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Cat Adrenal Gland Tumor

Veterinarian Reviewed on April 2, 2014 by Dr. Janice Huntingford

Cat Adrenal Gland Tumors

As a cat owner you want your cat to be healthy and happy throughout their entire life, but sadly, this doesn’t always happen. There are several different tumors and lumps that your cat can get: some are normal and others can be deadly. One type of tumor which is very common amongst cats is the Adrenal Gland tumor.

Adrenal Gland explained

The Adrenal glands are very small glands which are found in cats, that are buried in the fat directly in front of the kidneys. Their function is to regulate important hormones and they influence the proper functioning of your cat’s vital organs. The Adrenal Gland is made up of two very important parts: the cortex and the medulla. Both of these can develop tumors and serious diseases. If these glands are not functioning correctly then it is very likely that there is a tumor that is stopping them from working.

Symptoms of Adrenal Gland tumor

If your cat begins to have Cat Increased Thirst and then Cat Increased Urination, Cat Increased Appetite, thinning skin and thinning coat then you will need to consider that they may have a tumor. The tumor will cause changes in the hormone levels in your cat which will cause these symptoms to occur. Also their blood glucose levels may rise along with Cat High Blood Pressure, which will in turn increase the risk of blood clots forming. If you are concerned that your cat has these symptoms, then you should seek professional help for them to diagnose the problem.

Diagnosis of the tumor

You will need to have your cat diagnosed as soon as possible as your vet will need to run a series of tests to decide what is wrong with your cat. Often CT and MRI scans will help to locate the tumor and in some cases an ultra sound will be able to detect them. The tumors will be causing dis-comfort to your cat so you have to get them diagnosed as soon as possible. Cats with any form of Cat Cancer will need to be treated in a certain way and have a specific diet as well.

Treatment of the tumor

How your vet decides to treat the tumor will depend on several different factors, such as the age of your cat; their overall health also needs to be taken into consideration. Often if your cat is well enough they will have the tumor removed surgically or drugs may be given to try and shrink it. The surgery is a very complicated procedure and there are often complications afterwards. If your cat is too old or too ill then they can be given drugs to help with the pain and to attempt to shrink the tumor.

Aftercare for your cat

Your cat will need supplements to help the adrenal glands to recover and begin producing the correct levels of hormones again. Some cats do require these supplements for life and others recover better and can be taken off them. Your cat will need to be monitored closely and have regular checkups with your vet until they are happy with your cat’s progress.

Read also: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus – FIV
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Our Expert

Dr. Janice Huntingford
Janice Huntingford, DVM, has been in veterinary practice for over 30 years and has founded two veterinary clinics since receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She has studied extensively in both conventional and holistic modalities. Ask Dr. Jan

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