Mammary Tumors in Cats: Part III

Addie post surgery day 4, June 25, 2011. Wearing E-collar to prevent her from licking/pulling out sutures

 

Addie June 25,2011 Partial view of incision site

 

Addie June 25,2011 Post op day 4

First photo: Sutures of in-line mastectomy (all breasts of left side).  Third breast down was malignant. Mass size was approximately 1cm. There was no “found” evidence of cancer cells in the lymph gland or the lymph node. Addie seemed to feel a bit better on post operative day 4. The surgery was by no means easy. It was the equivalent of a human mastectomy. There is considerable pain and I simply had to observe her body signs and behavior to determine when she needed medication. She rested on her side most of the time- asleep or not. I had dumped a load of towels on the bed and when I returned with more towels  she was lying in the towels that were still warm from the dryer. She looked as snug as a bug in a rug and that is where she napped.                                                                                                                                                                                 

For pain management, I gave Bupenex 0.1mg subcu between the shoulder blades once today. About 30 minutes after the injection her respirations had slowed down some and she was not purring in an effort to cope with her discomfort. Her appetite was also better but I had given her an injection of B-complex which helps to srtimultate the appetite. I fed her dry Purina EN. If a cat can not smell the food, s/he simply will not eat.  Her total food intake for today was about 1/4 cup, maybe a tad more. In addition, she drank a large quantity of water this afternoon, which was a good thing!

 

 Post  Yvonne Daniel         Photographs  Yvonne Daniel

                 

    

     

    

 

    

  

 

   

  

 

  

  

 

   

  

 

Maize’s Dental Surgery and Recovery

 

 The very invasive dental surgeries were done in June of 2011.

This is a pic of Maize who was once a feral cat. I trapped her, a sister, and a brother about 13-14 years ago. She loves to be petted and is in absolute ecstasy when I groom or pet her. Her fur mats easily even though she is not a long haired cat so she was shaved prior to her dental surgery. Of all my cats she is probably the shyest one and has never been confrontational with the other cats over food or sleeping spots. 

 

Maize 13-14 yrs old (4 weeks post dental surgery)

Maize, this sweet little tortoiseshell also had dental surgery the day after Sassy’a surgery. A very talented Austin, Texas  board certified, veterinary dental surgeon, Dr. Steve Capron,  performed the surgeries on my cats about 5 weeks ago. Maize’s had gingivitis of the gums and decayed teeth. She is doing well at this time but must be on a low protein diet,   (NF) which is made by the Nestle Purina Company. It was necessary after the dental surgery, to feed her soft canned food with her favorites being AD made by  Hill’s Science Diet. I also fed her Fancy Feast by Purina for the first 4 weeks. Her mouth was quite sore and she required pain meds in the form of Bupenex which I gave subcutaneous between the shoulder blades.  After about 5-6 days she no longer required pain medication.The kidney diet was gradually introduced and it remains an on-going process to get her acclimated to a different food. She is not wild about the RX diet but it is must.

Maize received two antibiotics- Clindamycin  which is an antibiotic- (it can be given orally as a  pill or liquid and also subcu or intramuscular) to kill bacteria that has been growing and that is also unleashed whenever there is/are extractions of the teeth. For a kidney infection, which I am sure resulted from the diseased teeth, she received Seniquin 1/2 tab, daily and good golly was that a chore. I used a “piller” that I purchased from Pets Mart( and one that actually held the 1/2 tab until I pushed the plunger as far back into her mouth as I could get. It was a real tug of war between the “pill” and the the pill that I was trying to give her. Generally it took me 2-3 tries until I had gotten really fast and adept at getting that pill at the back of her tongue so that she could not spit it back out. 

I had to give both antibiotics longer that I care to remember. I don’t remember exactly but both cats took the antibiotics for the same length of time. Each cats’s medications were calibrated on their weight with Sassy receiving the larger dosages since she weighed around 11 pounds and Maize weighed about 6 and 1/2 pounds.

I gave and I am still giving Maize, Ringer’s Lactate which is a fluid that is given either intravenously or subcutaneously. I use the subcutaneous route because these cats are getting fluids daily. It just would not work to have a permanent needle inserted in a vein. It would be too painful and needles do come out of the vein. If this happens it is called infilltration and the fluid leaks out into the tissue. That becomes a real mess and presents a potential problem for an infection such as cellulitis.

  For cats whose kidneys are declining in health, it is good to lessen the strain on the kidneys by supplementing their oral fluid intake with subcu fluids. The cat is better hydrated in this manner and the fluids are not nearly as difficult to give as the oral medication.  Preferably the fluids should be given daily but of late she been getting them three times weekly.

 As of June 2oth, 2011  Maize and Sassy appear to be doing well and I hope and pray that these procedures will give them several more good years of life. 

 

Mammary Tumors in Cats: (1) June, 2011

Inline surgical site for removal of 1.2 centimeters of mammary tumor. Post surgery day 4.

Addie July 10, 2011 post surgery. Note right shaved leg where IV was inserted prior to her surgery.

 

June 21,2011

Addie, Day I, post surgical removal of one cancerous breast  plus all breasts on same side, called in-line mastectomy. The veterinary Board Certified surgeon called me Friday afternoon about 4:30pm as I was driving home from an errand.  I suspected that the pathology would reveal the breast as malignant and yes, the veterinarian said that it was. He submitted lymph gland tissue that luckily also contained some lymph node tissue. That specimen was negative for signs of cancer but of course that still does not mean that there are not other nodes or tissue that can be malignant. The surgeon told me that he had gotten clean borders and that the mass was only about 1cm which is a pretty good indication of a more favorable prognosis. &nbsp style=”color:#800000;”>  Addie is receiving injectable Bupenex  0.1mg for pain, 3 times a day, (TID) which I give under the skin (subcutaneously) between the shoulder blades.   We arrived home from Austin about 8pm last night. I had put her in a large cage after arriving home but that was not to be for she would not eat  nor use the litter box.  I opened the  cage and she immediately found a litter box to use.  I then put her in the bathroom and she ate a bit of Fancy Feast and some dry Purina low protein kidney diet. She also ate a few bites of Science Diet Original. Today she has not been so perky. She just sort of napped in 2 or 3 places for long intervals. As I write, she is in a box on a dresser.  She is wearing an E collar so that she can not bite or scratch her long line of sutures.

 

Note: Within a few days  I learned that Addie’s type of cancer does not respond to chemotherapy. Then I learned from my daughter (the veterinarian) that chemo is extremely hard on cats. She said there are dire consequences of chemo and that it generally “fries the kidneys” thus causing an early demise from renal failure.  So the reality is (1) early surgical removal of the mass.  (2) If mass is less than 2cm the life expectancy post mammary tumor removal is greater. Veterinary literature says that anywhere from less than a year and up to 5 years post surgery for prognosis. The statistics are not favorable for the cat at all. It all boils down to a roll of the dice.

Post: Yvonne   

Sassy is Toothless Now

 

This is  photo of my my cat Sassy, who came to our house as a youngster of about 8 months old. I returned Sassy to her owner three times and each time she came back the next day. Clearly she had decided that our place of abode was more appealing than living in an apartment where her owner continued to allow her to escape. Each time she came back to our house she jumped into my husband’s bass boat and the seat became her bed. She “talked” to me each time I discovered her in the boat which was parked in the “boat port” near the house. I finally gave up returning her and her owner did not call to learn if her cat had taken up residence at our house again.

 In April, I discovered Sassy’s teeth were in a terrible condition. I felt guilty since some of my pets for the past year and one half, due to family matters, did not get the attention that they had been getting before my life changed for the worse for a while. By the time I realised she was ill from the condition of her teeth and gums, she needed BIG TIME, REAL, DENTAL INTERVENTION.  A  veterinary dental surgeon in Austin,Texas, pulled all her teeth and the sockets were filled with a special substance. 

 In this photo, she is about 5 weeks post full dental extraction. She is doing very well now and as my daughter told me, “she should be good for at least 5 more years of living. I truly hope so for she is a very special kitty. In the very future I will give all of the details that were involved getting Sassy back to being “sassy.”

Sassy, 17 years old. Toothless

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Greyhound Racing

  The topic of Greyhound racing is one of much controversy; pro and con. I have debated with myself whether this is really a topic that I should write about. According to a great deal of research, Greyhound racing remains a touchy subject among, race fans, race track owners, breeders, rescue groups, and animal rights activists. I have read, so much about dog racing that it almost made my head spin. I read a number of forums on the Internet which caused me to really think about how I should, would, or could write what all of these very passionate people had to say in defense of or against Greyhound racing. The fur literally flies on some of the forums and some individuals have been banned from participating in some of them. One forum showed one person making long and detailed remarks about almost every individual’s written opinion.  This person discredited any data that was presented. This individual gave the impression of knowing all there is to know about breeding, racing, showing, injury and health issues of the Greyhound, rescue organizations, and the list goes on.

For the reader of this post, please keep in mind that I am endeavoring to keep this post neutral. I am simply writing about what I have researched.  I’ll begin with what is considered the good part of Greyhound racing. Just about anyone that possesses a fair amount of knowledge about dogs in general knows something about dogs that race. 

The good of racing greyhounds. In years past a fairly large number of individuals earned their livelihood as a direct result of working with the dogs at the race track. These people are/were involved in the care of the dogs which are generally kept near or on the premises of the track property. In the heyday of Greyhound racing thousands of people were employed in a variety of positions at the tracks.  A great deal of money was/is made racing these dogs. Breeders also benefited from racing dogs. For some breeders the racers were their sole income and for others the dogs provided a supplemental income. Many states had several tracks, so racing was profitable for track owners and the races are/were a diversion for those people that enjoyed gambling via placing bets just as people place bets on race horses. However, many tracks have been closed because some states have passed laws banning dog races. The other negative part of the whole dog racing scene was/is that many things change either for better or worse. Betting on racing dogs no longer holds the appeal that it once did. One factor might be that those individuals who enjoy betting/gambling now have, perhaps what could be considered, a quicker and more enjoyable way to spend their entertainment money. Enter the world of the casino where the lure of the slot machine, gaming tables, etc. has proven more exciting than betting on a dog that races around trying to catch a  “dummy” lure (which is considered more humane than using a live rabbit). 

This subject to be continued. Hopefully, I will be able to add a photo of a rescued Greyhound, which has eluded me in the area where I live.  I will continue my quest for a dog to photograph. As an aside- I personally find the Greyhound a beautiful and noble dog.

 Post by  Yvonne Daniel

A Wee Dog: The Chihuahua

 

                                                                                                

    

Gracie Narum March,2011

                                                                                                                                           Chihuahua, long hair  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This is a   photo of a black and white long haired Chihuahua. Her family lavishes her with much love and devotion. This is one proud queen bee of an assembly of pets.      

This little dog is a very old breed- some say it originated in Mexico. The chi is tiny and toy sized. The body is longer than it’s tail. The muzzle is short, pointed, and the ears are large and erect (stand up). The coat comes in various lengths: wavy, flat, long, or short. Various colors are seen and these are probably the result of the breeders whim or what ever happens to be popular at the time. A WORD OF CAUTION. MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU ARE NOT BUYING FROM A PUPPY MILL. CHECK OUT PREMISES, PARENTS,  CLEANLINESS, HOW AND WHERE THE PUPPIES WERE RAISED AND CALL THE BREEDERS VETERANARIAN AND MAKE SURE IT REALLY IS A VET’S OFFICE THAT YOU ARE TALKING WITH.   Better yet, adopt a chi from a rescue group or an animal shelter and save a life!   

These pint sized dogs require human leadership, proper socialization with other dogs, pets, and people. They need firm training with positive reinforcement. The chi should never be allowed to dominate anyone in the family. Letting your “itsy-bitsy- cutsey” dog rule the roost by sitting only in your lap and allowing it to assume the role of pack leader are all NO-NO behaviors. Never give into the assumption that little, means tender, meek, and mild. If your chi assumes the role of pack leader, you are in for tumultuous times. This dog can and will become over protective, snap at children, adults, and possibly you, when you attempt to correct it’s ill behavior. Pampering and ignoring your dog’s increasing dominance does not pay.     

Exercise daily. A walk or plenty of active play is necessary for the chi’s mental stimulation. It will do wonders for your pet and possibly you!      

One last word of advice.  Do not get a chihuahua because it is the latest fad.  If you choose a chi, put the effort into training your dog so that he/she does not become a menace. Commit yourself to train your little dog and your chi can be the ideal pet. PLEASE do not add your dog to a shelter that is already teeming with un-wanted chihuahuas.       

It might be difficult to believe that a dog that appears innocuous can become a demon from hell. Don’t be fooled. Train your dog to live up to it’s full potential, so that you can be the proud owner of a great little dog.      

 Post by Yvonne Daniel            Photograph by Yvonne Daniel