My 16 year old male cat has a tumor on his stomach. The vet told me he has to have it done. The vet also thinks that the tumor may be malignant. Should I put him thru a surgery when he may not last anyway? I'm thinking a should just leave him alone and let him live as long as god wants him to live. Please give me your opinion.
2006-08-19 15:34:36 · 12 answers · asked by funtastick2 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
If it suffers, get the surgerey, if not then let it live
2006-08-19 15:40:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tough, tough decision. Did your vet give you any idea what the probabilities of cancer are? I would think it must be. Then again how large is the tumor?
I am on the Yahoo group feline cancer and the terrible things those kitties have, the terrible anxiety of their caregivers, the chemo, the radiation,etc.
I would think it is cancer. Removal of the tumor might make you cat more comfortable for a while though and I would suspect that it cannot be a cure. I have come to know that surgery can actually hasten the spread of the cancer.
My darling twelve yr old Mincho was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The vet said it is an aggressive cancer and there is no cure for it. Mincho was having large amounts of blood in his urine every day. I had the surgery in the hopes of relieving any pain he was having urinating. He has been fine for almost three months now and, of course, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. The ultrasound and the surgery ran me around $1200.
I took his "case" to a homeopathic vet in MA. His name is Jeffrey Levy, DVM. Mincho has had two of the pills that this vet has mailed to me. You can read about Dr. Levy and get all the information you need for making contact at his web site: www.homeovet.net. You will have to send your cat's medical records, recent blood work, x-ray or ultrasound reports etc. Then Dr. Levy will talk to you about your cat for at least an hour before he will come up with a remedy for your cat's case.
I am the only person on the feline cancer group who is using homeopathy to treat their cat.
A homeopathic remedy could keep the tumor under control or cause if to shrink. I pray for a "cure" for Mincho and I may just be buying my sweetie more time, still with a good quality of life.
It has cost me $170 so far. That's not a lot and it is the only chance Mincho has. The review of the medical records, the hour-long phone consultation, costs for mailing the remedies etc. was about $140. Rest has gone for some follow-up calls to report how Mincho is doing, etc.
2006-08-19 16:58:47 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the tumor is on the outside of his stomach, the vet can take a sample from it and send it to a lab to determine if it is cancer or not. However, if it is cancer, he isn't going to last much longer anyway. Surgery can be very hard on him at his age, and it might just make the last part of his life miserable.
If it isn't cancerous, then why bother taking the tumor off. I think at this age, I wouldn't bother putting the cat through such a hardship as surgery. Give him lots of love and attention, and say a prayer for him every night.
2006-08-23 11:24:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a 16 year old persian all white and he started throwing up dark stuff and going down hill. I didnt have any money so vet wouldnt operate untill my first bill got paid where he had been giving her meds and shots for vometing. than when that bill was faithfully paid he decided to do the surgery. he called me while he was under the knife and vet said he had stomach cancer so I said since he is under go ahead and put him to sleep. the hardest thing I ever did in my life. But as you know with good care cats can live to be over 20 years old. how much do u love him and want to save him? find out his chances> at least u can say you did your best. weigh the options and YOU make the decision
2006-08-19 15:46:16 · answer #4 · answered by petloverlady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you cat is in pain and you can't afford the surgery, then do the humane thing and have the vet put it down. Tumors can be very painful and you don't want your friend to go through that. You don't want to see him waste away before your eyes and that is what will happen. Good luck.
2006-08-19 15:39:31 · answer #5 · answered by bcringler 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the tumor is not causing pain or an inability to function, I would agree, just let him live out the rest of his life. If pain or incapacity develops, be merciful and have the vet put him down.
2006-08-19 15:41:17 · answer #6 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your instincts are probably right as long as the cat is not going to have a lot of pain let him be. I know animals really grow on you but for the animals sake given his age have him put down rather than being put thru a lot of pain. It is the right thing to do.
2006-08-19 15:41:51 · answer #7 · answered by Kenneth H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to make things easy for yourself.
After surgery, will the cat live another 16 years or will you have enough money to keep going ?
Keep your insanity
2006-08-19 15:42:14 · answer #8 · answered by Jn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Me? I'd do everything in my power to keep my pet alive as long as possible, provided he's not in a great deal of pain. Vets know when the quality of life is beyond happy, and will advise you to 'let him go'.
2006-08-19 15:44:57 · answer #9 · answered by skyeblue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you really love him. You need to decide if he is still happy and has a good life.
Cats can live to be quite old. If it is his time I hope you can make the very hard but necessary decision to not let him suffer.
Good luck and sorry for your problem.
2006-08-19 15:43:29 · answer #10 · answered by niaflower 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surgery at his age could kill him. I would leave it alone as long as it is not causing him pain. amd if it gets bad where the poor kitty is suffering, I would have him put down.
2006-08-19 15:45:09 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋