My 10 month old cat has a lump on his neck. It moves around easily and is the size of a nickel. We cant tell if its his lymph node or something else. I took him to the vet but they want me to come back later this week to put him under and draw cells from the lump. Has anyone every experienced this? I am worried sick about him.
2007-04-30 11:30:42 · 6 answers · asked by eask 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
YES it is the lymph node.
2007-04-30 11:50:00 · update #1
Not experienced this with a personal pet, but seen it many times in animals.
Your cat is going to have a fine needle aspirate - a needle is inserted into the lump and then the cells are blown onto a microscope slide by expelling air through the syringe. The vet can then examine the cells to determine what kind of lump this is, or send the sample off to an external lab for analysis.
Did the vet say whether it might be a lymph node or not? Where exactly on the neck is the lump? The lymph nodes around the neck are located under the jaw inside the lower jaw bones and just behind the lower jaw bone towards the ears. Lymph nodes become enlarged due to any type of infection present in the animal, vets can usually tell if they're lymph nodes by palpating them, but if not the fine needle aspirate will confirm that they are this, in which case you don't need to be too worried, any sort of infection can enlarge lymph nodes, even a small one.
If you're worried about cancer, that is incredibly rare in such a young animal that has not even finished growing yet. I'd be astonished.
Good luck with this - do make sure you fully understand what the vet tells you, and ask him/her any questions at all. I find minds are more at rest when the exact condition and treatment is well understood.
Chalice
2007-04-30 11:46:15 · answer #1 · answered by Chalice 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There could be a number of reasons for the lump, just like w/humans. You are doing the right thing by taking it to the vet. Then you'll know exactly what you're dealing with. TRY not to worry needlessly. It no doubt is something very simple like a cyst as it doesn't seem to be "connected" to anything. Vets are Drs. & they w/NOT do anything that w/hurt your cat. If so, they w/just numb the area as would your Dr. do the same w/you. Just think positive, & I don't really think you have anything to be concerned about. 99.9% of what we worry about never comes into being...that you'll find out w/life period.
2007-04-30 12:35:13 · answer #2 · answered by Sue C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, check it out. In my cats case it was a cancer at the back of the neck, between his shoulder blades. They often occur there & it is thought they may be vaccine related. They grow extremely quickly & are very deadly so check it out. Mine had surgery, then required surgery in same spot a year later, but that was almost 10 years ago, so it can be curable if caught quickly & removed by excising it deeply.
2007-04-30 12:00:42 · answer #3 · answered by j c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the vet should do something fast they shouldnt have you wait until next week. dont want to scare you but it could be serious. You could take it to an animal hospital where you live. just look in the phonebook and look for animal hospitals. Good luck! hope the cats okay!
2007-04-30 11:36:44 · answer #4 · answered by Bite Me. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MY GRANDMOTHERS CAT DID THAT IT WAS A SPIDER BITE IT EVENTUALLY FADED AWAY THO.
2007-04-30 11:49:13 · answer #5 · answered by Davian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be tick, or wierd pimple
2007-04-30 12:23:45 · answer #6 · answered by Kitty Pie ozozoz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋