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Cat Liver Tumor

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

Cat Liver Tumor

Different types of liver tumors sometimes are a health concern for cats. Often, symptoms present in a way that do not always make it easy to identify. This may include a cat having symptoms such as Cat Loss of Appetite, Cat Lethargy, pale gums, as well as Cat Vomiting, and Cat Loss of Weight.

However, liver tumors have a tendency to stay within one area of the body and pose a low risk for spreading to other areas of the body. Generally, the removal of such tumors usually gives cause to a good prognosis concerning the cat’s quality and length of life. Even so, this only applies in cases when the tumor presents in a contained area that the vet can completely remove.

Signs and Symptoms

During the early stages of a liver tumor, usually no symptoms are present. Tumors found early often either result from a routine ultrasound or x-ray by your veterinarian on a cat’s abdomen. However, some cats experience symptoms in earlier stages, while others do not until much later. Common symptoms include :

• Loss of appetite

• Vomiting

• Weight loss

Different Kinds of Liver Tumors

When it comes to Cat Liver Cancer there are two types of liver tumors. Metastatic and primary consist of the main types of liver tumors. Metastatic tumors usually start in another location in the body and then spread throughout the body. For instance, this could involve a tumor within the lymph nodes, which has spread to the liver.

In most cases, there is usually more than one metastatic liver tumor. Normally, a liver biopsy and histopathology confirms this type of condition. In the event multiple nodules present on the liver without evidence of primary tumors, a laparoscope offers a non-invasive way to sample the liver in order to confirm a cancer diagnosis.

On the other hand, primary liver tumors originate in the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most commonly found type of primary liver tumor. For the most part, they generally never spread but rather invade liver tissue. Usually, surgery is recommended when there is no evidence of metastatic disease present. When certain situations occur, they have to remove over half of the cat liver. This type of procedure is often considered safe with the expectation that the liver will fully regenerate.
A small incision within the midline of the cat’s abdomen is the most common method used for the removal of liver tumors. However, when a liver tumor presents deeper within the liver tissue, the Hilar liver dissection technique offers the best method for tumor removal.

Care After Tumor Removal Procedures

During your cat’s stay at the veterinary hospital, they normally receive pain medication either by epidural catheter or intravenously. Following their stay at the hospital, the cat’s owner is given home care instructions to follow. These instructions are important to follow and normally include a guide of information on when the cat may return to normal activities, while additionally informing the cat’s owner on types of things to monitor.

Usually, cat owners should monitor for labored breathing, discoloration in their cat’s gums or tongue, as well as checking for infection at the location of surgery. Furthermore, cat owners need to make sure their cat does not lick or scratch the incision. In addition, cats may need encouragement with eating as well. Cat Cancer Dietary Supplements and other herbal supplements should be administered to the cat in order to help keep their health up, such as the use of Milk Thistle.

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 Liposarcoma
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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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