Cat Liposarcoma

Definition

Lipomas can be of three varieties. They can be benign, infiltrative or malignant. Malignant lipomas are liposarcomas. They originate in the fat cells. They generally appear in the limbs of cats, but can occur in other areas as well, including the cat’s bones or their abdominal cavity. Cytological examination can distinguish them from lipomas. Liposarcomas are locally invasive. They can spread to bone, spleen, lungs and liver.

Signs and Symptoms

Most liposarcomas surface as lumps in the skin on the sides of a cat or along the neck and groin. Senior cats can develop these tumors in their joints which is very painful for them. If they are in the soft fatty tissue, then they are a bit soft and will give if they are squeezed. On rare occasions, they can occur in the body cavity. There will be drooping of the stomach and increased Cat Swollen Abdoment and swelling on one side of the abdomen. Although they are not a particularly common type of tumor, they can occur and diligence should be practiced to prevent further complications.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of liposarcomas in the joints begins with an x-ray of the joints to be sure if it is not normal wear on aging joints. With abdominal x-rays and needle aspiration you can have a more accurate diagnosis of the lump.

Treatment Options

Surgical removal of this malignancy early in the stage of the disease will allow your cat to have a good prognosis and live a long active life. If you ignore the symptoms and the tumor becomes invasive, the prognosis can quickly become poor. Your veterinary oncologist will design a treatment plan such as surgery followed by radiation. The radiation will assure that the malignancy has not spread in the immediate area of the original tumor.

Pain control

Cats with cancer will also have pain. The pain is not only due to the disease, but also the treatment. If your cat has surgery, there will be post-operative pain that you should take care of. As with humans who have had surgery, it is not a maybe, it is a definite. Your veterinarian will prescribe pain medication with allowable administration. You should not let the time pass. It is far easier to prevent the pain. Cats often do not exhibit signs of pain, but rather go into seclusion as a defense mechanism. An animal in the wild will retreat from the pack in an effort to hide their vulnerability. Prevent this in your cat. Give them the medicine they require exactly when they need it.

Diet and Nutrition

Cats with pain will also experience a Cat Loss of Weight. They often have a hard time eating due to digestive system involvement or when the tumor can interfere with chewing or swallowing. Pain will also cause a Cat Loss of Appetite which will then lead to the weight loss. Along with the weight loss is the lack of proper nutrition. The immune system can be greatly compromised by loss of appetite and subsequent poor nutrition. You may have to introduce new foods into your cat’s diet to maintain weight, such as with the addition of Cat Cancer Dietary Supplements. Veterinary oncologist may prescribe one of the Cat Cancer Diets that are specifically designed for feline cancer patients. If you follow the directions of the pet care professional, your course of treatment and recovery will improve.

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