Hi. About three weeks ago, my 13-year-old cat began having sneezing fits and I initially wrote it off as her herpes flaring up as it does from time to time. However, it didn’t clear up as it normally does. She began having raspy breathing, diarrhea, no appetite and, after weighing her, I became super concerned because she had lost three pounds (from 11 down to 8) pretty rapidly. She was first diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, given fluids for dehydration and put on vitamins and amoxicillin. She did not improve after the weekend though so I took her back and she was referred to a specialty vet’s office. After spending nearly $4,000 on X-rays and a CT scan, my cat has been diagnosed with chronic rhinitis as a result of her herpes infection when she was a kitten. They have sent two biopsies off to a lab and I will hear back in a few days. My question is what will the biopsies show? It’s my understanding that they didn’t see any masses in the CT scan, so I am not really sure what exactly they biopsied. Also, does this diagnosis of chronic rhinitis sound plausible from all of her symptoms? It feels like there is more going on (I originally feared cancer of some kind) but I don’t know. Right now, she is on azithromycin, cyproheptadine and maropitant. She has thankfully started eating again but the diarrhea seems to be returning as well. Any advice would be so welcomed. Thank you for your time.

My 15 year old domestic short hair was been reasontly diagnosed with IBS due to his diarrhea stools which have been increased. We went through two sets of the treatment but know the treatment is not working. He is taking prenisone once daily and changed his diet to protein high prescription food. He also got two runs of vitamin B shots. Now the vet is thinking more lypmomia and may need ultrasound, biopsy or chemo meds. With his age I am worried. He doesn't show any signs yet so it's possible early stage.

What kind of biopsy is done to diagnose small cell lymphoma (stomach)? My cat is 17 years old, and his veterinarian said that by feeling his stomach lining that he has small cell lymphoma. She is not equipped to perform the biopsy/treat the lymphoma in her clinic so has referred me elsewhere. I am on a restricted budget, understand that treatment for this is very expensive, and don't want to put Sidney in any more trauma/pain than makes sense, especially considering his age. Any information regarding possibility of side effects of treatment, cost of the biopsy, and cost of the treatment would be helpful.

I went to a vet because my cat has a huge lump in his leg. The vet did X-rays and said that they needed a biopsy (I agree of course but...) The vet then said that the biopsy would include full removal of the leg, although no mri was performed. That seemed wrong. He also said that he thinks it’s a cancer, which I KNOW only X-rays cannot confirm, you know? He also sAid the type of cancer was the most dangerous type for cats, which just seems like a lie at this point. You can’t tell that from an xray alone. And he doesn’t need his whole leg to be removed for a biopsy, right? Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/cat/treatment/biopsy

Lump, size of pea on belly of unspayed 10 year old female. She is presenting with no symptoms. Vet took a chest x-ray, no metastasis. She wants to do surgery right away. I'm concerned because she did not do biopsy of lump and I want to know if it could be Fibroepithelial Hyperplasia?

My cat is 8 years old and a few weeks ago he had a hot spot on his front leg. Days later I noticed a lump on his hind leg. I monitored it for almost 2 weeks and then finally decided to take him to the vet. She says she is pretty sure he has Fibrosarcoma even though the fine needle aspirations came back inconclusive. Now she wants to do a biopsy to be absolutely sure, but it is pretty pricey and rightfully so. My husband and I have decided we don’t want to do an amputation if it is cancer (because it is pretty aggressive as can cancers go and with. 90% chance it will return), but the biopsy would at least give me a definitive answer. Is it worth doing the biopsy if it is only going to ease my mind? Or should I just focus on my cat and make sure he is comfortable until he is ready to go?

I have a 3 month old female who has swelling in between her shoulder blades following her first vaccinations. The swelling doesn’t appear to be getting any bigger Is mobile and hard approx 2cm by 1cm. The vet has said monitor as swelling can be evident for up to 6 weeks and if it gets bigger becomes painful come back sooner but they may need to do a biopsy. Swelling has now been present for 4 weeks. Reading articles online it comes back with ISS, which Is a worry Any similar experiences and should I be worried? Or is this common?

My rescued cat as perfectlly well but had a lump on his neck which was explained to probably be a fatty lump. Vet did a fine needle aspiration to check and popped the lump during it. He was given sedation which caused his eyes to stare and his mouth to be all frothy when I fetched him home, and ever since then he has been so ill, his personality has changed, he isnt interested in us at all, no longer a loving cat but more importantly he is losing weight through refusing all food. he does appear to be very tentatively drinking water. follow up vet appointment showed a problem with his kidneys. He was on a drip for 3 days. he is now on antibiotics for his kidney problem but my cat is so ill.i understand about the nausea with kidney problems but he is trying to eat and when he was taking a small mouthful he winces and tries to chew on one side of his mouth but cant.then he just walks away. he has lost so much weight. he is still on his antibiotics. my question is, could the biopsy and sedation have affected his mouth, the vets have opened his mouth a bit and had a quick look but say its fine. my cat wants to eat but appears to be in discomfort when he tries. his little tummy is rumbling all the time, ive tried a syringe with kitten milk, all sorts of food, mashing it up, gravy based which he does lick but he refuses anything. If feeks he is dying in front of my eyes and the vets just say its his kidneys and keep giving him the antibiotics..he has not eaten more than a few mouthfuls of food in weeks, how he is still alive I don't know. he is now struggling to walk properly.Im so upset, any thoughts would be a help please...

I have a 12-13 yr indoor (Houston,TX) male cat who was showing signs of weight loss, rapid breathing (and nose twitching like a bunny) and mostly sitting on his back legs & elbows (vs laying down). Xrays and blood work done. All blood work was good. At first thought pneumonia but radiaograpic finding indicates severe mixed pulmonary pattern with a predominant structured interstitial pattern. Differentials include metastatic neoplasia or granulomatous disease (fungal or parasitic). Biopsy of lung or transtracheal wash recommended with cytology. Both seemed invasive and vet felt perhaps getting a good result was iffy (getting proper tissue or cells). Vent concluded if cancer we would treat with Prednisone and if fungal with anti-fungal meds. Considering respiratory issues now, age, past hallucinations on prior sedation and possibility that biopsy could be unclear I opted to treat with both meds(as long as it didn't cause harm. And we are giving him Entyce (appetite stimulant). We are 2 days into meds, he is less lethargic, his eating is up 30-40% and he's acting a good bit better. Nose no longer twitching, breathing isn't quite as rapid as 3 days ago. So question - what are my odds this is fungal vs cancer and prognosis either way? Am I fooling myself and overly hopeful?