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Cat Bone Hemangiosarcoma

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

Cat Bone Hemangiosarcoma

This particularly lethal type of Cat Cancer begins in the blood vessels. It rapidly metastasizes throughout the cat’s body including their bones. It affects the bones less frequently than osteosarcoma, and can be difficult to distinguish from osteosarcoma.

Hemangiosarcoma is rare in cats, although when it does appear it is usually in senior cats. It has the ability to affect the bones of the cat’s pelvis, skull and spine and their limbs.

Hemangiosarcoma does not have a good prognosis. With treatment, survival is merely a few months. By the time it is diagnosed it usually has already metastasized to other organs and parts of the cat’s body.

Signs and Symptoms

• Swelling of the bones for no apparent reason

• Your cat breaking a bone without cause

• Bleeding

• Lameness or pain in the legs

Diagnosis

As with all diseases, a good medical history is important for your veterinarian. In addition, your vet will perform a physical exam and diagnostic testing. This can include x-rays of the painful body part. From there it can progress to:

• X-rays of the abdomen

• X-rays of the chest and lungs

• Ultrasound of the abdomen

• Blood tests that include blood count and chemistry

• Urinalysis

• It may progress to a biopsy of the affected area.

Treatment Options

The only treatment for this type of cancer is surgery. This may even include amputation of the affected bone. Cat Cancer Chemotherapy and Cat Radiation Therapy can also be used. As with all cancers, pain medication will be ordered and should be administered as directed.

Home Care

Pain medication will be the main part of your home care. It will most likely be pills or pain patches that keep the level of medication steady in your cat’s body.

Your cat’s activity will be severely limited. This is an attempt to prevent fractures of the affected bones. The cancer will weaken the bone. There should be minimal activity and no jumping or excessive play. Playtime will diminish for your cat’s health and safety. Follow the simple guidelines for Cat Palliative Cancer Care.

If any new bumps appear or lameness develops or increases, you need to notify your vet as soon as possible. Although the lameness may be due to arthritis of ligament and tendon injury, it still warrants a visit to your veterinarian.

Once the lameness occurs, tests should be done to determine if cancer is the cause.

Other Issues

Osteomyelitis is another issue that you need to deal with. This occurs when bacteria enters your cats body through injury and proceeds to the bone. The symptoms of osteomyelitis are similar to Cat Bone Cancer, but only your vet can determine the difference through radiological and lab studies.

Other types of cancer can attack the bone. Your veterinarian can distinguish the difference between primary bone cancer and perhaps metastasis from another type of cancer. Often your vet will consult with a veterinary oncologist.

Pain and nutritional support are always necessary when your cat has been diagnosed with cancer. Special Cat Cancer Diets are available and Cat Cancer Dietary Supplements can also have some effect on your cat’s overall stamina.

Additional Cat Cancer Pages

Cat Cancer | Cat Skin Cancer | Cat Lung Cancer | Cat Pancreatic Cancer | Cat Cancer Prevention | Cat Cancer Diagnosis | Cat Gastric Cancer | Cat Lymphoma Cancer | Cat Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Cat Mouth Cancer | Cat Brain Tumor | Cat Palliative Cancer Care

Read also: Cat Increased Urination
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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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