[direred]

Cat's tumor had a tendril they didn't catch, so he's growing a tumor on another site, so he's going in for radiation.

The old thread's gone, but yeah, amputation is a possibility if radiation doesn't handle it.

Good news is there's a lot less of it to invade related tissues now (and they know what it is, which they didn't before he had surgery because they couldn't get enough tissue in the biopsy).

My cat's going to have an oncologist. That just seems so weird.

[neil5623]

My dog gets cataract surgery tomorrow.

[direred]

Good luck for the pup!

[Hedwig]

Good luck to the kitty and the pup both.

[ilovemydogs]

Originally Posted by Hedwig

Good luck to the kitty and the pup both.

Good luck as well. Amazing how advances the veterinary field has become.
Two of my dogs have had problems these past few months. One needed a root canal,and the other needed an ACL repaired.
My dogs root canal procedure was more costly than mine!
The ACL surgery was just shy of $3800, and she gets a lot of physical therapy.
ILMD

[direred]

Originally Posted by ilovemydogs

Good luck as well. Amazing how advances the veterinary field has become.
Two of my dogs have had problems these past few months. One needed a root canal,and the other needed an ACL repaired.
My dogs root canal procedure was more costly than mine!
The ACL surgery was just shy of $3800, and she gets a lot of physical therapy.
ILMD

The first surgery ran about $3000 alltogether, but that included some kitty diagnostics we'd been putting off, including his echocardiogram (yes, my cat not only has an oncologist, he also has a cardiologist).

ETA: when a friend of mine had a cat that had renal failure, one of the things the vet quoted him for was a kidney transplant. I was pretty stunned by that. They're much less expensive than the human kind, too.

[ilovemydogs]

Originally Posted by direred

The first surgery ran about $3000 alltogether, but that included some kitty diagnostics we'd been putting off, including his echocardiogram (yes, my cat not only has an oncologist, he also has a cardiologist).

ETA: when a friend of mine had a cat that had renal failure, one of the things the vet quoted him for was a kidney transplant. I was pretty stunned by that. They're much less expensive than the human kind, too.

Well let us pray that your Kitty will have a long heathy life after all of this.
I have to say while my dogs are likemy children only
more so ; ) I found it offensive when you had to PAY before even having your dog go in for surgery.
There was no fund for people that could not afford the care for their animal either, unlike some hospitals.
Oh and if you give them a check you better make sure the funds are there while you are writing out the check as it gets cashed within a minute of giving them the check.
FWIW animals do very well on chemo, not so bad,like with humans it seems at least in dogs they tolerate it much better : )

ILMD

[neil5623]

Our little four-legged dust mop is doing great, doc said don't expect him to read the newspaper tonight. I worked for our pup's PCP during high school/college some 25 years ago. If a critter needed anything more than a broke leg set or minor surgery, we hoped for the best. For the cataract surgery, we were referred to a specialist in Houston for this surgery because it is actually a much more complex procedure than it is in humans. The human lens floats freely between membranes. The canine lens is actually attached to the eye and has to be lasered out.

There is a small suburb in west Houston named Hedwig Village. High $ area. Thought someone here might find that interesting.

[roybean]

Originally Posted by neil5623

Our little four-legged dust mop is doing great, doc said don't expect him to read the newspaper tonight. I worked for our pup's PCP during high school/college some 25 years ago. If a critter needed anything more than a broke leg set or minor surgery, we hoped for the best. For the cataract surgery, we were referred to a specialist in Houston for this surgery because it is actually a much more complex procedure than it is in humans. The human lens floats freely between membranes. The canine lens is actually attached to the eye and has to be lasered out.

There is a small suburb in west Houston named Hedwig Village. High $ area. Thought someone here might find that interesting.

Come on...'Hedwig Village???"

[neil5623]

Originally Posted by roybean

Come on...'Hedwig Village???"

Sho 'nuff.

Yahoo! Maps - Hedwig Village, TX, United States

May hafta zoom in a level or 2.

[Hedwig]

Maybe I'll plan to go there one day!!

I'm glad it's a high $$ area. Wouldn't want to have slums named after me!

[Hedwig]

By the way, there is also a St. Hedwig. And in California I saw a St. Hedwig's Catholic Church. Somewhere in southern CA but I don't remember exactly where.

[direred]

Well, I guess ILMD was right.

Went to the oncologist on Tuesday. Based on his medical history and the kind of tumor and the placement (right over a freakin' joint), she recommends amputation.

It'll be less expensive, less traumatic for the cat (radiation would involve about 20 40-minute-each-way trips to the vet), and less risky (which is the most important).

We've scheduled the surgery. He knows something's up, and I can tell he's not feeling well.

[Hedwig]

Good luck to Kitty. I hope he does OK, but I'm sure he will.

[roybean]

Originally Posted by direred

Well, I guess ILMD was right.

Went to the oncologist on Tuesday. Based on his medical history and the kind of tumor and the placement (right over a freakin' joint), she recommends amputation.

It'll be less expensive, less traumatic for the cat (radiation would involve about 20 40-minute-each-way trips to the vet), and less risky (which is the most important).

We've scheduled the surgery. He knows something's up, and I can tell he's not feeling well.

How old did you say this cat is?

[direred]

Originally Posted by roybean

How old did you say this cat is?

14. The problem isn't age per se, it's the combination of some age-related kidney issues and a heart problem.

Most of my cats have lived very long lives. Kitty's apparently in some distress from fighting the cancer -- he's been obviously in somewhat more pain (probably the physical effects of the tumor on the joint) and has been sleeping more. He did that before surgery the last time, and obviously felt better a few days after, even though he wasn't fully healed.

[roybean]

Is this the cat that you had in your avatar that looked fat and happy and cute?

[direred]

Originally Posted by roybean

Is this the cat that you had in your avatar that looked fat and happy and cute?

Yes, and he will again, but he'll have one less leg.

[direred]

Just thought I'd give an update. Tripod's here, having jumped on the bed and up onto my side, and is purring like a maniac.

The first day after he came home (he had his surgery Wednesday), we called him Thumper, because he kept falling over.

He seems to have mostly gotten the hang of it now, though he tires fairly easily (probably a bit sore still and getting some cramps or something).

Overall, he seems to have a lot more energy. One of the problems, though, is that he hasn't yet figured out how to walk on three legs -- only how to run, which is one reason why he's getting tired.

His balance will improve over time, though.

[Hedwig]

I'm glad to hear he's doing OK. I'm sure he'll learn to walk again.