Cat Salivary Tumor

Cats have four pair of salivary glands. These are the glands that are responsible for producing saliva in your cat’s mouth. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of tumor. The mandibular gland is the usual location of these cancers. These tumors are somewhat rare in cats. Older cats are more commonly affected than younger cats and kittens. Metastasis can often occur with this type of Cat Cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms vary from cat to cat. The usual symptoms are Cat Loss of Appetite which will result in Cat Loss of Weight, Cat Bad Breath, your cat will have problems swallowing and there will be visible swelling on their neck, ears, tongue or lip.

Diagnosis

When the swelling or other symptoms occur, your veterinarian will perform a fine needle biopsy of the tumor. CT scans, MRI’s and x-rays are also used to determine the extent of the malignancy and determine if it has metastasized to other organs.

Treatment Options

Nutritional support is vital for any cat that is suffering from cancer. Cancer can alter your cat’s metabolism which can lead to weight loss. The tumor itself can create difficulty swallowing and chewing. Tumors can also cause changes in your cat’s digestive system. Pain can occur from the cancer and from the treatment. This can also cause a loss of appetite.

It will be necessary to consult with your veterinarian to design a specific Cat Cancer Diets tailored specifically for your cat’s needs. If your cat is having difficulty chewing and swallowing, a soft diet may have to be developed. Maintaining sufficient nutritional status will aid the immune system. Any cancer will compromise your cat’s immune system and often veterinarians will prescribe the use of food supplements such as vitamins and minerals, and other Cat Cancer Dietary Supplements. A soft diet that is easy to chew and easy to digest will aid your pet in its recovery.

Cats will most definitely experience pain with the cancer. Not only will they have pain from tumors, but also from the Cat Cancer Chemotherapy or other treatments they may receive. Most vets will prescribe pain medicine before the pain occurs to keep your cat as comfortable as possible. This will be a difficult time for both you and your cat.

The recommended treatment for salivary gland tumors is surgery. This may prove to be a difficult surgery because of the complicated anatomy of the glands. Survival time can be increased with surgery as the only course of treatment. There are no studies to promote the use of chemotherapy for salivary tumors.

There are some complications that may result from the surgery. Due to the complex anatomy of the head and mouth, there is a possibility of the parotid gland being removed. This is a gland that is over the ear. Removal can cause facial nerve deficits which can cause drooping, drooling or inability to blink. Removing the mandibular gland can injure tongue nerves.

Prognosis

There are no studies to accurately predict the prognosis associated with salivary gland tumors. So much depends on the degree of the tumors. If the cancer has metastasized to other organs the prognosis is very poor. If the cancer is caught during its early stages the prognosis is guarded, but still better than the more advanced cases.

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