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Cat Mouth Cancer

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

Cat Mouth Cancer

When you own a cat you want them to be healthy and fit at all times and it can cause great distress if they become sick. If your cat appears to be unwell or not eating properly then you should seek professional help. Several conditions can be very serious for your cat and one of them is oral cancer. If you do not detect this condition early on then it can be fatal for your cat. Remember to always take your cat for regular veterinary checkups to ensure that they are fit and well as this will help in diagnosing Cat Cancer before it becomes too serious.

What is oral cancer?

The mouth of your cat is the perfect place for tumors to grow and this is why they often do and often they are benign lumps that can be removed. Unfortunately, some of the tumors are cancerous and this is very serious. Oral cancer is no different to other forms of cancer and needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. The cells in your cat’s mouth will be dividing and causing the tissue to grow rapidly. Cancer in any form is often graded and oral cancer in your cat is always classed as a high grade and will need immediate attention.

Symptoms of oral cancer

Although your cat may have a growth or tumor growing, they are very often un-seen and can grow for a long time undetected. Often your cat will salivate more or Cat Drooling more and their face may appear to be swollen; you may also see a visible lump or your cat might be in pain when you try to touch their face. You will also find that they are experiencing a Cat Loss of Appetite and will have difficulty swallowing. Your cat may also have very Cat Bad Breath and an oral discharge which will be very unusual. If your cat shows any of these signs then you should seek professional help straight away.

Diagnosis of the cancer

Your vet will give your cat a complete examination and determine if they do in fact have oral cancer. Your cat will be sedated whilst the vet looks inside their mouth. X-rays are often used to determine where the tumor is in the cat’s mouth and if it is in a hard to reach place then a CT scan may be used. The final step once the tumor has been located is to take a biopsy to determine whether it is cancerous or not. If it is found to be cancerous then your vet will need to determine at what stage the cancer is and then prescribe a treatment plan.

Treatment for oral cancer

The stage of your cat’s cancer will determine what form of treatment your vet will decide upon and the first step is to remove the tumor. This will drastically improve your cat’s chances, they can then begin a course of Cat Cancer Chemotherapy, which can make your cat more comfortable, but there are Cat Chemotherapy Drug Side Effects that can be upsetting for both you and your cat. Your vet will often advise to remove the tumor and then see what happens as there are not a great deal they can do to help your cat. In some cases it may be best to offer Cat Palliative Cancer Care and help your cat be as comfortable as possible.

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 Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Cat Brain Tumor

Read also: Cat Bleach Poisoning
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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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