Mittens needs our help.
He's had a cyst on his spine over his right hip for a long time, but he has started to chew at it regularly like it's bothering him. Then he's started throwing up his food, almost completely unchewed, and his appetite has waned and he's losing weight fast.
He got a slow-feeding bowl for Christmas thinking he was just
eating too quickly and not taking the time to chew, but that
didn't make a difference. When we took him to the vet yesterday we
learned two things:
His cyst has turned potentially cancerous, and he has a
badly infected tooth that needs to be removed. Both would require
anesthesia and surgery, so the best option is to do both at the
same time.
-
The Cyst:
-
They drained a dark blackish-brown sludge from it yesterday,
and it's already re-filled. The cells tested positive for
melanistic carcinoma.
- It's a self-contained sac, so if they remove it now the cancer won't spread into the surrounding tissues and bone and he should have a full recovery.
- The Tooth:
- Is a routine extraction, fairly typical for a cat his age.
- They will do x-rays and make sure the rest of his teeth are cleaned and healthy (and remove any others that may need it).
- He's a healthy cat.
- The diet issues are related to the pain in his mouth, and the cancerous cyst can be cleanly excised.
- The vet says he is strong and healthy otherwise, and should look forward to a good many years ahead if we treat these issues now.
- The cost:
- For the anesthesia, oral surgery and the excision of the cyst and
after-care costs, the vet gave us a range that depends entirely upon
whether they find more teeth that need work
- $1,550 - $2,550
Mittens and Olivia have been inseparable since he was a kitten and
she was a year and a half old. He's my bud and keeps me company when
she's not here (although he does spend time checking out the front
door window to see if she's coming back, and occasionally sings songs
for her outside her bedroom door). He brings a whole lot of love and
happiness to our little family, and any help you might consider giving
would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
