Content
- Types of Tumors in Cats
- Symptoms of skin cancer in cats
- How to identify skin cancer in cats?
- How to Treat Skin Cancer in Cats
- Is skin cancer in cats contagious?
- Prevention of skin cancer in cats
It is common for pet owners to panic when they detect a lump anywhere on their cat's body. Some ignore it for fear that it is some type of skin cancer in felines, but the truth is that not all nodules are synonymous with cancer and, in any case, they can be curable, as long as detection and treatment is established as far as possible. as fast as possible.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we talk about the skin cancer in cats and we explain why you should go to the vet if you notice any changes in your feline companion's skin. Good reading.
Types of Tumors in Cats
The detection of lumps in cats is a concern for any caregiver. Not all of the nodules we feel will be tumors, as there are also abscesses or inflamed nodes. But all need to be examined by the veterinarian, just to get a diagnosis. By studying the cells present in the nodule, it is possible to know with certainty what it is. This cytological examination also allows you to know if the cat's skin cancer is benign or malignant. Cells can be removed by fine needle aspiration or the nodule can be removed and a sample sent to the laboratory.
White cats and cats over the age of eight are the most likely to develop skin cancer. For example, carcinoma of the cat's nose or ears is more common in white cats. It is called squamous cell carcinoma, is related to sunlight that this type of cat is most exposed to and is the most common type of skin cancer in cats.
Likewise, skin tumors aren't the only ones that can appear in cats, which can also suffer from other types of cancer, such as lymphoma or breast carcinoma. For more information on this, we recommend consulting the article on cancer in cats - Types, symptoms and treatment.
Symptoms of skin cancer in cats
Injuries to the cat's body should be a warning sign as it could be a case of cancer. So you can palpate or observe growing masses with greater or lesser speed. Some are well defined, while others have no clear boundaries. They can ulcerate, and in that case we'll appreciate wounds on its surface they begin to bleed and sometimes give off a bad smell. Nearby lymph nodes may become inflamed.
On the other hand, sometimes skin neoplasms do not look like lumps, but manifest as itchiness or redness, scales and scabs, which in some cases we will see as brown spots on the cat's fur. Finally, warts on cats usually correspond to benign tumors, although we should always go to the vet to have them evaluated. Some wounds that do arise and don't heal can also be a sign of this condition.
If you notice any of these symptoms of skin cancer in cats, don't hesitate to quickly go to your trusted veterinary clinic for the tests mentioned above.
How to identify skin cancer in cats?
Before starting treatment, it is essential to obtain a diagnosis that tells us what type of skin cancer we are facing. Besides the cytology or biopsy, the veterinarian can perform blood tests, radiography or ultrasound. These tests provide information about the cat's general condition and let you know whether or not it has metastasized, that is, whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body or is localized.
The treatment, the prognosis and the possibility of a recurrence, that is, that the cancer will reappear, depend on all these data.
How to Treat Skin Cancer in Cats
Treatment depends on each cancer. Some can be cured with surgical removal, but the cat will have regular veterinary follow-up if it ever breeds again. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice in other cases. The so-called anti-angiogenic treatments, which consist of preventing the tumor from developing new blood vessels, thus reducing its supply of nutrients and, consequently, its progression.
Several treatments can be combined to cure skin cancer in cats. In any case, the prognosis is always considered to be cautious. At this point, it's interesting to keep in mind that the main thing is the quality of life with which we keep our cat, and not necessarily the number of years it will live.
Is skin cancer in cats contagious?
Cancer is a process that develops due to multiple factors of an individual nature. The cells reproduce throughout the life of the cat, what happens in cancer is cell overgrowth that ends up forming masses and replacing normal cells. Therefore, the development of cancer can't infect other animals or people.
Prevention of skin cancer in cats
Is it possible to prevent skin cancer in cats? In fact, cancer can appear due to different factors, including genetic or by excessive sun exposure. Therefore, the most important thing, always, is to give it a balanced diet without excesses for the feline, in addition to offering a good environmental enrichment and not allowing it to be exposed to too much sun, especially in the hottest months of the year.
And now that you've got to know the skin cancer in cats, you might be interested in the following video where we talk about the most common diseases in cats:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Skin Cancer in Cats - Symptoms and Treatment, we recommend that you enter our Skin Problems section.