What is Intestinal Tumor?
Intestinal tumors are most likely to occur in middle-aged to older cats who are over six years of age. Male cats are more likely to develop intestinal tumors than females.
Though uncommon, there are a variety of tumors that can develop in the large and small intestines in cats. These include adenocarcinoma, malignant tumors that affect the gastrointestinal tract; lymphomas, a type of cancer that originates in the lymphocyte cells of the lymph nodes; leiomyosarcomas, a painful type of cancer that occurs in the intestines; mast cell tumors, which originate in the skin; carcinoid tumors, which develop in the mucous lining of the intestines; gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), which begin in the mesenchymal cells in the intestines, and leiomyomas, benign tumors that develop from the smooth tissue in the intestines.
Intestinal Tumor Average Cost
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Symptoms of Intestinal Tumor in Cats
Symptoms vary slightly, depending on the type of intestinal tumor that is affecting the cats and where in the gastrointestinal tract it begins forming. Malignant tumors that have spread to other organs in the body may also present varied symptoms. Common symptoms include:
- Excessive gas (flatulence)
- Vomiting, perhaps with blood
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Rumbling noises from abdominal area (borborygmus)
- Hardened mass felt in abdominal area
- Straining to defecate (tenesmus)
- Black colored stools (melena)
- Distended loops of small bowel that are painful
- Weakness due to low blood sugar
- Stools that have bright red, bloody streaks
- Protrusion of rectal wall through anal cavity (rectal prolapse)
Causes of Intestinal Tumor in Cats
There are no known causes of intestinal tumors. Because they are normally found in older cats, researchers believe that they could form due to a mutation during cell division. The older a cat is, the greater the number of cell divisions that have occurred, increasing the likelihood of a mutation that causes a tumor to form.
Diagnosis of Intestinal Tumor in Cats
The veterinarian will perform a physical exam of the cat, feeling for any masses in the abdomen and placing a gloved finger into the rectum in order to feel for any palpable masses in the rectum and anus. The veterinarian will need to know the cat's health history and a detailed list of symptoms in order to correctly diagnose the leiomyoma.
More common gastrointestinal conditions, such as pancreatitis, parasitic infections, obstruction from a foreign body or inflammatory bowel disease, must be ruled out in order for the cat to receive a proper diagnosis. Tests to rule these conditions out will include a biochemical profile, complete blood count and a urinalysis. A fecal test to look for the presence of blood in the stool will also be completed. An abdominal ultrasound will also be performed. The abdominal ultrasound will be used to look for any masses or thickening of the tissue in the bowels or stomach, which is indicative of a tumor. The veterinarian may also use the ultrasound to guide a thin needle into the cat's abdomen, taking a sample of the fluid in order to look for cancer cells.
A special test that uses dye, known as gastrointestinal contrast radiography, may also be performed. Prior to the test, the cat will be given an oral dose of a dye solution called barium. The dye illuminates the gastrointestinal tract during X-rays. Multiple X-rays will be taken of the gastric tract as the barium passes through the cat's digestive system. This allows the veterinarian to look for and identify the tumor. Rarely, an endoscopy may be performed. During the endoscopy, a small, flexible tube with an attached camera will be inserted into the stomach and/or the rectal area to help the veterinarian visualize the tumor.
Treatment of Intestinal Tumor in Cats
Surgery
Surgery is the most commonly used treatment for intestinal tumors. The veterinarian will make a small incision into the abdomen in order to remove the tumor. The portion of the intestines that contained the tumor will be removed and the intestines will be resected. The incision will then be closed with sutures.
Dietary Changes
The veterinarian may place the cat on a specific diet that will consist of frequently eaten small meals that are easily digestible and high in nutrition. This diet will allow the food to pass through the digestive tract more easily and help the cat to get the nutrition it needs without food becoming obstructed.
Medication
The cat will be prescribed painkillers in order to control its pain from the tumor. Chemotherapy, a medication used to kill cancer cells, is sometimes recommended but is often not successful.
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Recovery of Intestinal Tumor in Cats
Because intestinal tumors often metastasize to other parts of the body and grow quickly, the prognosis is typically poor. If surgery occurred, the cat will need to wear an Elizabethan cone in order to prevent it from biting its sutures. The veterinarian will need to follow up with the cat to ensure that the incision site is healing well and is free from infection. At each follow-up appointment, a physical exam and ultrasounds will be taken to monitor the intestines for any tumor re-growth.
Intestinal Tumor Average Cost
From 557 quotes ranging from $3,000 - $8,000
Average Cost
$6,000
Top
Intestinal Tumor Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Russian Blue
Mickey
5 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Loss Of Appetite
Runny Stool
Large Kidneys
An x-ray has shown a fairly big mass in or around my 5 year old cat's intestines but it is unclear what kind of mass it is or if it's attached or grown into the intestine. With pain killers and an appetite boosting ointment, Mickey is eating nearly normally and still drinking.
Our vet has declared it cancerous, but is it possible that a biopsy or less invasive test could prove otherwise? I'm wary to proceed with treatment for such a vague diagnosis.
April 11, 2018
1 Recommendations
If a biopsy was to be made of the mass, general anaesthesia and laparotomy would most likely be the method of choice; in a Veterinarian’s mind, if you are going to do all that for a biopsy you may as well remove the mass and send it for histopathology to reduce other surgeries etc… An ultrasound may give some better detail of the mass, but will still leave many questions afterwards. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
April 11, 2018
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Cat
Iris
15 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Loose Bowel Movements
Loose Bowel Movements, Gas, Wt.Loss
Iris is 15 years old house cat, rescued as a feral kitten. 6 months ago she had her teeth cleaned and labwork done(unremarkable). She has lost weight, poor grooming,loose stools, some bright red blood, gas and tummy rumbling. Always ready to eat and often plays for a bit. She is social with me and the other cats. I am afraid that if I start testing her I will stress her and also have a bad outcome. How can I help her?
March 12, 2018
0 Recommendations
Without taking Iris to your Veterinarian for a thorough examination we cannot be sure what the specific cause of the symptoms are; a quick examination by your Veterinarian will feel if there is anything in the abdominal cavity and blood work is always good in a cat Iris’s age. Whether you don’t want to stress her or your scared of the outcome, you should have her checked regardless. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
March 12, 2018
Thank you. I will take her to our vet.
March 12, 2018
Iris's Owner
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Tuxedo
Pookie
13 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sleepiness,
My cat had a large expansive, nodular, mass in left abdominal wall extending to midline. At time of examination, he was acting like a normal cat. The day after examination, he went downhill, sleeping in a box,...etc. My question is could the physical exam caused pain in the area, or broken the mass a bit or is this all just a coincidence. How much pressure is put on a mass during the examination. Just trying to deal with the loss, and understand, as it went downhill so fast, and I put my baby to sleep.
Jan. 3, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
Thank you for your email, and I am truly sorry for your loss. Without knowing what kind of mass Pookie had, I'm not sure whether the exam could have caused trauma. I would think, however, that if the gentle pressure that is used to do an abdominal palpation caused the tumor to rupture or otherwise caused trauma, that it was sadly probably only a matter of time before that happened on its own. You may never know whether that happened during the exam, or if it was a coincidence. Again, I am sorry for your loss of Pookie.
Jan. 3, 2018
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domestic medium hair
Moofie
12 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Straining To Defecate
Need some advice. My cat is almost 13 and has a tumor in his colon area. We did ultrasound and colonoscopy and we think it has metastasized. I do have the pathology reports from the biopsies. If there's anyway I can send you a copy of the report that might help.
Dec. 18, 2017
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for contacting us about Moofie. Unfortunately I don't have any way to receive the pathology reports. It does sound like you have a great veterinary team that has been helping you through this. If he is straining to defecate because of a tumor in his colon, he may need to be on stool softeners and a low residue diet to help him pass stool more comfortably. If he isn't already on those things, you can ask your veterinarian if they might be appropriate for his stage of disease, to help him be more comfortable.
Dec. 18, 2017
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dsh
Chakra
13 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
Hi, my 13 yr old female cat has had sudden onset vomiting, lethargy, not eating, bloods normal except for slight rise liver function, ultrasound shows slight thickening small intestinal wall,fna shows occasional spindle cells, fine chromatin, large nucleoli. Should we go further with laparoscopy? Could this be toxicity only? Thanks, want to make best decision for her
Dec. 8, 2017
0 Recommendations
It may be that there is a gastrointestinal stromal tumour, but this would need to be confirmed by the Pathologist; I would try to get confirmation before going in for a exploratory laparotomy. Your Veterinarian should guide you to the best course of action taking into account the symptoms and the severity of the thickened small intestine. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 8, 2017
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tabby
Kip
14 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bloating
My Cat (approx 15 years old) was diagnosed with a mass in his stomach 5 months ago, but I was told it was likely benign and he was put on a some meds to keep him regular, and then I was told after a urine test that he was doing great...2 weeks ago he started to bloat and he was given an xray and there was still the mass but also a large amount of fluid in his midsection...I took him to a second vet who said after an ultra sound that it is most likely cancer and he has been put on pain meds and will likely be put down tomorrow. I am in distress because I fear it's not cancer and I'm scared that I may be killing my cat for a benign mass. He has no other symptoms, he eats, he's regular, he's alert, he just seems uncomfortable because of the large swelling in him midsection...am I doing the right thing? I'm so confused and having trouble getting straight answers...he's geriatric so I don't want to do painful surgery, but I don't want to give up if there could be a solution.
Intestinal Tumor Average Cost
From 557 quotes ranging from $3,000 - $8,000
Average Cost
$6,000
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
