Porky the cat update

[Use Less]

The vet says chances are the lump on Porky's chest is cancerous. It seems to have come up fast, and there's something about how firm it is.
Even if it is not a cancer, because of the location, Porky can scratch or lick at it. These last couple of days, she broke the surface. An open wound for whatever duration is an infection waiting to happen. That would be very bad.
So even at 16 or 17, she needs surgery.  Even though it would mean longer under anesthesia, I may let them scrape her teeth, too. She has lost or broken at least one back tooth, and her breath is stinky.  
Porky also has a softer mass in her belly area, but she has had the exact or a similar one there for years. I feel as though that is more wait and see. It would be more like a major or invasive surgery, not removal of a lump that is defined and hanging outside.
She has lost weight, but just don't know over what time frame. On general principles, I've been feeding her a little richer.
Her appetite is good. Demanding, even. She doesn't act sick. She doesn't give any evidence of the kind of sick where cats hide symptoms until they are really bad.  
I have a couple questions to ask them, and then I'm going to schedule. She is on drops for itchy ears and an antibiotic.
She could be fine for some good while yet. 
I'm OK. I was hoping, but not all that hopeful. Resigned. I'm not getting any clues she feels done, so I'll do what I can to allow her more time.    

[grannyg]

((HUGS)) Praying for the best

[mzgarden]

Rats, was hoping for better news. Hugs and prayers for a complete recovery.

[Maura]

Ask your vet about supplementing with vitamin C. Because of his age and undergoing surgery, it might help.

[Use Less]

Nov 23, 2017 23:47:04 GMT Maura said:

Ask your vet about supplementing with vitamin C. Because of his age and undergoing surgery, it might help.

I will do that. The odd thing is that just two doses of antibiotics and the lump is considerably smaller. I am debating getting a second opinion. They would see her where I used to take her, but I'm not crazy about putting her through the long ride out there. I would want an appointment in very short order, too, and they are in high demand. 

[Use Less]

Just dropped Porky off at the vet here. Cancerous or not, the lump is where she can scratch at it. That she could be re-opening it regularly would just be bad. I was able to schedule with the vet my sister went to for many years with her cat. I don't know any of them yet, but that is a little comforting. They do a blood panel, then surgery if she is up to it, then a dental cleaning. She likely has a bad tooth, and her breath is sometimes nasty, not a good sign, so it would be good if that can happen. I am just nervous. I have a real fear of anesthesia for animals or people. I made sure that she will get a pain med as soon as she is alert enough after the whole deal. One vet I went to years ago made that optional. Really??

[Mari-in-IN]

Nov 29, 2017 13:53:23 GMT Use Less said:

Just dropped Porky off at the vet here. Cancerous or not, the lump is where she can scratch at it. That she could be re-opening it regularly would just be bad. I was able to schedule with the vet my sister went to for many years with her cat. I don't know any of them yet, but that is a little comforting. They do a blood panel, then surgery if she is up to it, then a dental cleaning. She likely has a bad tooth, and her breath is sometimes nasty, not a good sign, so it would be good if that can happen. I am just nervous. I have a real fear of anesthesia for animals or people. I made sure that she will get a pain med as soon as she is alert enough after the whole deal. One vet I went to years ago made that optional. Really??

Prayers for you and Porky.  I can so relate to how nervous you must feel - but it is definitely a good thing they are doing the blood panel.  We just took in 3 juveniles to get "done" and I was in tears when leaving.  Heck, I am always in tears when leaving any of them for surgery since we had a bad occurrence many years ago.  That particular vet didn't do any bloodwork ahead of time...
We usually go all out on everything...  blood panel, IV, and even $9.00 for the pain meds!
Will be thinking of you guys today...
~Mari

[wildhorseluvr]

Nov 29, 2017 13:53:23 GMT Use Less said:

Just dropped Porky off at the vet here. Cancerous or not, the lump is where she can scratch at it. That she could be re-opening it regularly would just be bad. I was able to schedule with the vet my sister went to for many years with her cat. I don't know any of them yet, but that is a little comforting. They do a blood panel, then surgery if she is up to it, then a dental cleaning. She likely has a bad tooth, and her breath is sometimes nasty, not a good sign, so it would be good if that can happen. I am just nervous. I have a real fear of anesthesia for animals or people. I made sure that she will get a pain med as soon as she is alert enough after the whole deal. One vet I went to years ago made that optional. Really??

Having mostly senior pets (14 yr old German Shepherd, nearly 15 yr old mini-Heeler and Siamese cat, and a 13 yr old Siamese) for the last few years, I have lived at my vet's office for 3.5 yrs now. Over the past year my heeler was at the vets's 2-3x per week. I also have an 8 yr old Chihuahua mix with major allergies, and a healthy young mutt who decided to eat something he shouldn't which resulted in an intestinal blockage requiring a lengthy surgery. Did I mention I lived at my vet's?

Under the circumstances, I had serious concerns about anesthesia. My vet was concerned as well, especially since the Heeler had off-the-charts serious kidney disease (should have been dead 3 yrs ago) and the oldest cat also had kidney disease. However they all needed dental care, one dog needed tumors removed from his toes, etc. Things that couldn't be put off any longer. All made it safely through one or more surgeries with no ill effects.  I did have blood panels done on all the older pets, however, as I said the Heeler's results were always way off the charts. The vet was reluctant to put her under anesthesia but it couldn't be avoided. Even the heeler came through with flying colors. Since you had the blood panels done, your cat should handle the surgery/anesthesia just fine. 

I don't see pain meds as optional, unless the surgery was minor enough that they aren't necessary. I generally trust my vet's opinion on that, although she will prescribe them if I tell her the animal is uncomfortable. 

[here to stay]

I hope it works out for you and Porky. Sometimes it does. My dog had a cancer that the vet said inevitably comes back within 6 months. He was willing to try anyway and gave the dog, 14 at the time, another 2 years of happy life.

I pray you may have the same happy result.

[mzgarden]

Keeping Porky in my thoughts - hoping this is quick and easy.

[Use Less]

So far, so good for Porky.
An x-ray shows something else inside, but as of now, her major organs are not showing involvement: the most complete blood panel they offer is completely normal. The vet called before the surgery and said Porky seems to be plugging along well, all things considered. The lump is removed and teeth cleaned. That one tooth just came out. Guess it's not a big worry. She stays overnight, and if all is still going well, I can bring her home after 9AM. Phew.
I opted for them to send the lump out for testing. Might as well know. I think I will ask about check-ups more than once a year, too. 

[Mari-in-IN]

Thanks so much for the update Use Less - I'm so happy for you both!   Prayers for a good recovery for your Porky!
Take care,
Mari

[Use Less]

And she is home

[shellymay]

I missed this post until now, so happy to hear that she is home and doing well, praying for many more years shared with your beloved cat....

[Daniel]

I haven't posted, but I've been keeping up with Porky. So glad things are working out. So far except for our Stanley having a rare Blood disorder, and burned feet (all skin was gone) we found him running across a highway in Miami when he was a wee little guy, he has been a most healthy little bugger. The last Kitty we had pasted away at 21. Ruth didn't wake up from liver duct bypass surgery. We were thinking more about our feeling then her's. I wish we would have just let her go, but we were talked in to it by vet. It broke our heart. Please give Porky a big Hug (but not too hard) for me.

[Use Less]

Nov 30, 2017 15:47:42 GMT shellymay said:

I missed this post until now, so happy to hear that she is home and doing well, praying for many more years shared with your beloved cat....

Thanks! With Porky at 17, I am not anticipating many more years, but a few would be really lovely if she continues to feel well enough and acts OK. 

[countrymom22]

So glad to hear Porky is home! Here's prayers for an uninteresting recovery and good news from the testing. Give Porky a gentle snuggle for me!

[aoconnor]

So good to hear Porky is home and comfortable. Prayers for a quick, complete recovery.

wildhorseluvr, I keep telling my equine vet that they need to rename their main barn “Barn O’Connor”, since I have more horses there at any one time than anyone else, and I almost always have a couple in their barn each week of late. I also asked them to build me a little apartment on the back of one of the barns, it’s easier to just bring all my horses down there to board, and I can live there too. We are there often enough it would cost less to just do that than make the hour long drive a couple times each week! They said they wioukd think about it:-) LOL

[wildhorseluvr]

Dec 1, 2017 13:47:13 GMT aoconnor said:

So good to hear Porky is home and comfortable. Prayers for a quick, complete recovery.

wildhorseluvr , I keep telling my equine vet that they need to rename their main barn “Barn O’Connor”, since I have more horses there at any one time than anyone else, and I almost always have a couple in their barn each week of late. I also asked them to build me a little apartment on the back of one of the barns, it’s easier to just bring all my horses down there to board, and I can live there too. We are there often enough it would cost less to just do that than make the hour long drive a couple times each week! They said they wioukd think about it:-) LOL

Yeah, I hear you, LOL. There is a house for sale next door to my vet's office. I told my vet I was thinking about buying it & moving to town. I could put a gate in the fence and just send my dogs/cats over as needed. (They already think the vet's office is their second home.)

For the past year or two I've kept a substantial amount of money on account at my vet's, making additional donations as needed. Occasionally my bill will run my account in the red, they never worry as they know I'll pay up the next time I hit town. Maybe I should just add my vet to my bank account?    My income is very limited so it's a hardship but with an elderly pet who is not yet terminal/suffering, what else can you do? I see my pets as a lifetime commitment, I will euthanize when it's the kinder thing to do but until then, they get the best care I can afford.
Thankfully my vet is extremely reasonable in her pricing, gives me lots of freebies, and has been known to cut my bill in half on occasion at a huge loss to herself. 

In the last year I've lost my old German Shepherd, one of my Siamese cats and recently my Mini-Heeler so I haven't been to the vet's as often lately. They told me they really miss me. 

[Woodpecker]

That's a great update...17 years old, wow! Prayers for healing.