5/28 Tessa AMPS 274 +3 258 +6 259 +9 279 PMPS 300 +2 278 +3 272 - vet update

[tessa's mom]

Previous: https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...-276-6-239-9-251-pmps-279-2-294-3-266.290479/

Tessa had her vet appointment today. I had to work so my husband took her in. The vet looked at her teeth and didn't see any issues with them (her gums still look red so she has gingivitis though) but she did notice that her lymph node on that side of her face was slightly enlarged so they took a sample and are sending it to a lab. We should have results in 3-4 days.

I am certainly concerned about the possibility of cancer but I am trying not to jump to that conclusion because it could be many other things. She took two samples and checked one in-house first. She said it looked "cellular in nature" but I'm not exactly sure what that means. She did say that she got excellent quality samples so we should get an answer from the lab test.

The vet said that the sore on her lip looks like it's caused by her bottom tooth hitting her lip. She didn't really have any suggestions on what we could do. I think the only real option is to pull that bottom tooth too but the vet didn't mention that. She asked us to keep an eye on it and if it gets ulcerated we can come in for antibiotics.

She did not think that it was a food allergy but was not opposed to us trying a novel protein anyway so I think we will do that.

She also said that the vet who did the extractions will actually be in their office tomorrow (I think they're doing a lunch and learn conference) so she will speak with her about Tessa and see if there's anything she knows that our vet doesn't.

Tessa has also lost quite a bit of weight. She was at 12.25 lb on May 14th and she's at 11.69 lb today so roughly half a pound in TWO WEEKS. I did recently increase her food intake because she seemed to be losing weight, hopefully that will help. That kind of weight loss is not making me feel any less concerned about cancer though.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Lymph nodes can also be increased when the body is fighting infection or a virus. Hoping it's not that other thing.

That weight loss is a concern. I wonder if it hurts her to eat if she's touching that sore when she eats? You might want to look for some higher calorie (not carb) food to put weight on, which usually means higher fat. Kitten food is one option.

 

[tessa's mom]

Lymph nodes can also be increased when the body is fighting infection or a virus. Hoping it's not that other thing.

That weight loss is a concern. I wonder if it hurts her to eat if she's touching that sore when she eats? You might want to look for some higher calorie (not carb) food to put weight on, which usually means higher fat. Kitten food is one option.

Yeah, I am crossing my fingers for infection being the cause. The vet said it was only on one side so I think that is more likely to be infection than cancer but I might be wrong.

There is no doubt in my mind that Tessa is in pain when she eats but she loves food so much that she's eating anyway. She eats every bite. I think it's likely her diabetes that is causing the weight loss. I had forgotten that when she was diagnosed and started on insulin last time we had to increase her calories. We dropped it back down after she went into remission because she was gaining too much weight but I forgot to increase her calories when she went back on insulin. She was getting 2.5 cans of Fancy Feast classic pate (roughly 235 calories a day) but now she's getting 3 cans (roughly 280 calories a day) plus treats after tests but not many calories in those. We can always increase some more if she loses more, she will eat it. She's my little food goblin lol.

 

[tessa's mom]

It might be too early to tell but so far it doesn't seem like feeding at +3 and +6 is any better than +4 and +8. It doesn't necessarily seem worse just not any better. I will give it a little longer but if it doesn't show a benefit soon I will probably go back to the old feeding schedule because she seems to prefer that.

 

[Jason - Kona's Dad]

My Kona bear had an oral mass growing in her mouth, it grew over two teeth almost completely covering them. The biopsy came back as all "reactive tissue." They suspect the oral mass was a response from a progression of periodontal disease. A foreign body might have been a cause, but unlikely. So it was probably just a response to the build up of plaque.

I hope Tessa's results come back with something similar or just an infection as you noted.

 

[tessa's mom]

My Kona bear had an oral mass growing in her mouth, it grew over two teeth almost completely covering them. The biopsy came back as all "reactive tissue." They suspect the oral mass was a response from a progression of periodontal disease. A foreign body might have been a cause, but unlikely. So it was probably just a response to the build up of plaque.

I hope Tessa's results come back with something similar or just an infection as you noted.

How was this treated?

I get nervous about growths in the mouth because I lost one of my furbabies to oral squamous cell carcinoma in 2020. It came out of nowhere and grew very large very quickly. He had teeth pulled multiple times that year (long story) and had plenty of x-rays and it just suddenly popped up one day. It took him from me within 6 weeks of diagnosis and it was heartbreaking. I am not going to panic about Tessa unless I hear bad news though.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

It's really hard to figure out best times to feed when her cycles are pretty much flat and high. Once she starts getting more of a regular downward curve, you'll be able to try food experiments again.

 

[Jason - Kona's Dad]

How was this treated?

I get nervous about growths in the mouth because I lost one of my furbabies to oral squamous cell carcinoma in 2020. It came out of nowhere and grew very large very quickly. He had teeth pulled multiple times that year (long story) and had plenty of x-rays and it just suddenly popped up one day. It took him from me within 6 weeks of diagnosis and it was heartbreaking. I am not going to panic about Tessa unless I hear bad news though.

They just cut it out, no treatment. This wasn’t long ago, maybe a few months ago if that. so I do wonder if they got it all or if it’s going to just grow back.

Hopefully you get test results before the end of the week.