Don't want to go back on Prednisone!

[Kim & Twice]

I took the day off work today so that I could get a few extra readings on Twice with his insulin change. I am sad to say he is drooling again (couple days now) and therefore think that his tongue growth is back (DH will have to help me check). Twice hates his mouth messed with, so with a flashlight in MY mouth I tried to check this out and think I can see somethingThis was the reason he was put on prednisone originally and for so long (even though I questioned the safety of this). He crashed on the pred and came up diabetic (lost weight and muscle mass in one months time). I will have to see what comes up and if it is back, I will need to see the vet again. Trust me, I will NOT be using prednisone again, and will most likely ask for the surgery to remove the growth completely. Chances are, it could be reoccuring being that he is a diabetic now (been reading again). Still looking around to see if there is another avenue to dealing with this lesion. It is not cancerous (biopsy), nor related to dental health. Has anyone been through a medical situation similar where the use of prednisone is the "preferred" treatment, and come across a different method of tx?

 

[Ann & Scatcats]

Hello Venerable Twice

Can you let Beans take a close up picture of your growth and post?


Hello Twice' bean Kim

Do you have the exact cell analysis specification content report of the biopsy?

It should say for instance in the report, if neoplasma cells, fat cells, fungus cells and other specfied cells of it.

There is a whole array of cell types that cortison have no particular effect on. As only and first combat choice.


Ann

 

[Kim & Twice]

Hi Ann,
I will have to get a copy of the report from the vet. As for pics, it is tentatively possible...we will try when I get my second set of hands home.
However, the pred did work at shrinking the growth the first time around, but I took him off it when the diabetes showed up and it hasn't been addressed since (couple months now). Vet thought it might keep healing on its own

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Kim, IF prednisone is the only thing that works, then we always treat the more "serious" condition and deal with the numbers later. If surgery is possible and would fix the problem, I'd think that would be the best idea for both you and Twice

If you must go back on the prednisone, you just have to increase the insulin, but we can cross that bridge when we come to it.

 

[WileyWonderCat]

I would also be interested in hearing what others have done when prednisone is required but their kitties are diabetic. Have they found other treatments? Or have they had to increase insulin to help counteract the steroid?

My cat has severe skin allergies and was recently diagnosed with (what I think is steroid-induced) diabetes. He hasn't had any steroids in a couple of months (since diabetes diagnosis) but now his allergies are starting to come back and I don't know what to do. I need to call the vet about possible options.

If surgery is an option for you, it might be worth it. Is your cat in good health for his age?

 

[Kim & Twice]

Hi Jenny,
I am not sure if they would do surgery, but I can't see why not. I had another kitty who had the entire mass removed as well as a couple teeth. For her they also tested for cancer and it was negative, so they figured it was caused by dental irritation and bacteria. My vet was very surprised when a couple months after that I showed up with Twice for the same thing. He started out by again informing me that these lesions are usually cancerous and that the odds of having two kitties with growths...well I should prepare for the worst. Twice's results came back great a week later, but the lesion was shrinking very slowly he thought, so he decided to keep him on the pred for 20 more days. I questioned this, only because I worked for a vet and knew extended use of steriods is not recommended (but sometimes necessary). He said it should be fine as Twice was in great shape. Well, he isn't now I'm just sad it grew back and they really don't know what caused it. I had asked if it could be environmental (toys, cleaners, etc) maybe something common since two had it in a short period of time. He didn't think so.

As for your kitty, hopefully they know what is causing the allergy (but this is very difficult sometimes to figure out). I do remember that some common issues were food, parasites, pollen, cleaners, fabric softeners. They will sometimes recommend changing one thing at a time and giving some leeway to see if it makes a difference. Food was a big thing, but I'm thinking that you maybe changed foods since he became diabetic?

I would love to hear what your vet thinks about tx for Wiley. I will also post what I find out.
Kim

 

[Sandy and Brie]

Brie has lymphoma and a mass on his liver. He was started on pred a year ago. His BG runs higher but I've had to adjust for the numbers. The cancer trumps the diabetes and sometimes pred needs to be used. In Brie's case the pred is keeping his liver mass for growing and the ultrasound he had last week showed that his abd is looking ok or should I say not getting worse.
Sandy

 

[Deanie and Boo (GA) and Scout]

Still looking around to see if there is another avenue to dealing with this lesion. It is not cancerous (biopsy), nor related to dental health. Has anyone been through a medical situation similar where the use of prednisone is the "preferred" treatment, and come across a different method of tx?

What did the biopsy say the growth was? In order to formulate a treatment plan, you need to know what it is.

My Peaches would get large eosinophilic granulomas on the back of her tongue. The first time we found it, my vet removed the whole growth and sent it to the lab. It did reoccur but there was no way to do surgery every time it came back. We treated with pred occasionally.

You need to know what the biopsy report said in order to treat it. I'm surprised that your vet doesn't seem to know what to do with it.

 

[Kim & Twice]

Hi Deanie,

Oh I'm sure the vet will know what to do. I need to get in contact with him yet, and as it was the weekend, I thought some suggestions to alternatives would give me homework before the appt. But as you say, I need to know what the biopsy report was.