This morning I found a hard, large lump on my 20 year old cat Audrey's jaw. My heart stopped because this looked like nothing I've seen before. It just looked big and hard. I took her in to the holistic vet as all the other vets were closed today. The holistic vet is also a regular vet. The vet thought that Audrey likely has a mouth cancer. X-ray definitely showed bone erosion. We do have a small unlikley chance it is tooth abscess because the first aspirate contained pus - this is unlikely because the second and third aspirates were clear. It could be that the tumor got infected.
This came on so suddenly - at least I think. She sees her regular vet monthly because of her thyroids and high blood pressure. I don't think she had this in July.
Audrey is 20 yo, and she's had a full life, but nothing has prepared me for this. She is the most neglected creature in hour house because she's been so easy.
Last few months, she has been licking her mouth quite a bit, but we could not find much. I thought it was infected gum - so we had her on Clindamycin. The pet dentist did not want to clean her mouth because of her age and heart murmur. Last week or two, she has been pawing at her mouth, but I did not notice anything until this morning. I don't know how I could have been so neglectful - esp since I pill her 2x a day.
The vet was telling me that there was nothing I could have done - it was not like I was going to pursue an oral surgery for a 20 yo cat.
I will know for sure tomorrow as I will get the cytology and the radiologist reports back, but my heart breaks - esp since I've neglected her so much.
This came on so suddenly - at least I think. She sees her regular vet monthly because of her thyroids and high blood pressure. I don't think she had this in July.
Audrey is 20 yo, and she's had a full life, but nothing has prepared me for this. She is the most neglected creature in hour house because she's been so easy.
Last few months, she has been licking her mouth quite a bit, but we could not find much. I thought it was infected gum - so we had her on Clindamycin. The pet dentist did not want to clean her mouth because of her age and heart murmur. Last week or two, she has been pawing at her mouth, but I did not notice anything until this morning. I don't know how I could have been so neglectful - esp since I pill her 2x a day.
The vet was telling me that there was nothing I could have done - it was not like I was going to pursue an oral surgery for a 20 yo cat.
I will know for sure tomorrow as I will get the cytology and the radiologist reports back, but my heart breaks - esp since I've neglected her so much.
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