Cat Skin Cancer Treatment

And because cats have a tendency to mask illnesses it can be harder to detect.

Cat skin cancer treatment.

Cancer in cats used to be a death sentence for felines. This often leads to later diagnoses and more difficult and costly treatments. Still with what s available to us we have good options and depending on the cancer it s well tolerated says dr. To recognize skin cancer in cats use your fingers to feel for lumps all over the cat s body and part the fur to look closely at the skin for irregularly shaped lumps with dark pigment.

If you find any sores on your cat s skin consult the vet immediately. Some forms of malignant feline cancer for example can be cured with surgery with or without the use of radiation therapy. Older cats and those with white ears and heads are especially susceptible to skin cancer. It may appear to be a white plaque or a raised bump on the skin.

Your cat will need to be admitted to the hospital and placed under anesthesia. A squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that originates in the squamous epithelium. Cats usually lag behind dogs for new cancer treatment protocols. A lump in your cat s skin is not necessarily cancer but should be checked by a veterinarian.

In cases which the skin cancer is caught early the tumors may be small and easily removed during a surgical procedure. Learn more about the causes symptoms and treatment of the condition in cats here. To confirm a diagnosis of cancer a biopsy is necessary. Consulting with a veterinary oncologist is an important step in determining the best treatment for a cat with cancer.

For superficial tumours such as squamous cell carcinoma soft tissue sarcomas and mammary tumours surgery may be required and sometimes chemotherapy too. Treatment is still possible if skin cancer in cats is diagnosed in the initial stages. Skin cancer in cats. Cancer cachexia can get even worse if your cat has a loss of appetite because of the cancer and or cancer treatment.

A lump that sits on the surface of the skin and has a definite border is more likely to be a wart cyst or harmless skin mass but it s still important to get. The treatment for cancer in cats will depend on the type your cat has but your vet will be able to suggest the best way forward for both the type of cancer and your cat. If the lump is small enough a vet may recommend removing it entirely. Generally the course of treatment depends on the size and number of tumors.

X research source addressing your cat s nutritional needs during her cancer treatment is crucial to counteracting the cachexia and keeping her as healthy and strong as possible. Today the latest treatments for feline cancer may add several years to your kitty s life.