had a rough year, but once we got the thyroid stuff under control things evened out pretty well. It's only in the last week or so that he's been off his food again and we're back to "convincing" him to eat. He's currently only eating warmed albacore tuna with catnip on top. But if he'll eat it, then that's what he gets. He's even refusing the nasty cheap food that used to tempt him... not that that's the worst thing in the world, but I'll feed him whatever he wants if it will just get him to eat...
Michelle

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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 4th, 2013, 6:01 pm

I'm so sorry to hear this about handsome mister Merlin. :-(
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Postby Malli » February 4th, 2013, 9:38 pm

aw, so sorry, michelle.
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Postby Tubular Toby » February 5th, 2013, 1:21 am

Sorry to hear this. :(
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Postby Hundilein » February 5th, 2013, 9:35 pm

That's a bummer. I'm sorry.
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Postby Jenn » February 6th, 2013, 1:37 pm

Sorry Michelle :(
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Postby mnp13 » February 6th, 2013, 5:11 pm

Thanks everyone. He's ok right now, but it's not going to be long I don't think.
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Postby ArtGypsy » February 8th, 2013, 7:30 am

Michelle,,,,I've been in the hospital, so I'm just now seeing this. I'm so very very sorry about Merlin.
My heart goes out to you. Been in Your Shoes .
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Postby turtle » February 9th, 2013, 12:41 pm

Michelle, I am very sorry to read this about your Merlin kitty. I hope you have some more time with him. Cancer sucks.
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Postby mnp13 » February 9th, 2013, 5:36 pm

Thanks everyone, if anyone has any ideas on getting him to eat, please let me know.

He's on appetite stimulants, but will only drink. I've been finding him the most disgusting, cheap, smelly food I can find and we mix it with hot water to make "gravy" and he'll drink the liquid but won't touch the solid part of the food. For a couple days, albacore tuna with catnip sprinkled on it was working. And FreshPet salmon soft food was good for a few mouthfuls. However, he stands on the crate and yells for food, and purrs when I put it down... he just won't actually eat it. He definitely pays much more attention to "fishy" food than anything else.

The tumor has grown noticeably since last Friday. When we found it, it was two "upward bumps" between the last two ribs, now it has covered the ribs completely and you can't feel where they are at all. I can imagine that it's moving his insides around which is impacting the eating as well.

He's back to using the litter box, which is a good thing - last week he peed all over the house on anything he wanted to. The couch, the dog bed, my silk heels, the clean laundry, the dog blankets, the dirty laundry, the bagpipes...
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Postby turtle » February 9th, 2013, 9:51 pm

How about some canned salmon? Or canned Jack mackerel? What about some cooked chicken?

Maybe try heating it up a bit so it is slightly warm. I've heard that cats are more likely to eat warm food than cold food.

What about some of that supplement in a tube, Nutrical I think it is called? It's often used for animals that won't eat and is high in calories.

I'm so sorry. Poor Merlin, I hope he will eat something soon.
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 9th, 2013, 9:54 pm

Can you stick some smelly fish in the blender so it's liquid? Maybe add some liver? *gagging at the thought of the smell*
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Postby mnp13 » February 10th, 2013, 6:49 pm

He ate some albacore today. He refuses any "regular" tuna now. We tried mackerel last night, he drank the juice, but didn't eat the fish. A few people suggested that he may be hungry, but also nauseous, so tomorrow I'm going to get some anti-nausea meds and prednisone for him. As long as he is comfortable and eating and still beating up the dogs we'll do whatever we need to do to keep him going.

The other night he hunted my sock, I found it on Ruby's chair in the morning. So I know he had a good night.

As soon as I find my blender jar, I'm going to try liquifying some tuna.

All of his food gets mixed with hot water, he likes it warm, and since he's currently eating very very little but drinking a lot I figure that making as much "gravy" as possible is a plus.
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Postby ArtGypsy » February 12th, 2013, 6:59 am

Sorry I'm only now responding to this, Michelle..... :(
Sending you thoughts of love and peace.....................................
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Anger that things are the way they are.
Courage to make them the way they ought to be.”----Augustine
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Postby ArtGypsy » February 12th, 2013, 7:06 am

Sorry I'm only now responding to this, Michelle..... :(
Sending you thoughts of love and peace.....................................
“Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are Anger and Courage.
Anger that things are the way they are.
Courage to make them the way they ought to be.”----Augustine
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Postby mnp13 » February 12th, 2013, 12:43 pm

So, now we've added in prednisone and a nausea medication to go with the appetite stimulant. He ate a little more last night, but not much this morning. We're going to give it a few days.
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 12th, 2013, 6:15 pm

:goodthoughts:
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby Hundilein » February 13th, 2013, 6:23 pm

I once pet sat for a cat in kidney failure and her owner instructed me to try feeding the "good for her" food, but bottom line to give the cat anything she would eat. One day she decided my chicken mcnuggets from McDonald's were pretty tasty. I'm sure there is very little, if any, nutritive value in them, but at least it was something.

I'm so sorry you're having to go through this, Michelle. Sending you good thoughts.
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Postby mnp13 » February 16th, 2013, 10:29 am

Mmmmmmmmm... A milk shake?


No!

Liquified tuna!
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 16th, 2013, 12:59 pm

Mmmmm...yummy.

Did he eat it?
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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