The appearance of subcutaneous lumps on the body of a pet is an alarming sign that requires mandatory diagnosis. The wide variety of possible causes precludes any attempt at self-treatment. An incorrectly selected technique can harm the pet and worsen its well-being.
Despite the danger of possible consequences, do not panic. Many neoplasms are benign. For an accurate result, a thorough examination at a veterinary clinic will be required.
Abscesses
An abscess is a pus-filled, swollen spot on the skin that sometimes forms at the site of a cat bite or scratch. They are often red and painful, so your cat may shy away from your touch.
Cats with an abscess may appear more tired than usual and may not show much interest in eating. A warm compress may give them relief.
To treat an abscess, your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory medication for your cat. They may also trim the hair around the bump to keep the wound clean. If the abscess is deep, your cat may need surgery.
Types of bumps under the skin of a cat
Cones can have a different nature, depending on the animal’s predisposition to a particular disease.
Lipoma (wen)
At first, a small formation appears, which gradually grows and can grow to the size of a chicken egg. The cause of lipoma is improper distribution of fat after clogged pores. Lipoma is a benign neoplasm that does not metastasize and does not cause discomfort. The exception is if the lipoma occurs on the back or neck. The lipoma does not hurt even when pressed, it does not affect life processes: the appetite is preserved, the animal’s normal behavior, the temperature is normal.
In older animals, the appearance of lipomas may indicate the onset of cancer. You should definitely have your cat examined by a veterinarian.
Abscess
An abscess appears at the site of a bruise, any internal injuries, or in case of an incorrect injection.
The tumor appears approximately on the 3rd day after injury, gradually growing.
Unlike a lipoma, an abscess is a painful condition, accompanied by an increase in temperature and depression of the pet’s condition.
The abscess is firm to the touch, but not hard. You can feel accumulated pus inside. If the abscess is not completely healed, pus is released into the hole when pressed.
Lymphadenitis
Inflammation of the lymph nodes. The lump is extremely painful even with slight pressure. The animal's condition is depressed, the temperature is elevated, and the appetite is reduced.
Cyst
A cyst is a benign tumor. A cyst is a lump filled with fluid from the inside. This tumor grows slowly and does not affect the cat’s condition; the cyst is not painful.
Tumor as a reaction to vaccination
Usually there is a slight swelling, a little painful, accompanied by redness.
Oncology
The most terrible type of neoplasm. This is what the owner thinks about when he feels a lump on his pet’s body. Cancer spreads very quickly and metastasizes throughout the body. Inevitably leads to the death of the animal, but in the first stages of the disease it often does not manifest itself.
Tumors
Fatty tumors, called lipomas, can appear anywhere on a cat's body. They are not cancerous and do not need to be removed unless they interfere with your cat's ability to move around normally. They are more common in older or overweight cats.
To check for swelling, your veterinarian will take a sample with a needle. If it's just a fatty tumor, doctors may advise you to do nothing and watch the tumor. If the lump changes or becomes larger, your veterinarian may suggest surgery.
Mast cell tumors can also appear on a cat's skin, usually on the head or neck. They may be itchy or red. About 10% of these tumors are malignant.
Fibrosarcomas are aggressive cancers that can appear anywhere in the body. In rare cases, they occur as a side effect of any injection given.
If your cat develops a lump at the site of a recent vaccination, notify your veterinarian. They will want to examine your cat right away. These tumors usually appear long after vaccination.
One of the most common types of cancer in cats is mammary cancer, or mammary tumors. They appear on the cat's underside near the nipples and often go unnoticed until they become large.
Initially, these tumors may feel like IV granules. About 85% of these tumors are cancerous, so don't delay taking your cat to the vet if you notice anything unusual.
If you spay your cat before her first heat, you will reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 90%.
If your cat has any type of cancer, she will likely need surgery to remove the tumor and the tissue around it. Your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary oncologist who treats animals with cancer.
For breast cancer, the best treatment may be to remove the entire breast. In some cases, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy after surgery.
Causes and symptoms of lumps
A cat's lump under the skin can be malignant or benign. In the first case, the pet should be prescribed treatment as soon as possible, but it may not bring a positive result.
But the lump can also be a benign neoplasm. In this case, there is no need to panic, but it is better to show the cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible so that he can do the necessary research.
If a cat has a lump, this does not mean that the pet is experiencing pain or stress - often the lumps are painless.
Lumps can be very painful - most often this indicates some kind of disease. Even if the lump is not painful and benign, even this can significantly worsen the animal’s life. It is especially dangerous if the lump occurs on the back: this can lead to blockage of blood vessels, blood and oxygen do not reach the organs, and this condition can result in paralysis of the limbs or death.
Precautionary measures
If the lump under the skin turns out to be a tick, contact your veterinarian immediately. The most dangerous parasites carry encephalitis, so if treated independently, not only the cat, but also the owner may suffer. First aid is recommended only when an urgent visit to a veterinary clinic is not possible. To do this, strictly follow the instructions for removing ticks. If you don’t know her, contact your doctor by phone. Improper removal may result in blood poisoning.
Never squeeze out cones with purulent contents. Damage to such seals leads to infection of deeper layers of cellular tissue and a severe form of abscess.
In the later stages of cancer, the likelihood of saving the animal is minimized. If you want to protect your sick pet, sign up for a veterinary clinic for diagnosis immediately after detecting subcutaneous lumps.
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!
Risk factors
Older animals are most vulnerable to the appearance of tumors on the skin. Over time, their immunity decreases and the body becomes more vulnerable to various diseases. The risk of developing cancer increases.
Other risk factors can be identified:
- Bad ecology.
- Heredity.
- Incorrect and poor quality nutrition.
- Constant stress.
- Mechanical injuries.
- Parasitic infestation.
- The presence of other chronic diseases, which reduces immunity.
- Allergy.
- Inflammatory processes in the body.
- Hormonal disorders (often found in unsterilized animals).
- Insect bites.
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.
Malignant neoplasms
A soft lump on a pet's neck can pose a threat to the cat's life. In older animals, the appearance of a neoplasm may indicate oncology.
Malignant lumps do not have specific symptoms; only a specialist can make a diagnosis. As a rule, with cancer, a cat feels unwell and lacks strength, refuses to eat, and begins to lose weight. Since these symptoms are common to other diseases, you should immediately show the animal to a specialist.
To make a diagnosis, the doctor will do an X-ray or MRI. If a malignant tumor is suspected, a biopsy is performed - removal of particles of the tumor for the purpose of histological examination of tissue cells. Based on the results of histology, a decision is made on further treatment. The lump must be completely removed, and the animal is prescribed a course of chemotherapy.
