Surgical Tumor Removal in Cats

Surgical Tumor Removal in Cats in Cats - Conditions Treated, Procedure, Efficacy, Recovery, Cost, Considerations, Prevention
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What is Surgical Tumor Removal?

Surgical tumor removal in cats is the removal of a growth of cells from the cat’s body. A tumor is an accumulation of cells that have begun rapidly dividing in a localized area for unknown reasons. The tumor can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), but the veterinarian may choose to have the mass removed even if the tumor does not possess a cancerous nature. The veterinarian may remove the tumor in the hospital or clinic, or refer the cat to a veterinary surgeon specialist. 

Surgical Tumor Removal Procedure in Cats

  1. The feline will be administered an injectable sedative before going into the pre-surgical area. 
  2. Once the feline is sedated, a member of the veterinary staff will take the feline to the pre-operative area to have an esophageal tube placed. An esophageal tube will be placed to allow oxygen and gas anesthetic to be delivered to the feline. 
  3. The feline will be taken to the surgical area where she/he will be placed on the surgical table and restrained (as even anesthetized patients can move when they are in a state of “sleeping”).
  4. The feline’s fur will be shaved over the affected area and scrubbed with an antimicrobial solution. 
  5. The feline will be hooked up to oxygen, followed by a gas anesthetic to allow her to relax and rest comfortably without pain during the surgical procedure. 
  6. The area around the tumor will be draped with surgical cloth and the tumor removal will begin. 
  7. The veterinary surgeon will use a scalpel blade to remove the tumor and possible the surrounding tissue depending on the feline’s surgical plan. 
  8. Once the tumor has been removed, it will likely be prepared for a biopsy to further diagnose the nature of the growth. 
  9. The open area of the cat’s skin will be cleaned and the veterinarian will place sutures as needed internally, followed by skin closure. 
  10. The feline will be removed from gas anesthetic and gas anesthetic as soon as the anesthetist is positive the cat’s vital signs (heart rate, breathing rate, temperature) are normal. 
  11. The esophageal tube will be removed and the feline will be allowed to recover in a quiet area. 

Efficacy of Surgical Tumor Removal in Cats

The efficacy of surgical tumor removal depends on the individual cat and the nature of the tumor. In general, removing any tumor (cancerous or non-cancerous) will prevent the surrounding tissues and organs from being affected, resulting in secondary health issues. If the feline’s tumor is cancerous, removing the tumor will ideally remove the cancer and prevent the cancer from spreading. Ask your veterinarian about the efficacy of surgically removing your cat’s tumor and the probability of a positive outcome. 

Surgical Tumor Removal Recovery in Cats

Surgical tumor removal in cats may require a period of hospitalization after the surgery. During this time, the veterinary staff will monitor the feline and administer pain management medications paired with antibiotics to prevent infection. Once the feline is allowed to return home, her/his physical activities will be restricted and an Elizabethan collar will likely be worn to prevent the feline from ripping out the stitches. Prescribed medications will continue at home as directed by the veterinarian. 

Cost of Surgical Tumor Removal in Cats

The estimated cost of a surgical tumor removal in cats will include the pre-surgical biopsies that were taken to establish the nature of the tumor, which will cost a cat owner around $50. The size of the tumor will also be taken into consideration, as larger tumors will cost more to have removed than small tumors. A small tumor that is no greater than one inch in diameter will cost approximately $125, whereas a medium sized tumor of one to three inches could cost about $325. A large tumor may cost $525 or more to have removed and an extra large tumor, greater than five inches will cost $725 or more depending on the surgical procedure. 

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Cat Surgical Tumor Removal Considerations

Your cat will need to be placed under anesthetic for the duration of the surgical removal of the tumor, as well as, any biopsy procedures that were completed prior to the surgery date. The removal of a tumor will completely remove the fast-growing, potentially cancerous tumor from the feline’s body, however, recurrence is possible. It is important to discuss the outcome of the surgical tumor removal in your cat with the veterinarian. 

Surgical Tumor Removal Prevention in Cats

As scholars are still researching how cancer is developing he feline body and why it affecting so many of our pets today, the information available believed to prevent a tumor from growing is not always effective. Most veterinarians recommend a healthy, balanced diet and daily exercise to prevent the chances of feline tumor development. However, even the healthiest of felines can be affected by tumors despite the active work of the pet owner. 

Surgical Tumor Removal Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals

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Orange tabby

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Popcorn

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2 Years

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My pet has the following symptoms:
Drooling, Mass Under Tounge
My cat has a mass under his left side of his tounge. He has been drooling and not eating as much. He also licks at the base of his tail a lot which I was told was out of frustration. They gave him antibiotics to see if he responds to it and if not a biopsy/removal is needed. I'm worried sick.

Aug. 25, 2018

0 Recommendations

Without examining Popcorn I cannot determine whether the mass is a ranula, tumour or abscess; see how the course of antibiotics go and follow up with your Veterinarian if there is no improvement by the end of the course. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM

Aug. 26, 2018

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Orange tabby

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Clarence

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15 Years

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1 found this helpful

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1 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Tail Growth, Bleeding, Not Healing
My cat has a growth on the end of his tail, vet cut it but he keeps making it bleed, she said he many need his tail cut off, is this expensive? Will he be ok without it? He is old will anesthesia be safe?

Aug. 21, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM

1 Recommendations

These are all valid questions, but difficult for me to answer not knowing more about Clarence. Depending on the type of growth, he may be better off having the tail amputated. He will be fine without his tail, and the cost depends on your location and the level of expertise needed. If he is otherwise healthy, he should be fine handling the anesthesia, but there are precautions that would need to be taken for him, and pre-anesthetic blood work wold be a good idea. Since I know very little about him, these are questions that your veterinarian would be able to answer much more easily, as they know him and his situation. I hope that all goes well for him.

Aug. 21, 2018

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