A cat has a tumor on its stomach: what not to do, how long it will live.

A tumor in a cat’s abdomen is a neoplasm in the tissues of the body, which is in no way regulated by the animal or its owner. It may consist of cells that multiply on an ongoing basis, and then transfer their destructive properties to new cells. After studying this material, you will find out how long a cat with a tumor will live, what treatment modern veterinary medicine offers and other valuable information. It is imperative to study information one way or another related to this disease.

A tumor on a cat's stomach can be of different types.

It’s worth starting with the fact that all these unpleasant things are produced at the expense of the resources of the cat’s body and, according to the degree of aggressive impact on it, they differ into benign ones and those that pose a direct threat to life. Of course, a veterinarian should know all these types well in order to provide quality care, however, this information will also not hurt the ordinary owner and will be an excellent help in treating a terrible disease. Neoplasms that do not cause harm (benign) grow slowly, putting pressure on and expanding the tissues that surround them. These tumors do not grow and do not recur after removal.

A benign neoplasm does not deplete energy for the life of the body, but probably has a mechanical effect on it . For example, when a tumor begins to compress blood vessels, it can go, for example, to the heart or liver.

Malignant tumors, as a result of overly active division of cellular elements, grow rapidly. They are characterized by uncontrolled development. In other words, the tissue that surrounds the vessels is gradually destroyed. However, these tumors may remain small. They rarely grow to a large size, since the animal is quickly sent to the next world due to exhaustion and intoxication . In addition, malignant tumors are characterized by:

Metastasis is a unique skill of cells. They spread throughout the body with blood, lymph and contact give rise to other similar tumors. Also, despite all the persistent treatment, a relapse of the disease is possible.
Relapse is the re-formation of metastases, the re-growth of the tumor. Cats can develop both “good” and “bad” tumors.

The peak age for such diseases is 10-12 years. This is only according to official statistics. Swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissue occurs quite often in cats. It has not yet been determined which cat breeds are most susceptible to tumors. The chest and area around the nipples are a favorite place for tumors to appear.

Symptoms of a tumor on a cat's stomach

A caring owner has probably already wondered what the symptoms and signs of a tumor are in a cat. These signs are not highly specific and can easily be confused with another disease. The signs can be confused with poisoning or toxicosis (if it is a female) here they are: weakness, loss of appetite, loss of former playfulness, activity, the animal prefers to lie down and rest.

What diseases cause a lump?

The list is quite large:

cancerous degeneration of breast tissue is the most terrible diagnosis, often with an unfavorable prognosis;
lipoma, or wen, is a benign tumor prone to spreading;
neoplasm of the skin: papilloma, fibroma, sarcoma, lymphangioma, etc.;
lymphadenitis – inflammation of the lymph nodes;
hernia (inguinal, umbilical, perineal) – protrusion of internal organs under the skin;
mastitis;
inflammation of the paraanal glands;
a lump may appear after sterilization - this is also a hernia, but postoperative, resulting from a violation of the technique of applying internal sutures;
skin diseases: furunculosis, folliculitis, carbuncle formation, abscess, phlegmon, etc.;
a lump may appear due to an insect bite (wasp, bee, bumblebee, etc.);
pellets - although tangles are unlikely to be confused with a lump, protrusion or tumor.

Important! If the formation under the skin tends to grow rapidly, while the number of nodules increases, they bleed or are painful, then this is not a good sign and a serious reason to undergo a full veterinary examination: biopsy, urine tests, ultrasound, x-ray, etc.

Treatment of tumors in cats on the abdomen

Over the past few years, significant progress has been made in the treatment of tumors, the type of treatment being selected depending on the type of tumor. After an examination by a veterinarian, the stage and type of tumor are first determined, and then a decision is made on chemotherapy. The treatment of the tumor must also be chosen by the doctor; the patient’s task is to follow the doctor’s prescription ; in general, there are several ways to treat tumors. For many neoplasms, chemotherapy is used as one of the most gentle treatment methods.

And thanks to the body’s ability to quickly absorb everything, chemotherapy is one of the fastest-acting methods of treatment. It is also possible that the doctor will prescribe radiation therapy, which is prescribed for such tumors and is not recommended for surgical intervention. Increasingly they are resorting to chemotherapy, as well as laser removal. It should be borne in mind that all kinds of drops and tinctures that promise an effect from the first use are most likely simply not effective, and in some cases are simply dangerous to the health of the animal.

Any treatment should be prescribed by a veterinarian, preferably one who has seen your animal more than once and can help with useful advice, as well as promptly come to your home if the cat suddenly becomes ill.

Why does a tumor appear on a cat's stomach?

Where a tumor can form can occur in the most unexpected place. A tumor in cats on the abdomen is the most common occurrence in pets over 10 years of age.

We can safely assume that the age of ten is the most dangerous in terms of all kinds of diseases, since it is then that various sores begin to form, which gently but unobtrusively indicate to the owner that he needs to be especially attentive to his furry pet and devote more time to its health. Remember that a tumor can form anywhere, even in a place where no one expected these tumors, for example, near the eye, in the ear.

Mastitis

If a lump is found on a female's belly, it may be mastitis. Most often it develops in cases where kittens are taken away from their nursing mother too early. The cat suffers greatly from stagnant processes. Her mammary glands are very sore, her body temperature reaches high levels, the animal loses appetite and sleep, and quickly becomes exhausted.

Mastitis bumps are red. They are very hard to the touch and hot. Located near the nipples. When pressed they increase in size. Sometimes milk with purulent impurities is discharged from the nipples. In other cases it disappears completely.

Mastitis does not always occur after childbirth. It can result from mechanical damage to the nipples, false pregnancy, or some gynecological pathologies. Requires veterinary assistance. Treatment depends on the form and extent of the disease. In uncomplicated situations, you can get by with ointments and compresses; in severe situations, you have to resort to radical measures.

How to prevent stomach tumors in cats

Many owners are sincerely concerned with the question, so how to prevent tumors? It is probably not possible to completely and 100% avoid this disease, especially if there is a genetic predisposition, and therefore everything possible can be done to alleviate this condition and make the cat’s life healthier and have a higher quality of life. To do this, you need to follow these simple and obvious steps:

Regular and proper nutrition with specialized food, and not leftovers from the master’s table, which are not always healthy.
A mandatory presence in the diet of vegetables and fruits seasoned with vegetable oil will help improve bowel movements.
Then, it is recommended to remember that the food must be suitable, for example, according to the age and diseases that the furry friend may develop.
Also, during the treatment period, it is very important to reduce the amount of junk food that can negatively affect the health of your four-legged friend. During cancer treatment, you need to follow a light and at the same time satisfying diet.
Tumors in cats on the abdomen are a dangerous sign that shows that the owners mistreated their pet and created stressful conditions for it.

Of course, one trip to the veterinary center cannot cure this problem. You need to understand that you have a long and stubborn struggle ahead of you for the life of your pet. A veterinarian at home for tumors in cats on the stomach and other parts of the body is treated in different ways. But we must remember that a tumor cannot be cured in one visit to the veterinary center. Of course, you will need to visit the veterinarian frequently in order for your beloved creature to survive. However, if there are opportunities and time resources for this. But you need to examine the animal. What to do?

First of all, we strongly advise you to call a veterinarian at home. This service is very progressive and convenient for those owners who do not have enough time to visit a doctor on time. It is for such busy owners that there is a wonderful service like a doctor visiting your home. A tumor on the cat’s stomach requires special attention. Of course, you need to ask your veterinarian how long your furry pet will live. In many ways, the answer to this question also depends on the owners, because they are responsible for the pet.

Also, a visit from a veterinarian is great for those owners whose cat is quite weakened, which means that moving to a veterinary center can be fatal for it. In this case, leaving will not be a whim of the owner, but a severe necessity that will probably help save lives. If you want your pet to live as long as possible, do not neglect a visit to the doctor. However, doctors can help even with a tumor. And if you still have to visit a veterinary center for the procedure, then for an examination by a doctor you can use the service of calling a doctor to your home.

How to determine the cause of a bloated belly

In most cases, an increase in the size of a kitten's belly is not a sign of serious pathologies. You can try to determine the cause of a bloated belly yourself:

When the problem is related to errors in nutrition, namely overeating or feeding age-inappropriate food, the kitten experiences bloating.
This occurs due to pressure on the walls of the intestines and peritoneum of gases that were formed due to malfunctions in the baby’s digestive system. In other words, the kitten is worried about flatulence. It's very easy to check - just lightly tap your stomach with your fingertips. If at the same time a dull sound occurs (as if from a “barrel”), then this indicates flatulence. You can also often feel and hear a rumbling sound when you put your hand on the kitten’s tummy. Most often, a kitten's bloated belly is caused by errors in nutrition.
With constipation, you can note that the kitten does not go to the toilet for a long time to empty its intestines (more than a day), meows pitifully and is worried.
Worm infestations accompanying a pet's swollen tummy cannot be determined without an appropriate analysis performed by a veterinarian (except for cases where worms are visible to the naked eye in the animal's excrement, which indicates a massive infection). Therefore, in cases where the kitten’s nutrition is organized at the proper level and there is no reason to believe that flatulence is the cause of the illness, the animal should be shown to a veterinarian.
Internal diseases, which, among other things, lead to bloating in kittens, have a whole range of other symptoms by which they can be diagnosed. However, this should be done by a professional - a veterinarian.

Bloating in kittens is often accompanied by the following conditions:

diarrhea - observed with poor nutrition and helminth infection;
vomiting - one-time can be associated with overeating, repeated - with a wide range of diseases of the digestive tract, including helminthic infestations;
unpleasant color and smell of feces - may indicate infectious diseases or helminthic infestations;
changes in taste preferences and feeding habits - eating inedible objects, an unusually strong appetite may indicate that the kitten is not getting the vitamins and microelements it needs from food;
elevated body temperature, lethargy, apathy - as a rule, indicate food toxic infections or inflammatory diseases of internal organs, for example, peritonitis.

What to do if the terrible diagnosis of a tumor in cats is confirmed

Of course, there is no need to panic in the first place. Animals perfectly sense the mood of the owner who is nearby. Remain calm, which will certainly rub off on your pet. You also need to undergo a large number of tests and prepare yourself for a long fight against the disease. Veterinary doctors will do everything possible, and will also show the owner all the possibilities of modern medicine, which is capable of real miracles. It is quite possible that our drugs and skilled doctors will help cure such a terrible disease as a tumor. We are responsible for those we have tamed, and therefore it is not recommended to abandon a pet with a tumor to the mercy of fate. Having suspected something was wrong, it is also important to warn household members that they should be as attentive as possible to the animal and, if possible, not feed it harmful sausage or sausages, even if you want to support your cat and treat him with his favorite treat.

Hygroma

Or a synovial cyst is a swelling of tissue with saturation with serous fluid.

It looks like a painless swelling with fluid inside, but if an infection joins it, ulcerations and discharge appear. And when it grows to a large size, it can interfere and hurt when moving.

The veterinarian may prescribe removal of the contents of the cyst and the introduction of anti-inflammatory drugs in its place, but surgery is rare.

How long do cats with tumors live?

Unfortunately, no doctor in the world can give an accurate prognosis; it depends on many factors, as well as on how aggressively the tumor develops. It happens that, despite all the efforts made by the owner, the animal dies after a month. This could be due to a variety of factors. Starting from inappropriate treatment and ending with actively growing metastases. Try to regularly donate blood for analysis and carry out all the tests that the doctor prescribes for your pet. If he is scheduled for another study, this does not mean that they want to scam you out of money. The doctor wants to help the pet and does everything in his power. And without traditional research it is almost impossible to do this, because a visual inspection alone is not enough. We still need to examine the animal and do everything to ensure that the treatment matches the disease. Be attentive to your pets and take them for a preventive examination at YA-VET!

Why you can’t give up when fighting a tumor on your cat’s stomach

A tumor in a cat’s stomach is one of the most mysterious diseases, which even today has not been fully studied by doctors, and therefore can disappear as suddenly as it appeared, or give multiple metastases, and then take root throughout the body. Remember that by stopping the fight against a tumor in a cat, you are thereby putting an end to the life of your pet; she can die at any moment due to your laziness and unwillingness to fight to the end. Veterinary doctors are doing everything in their power to save another life and a grateful animal jumped into your lap every day.

Oncology and viruses

Some veterinarians support the viral theory of the development of cancer in cats. In their opinion, a virus enters the body, changing the genome of the cell and its ability to reproduce. Science knows over 100 types of oncoviruses. Once in the body of a mammal, they are able to remain dormant for a long time.

If the immune system is strong, it can block the spread of the pathogen and prevent the development of the disease. However, an unfavorable environment suppresses the animal’s defenses, “opening the gates” to viruses. Stress, helminths, poor quality nutrition, diseases, etc. can act as a starting impetus.