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Knowing Feline Lymphoma And Preventing It
Feline lymphoma is a term used to describe the presence of tumor in the cat’s lymph nodes. This tumor is usually cancerous and can affect the cat’s organ functions. Feline lymphoma is much more common in cats affects by feline leukemia virus. This cancer can be initially treated with chemotherapy to present a longer life span and higher remission rate in cats.
Feline lymphoma is not known to affect a certain breed of cats. The average age of cats diagnosed with feline lymphoma is usually 5 to 9 years of age. Today, cats infected with feline lymphoma shows onset of the disease at 10 years old because of healthier diagnosis methods. At the same time, cats without feline leukemia virus get feline lymphoma at a later age as compared to cats with the virus. Up to 70% of cats that have feline lymphoma have feline leukemia virus. Therefore, there is a high positive correlation between the two known killers. Moreover, cats with feline immunodeficiency virus are more susceptible to acquiring feline lymphoma than otherwise healthy cats.
Feline lymphoma can take many forms. Lymph tissues are found throughout the body which allows feline lymphoma to appear anywhere and affect a number of organs. The multi-centric form of feline lymphoma allows involves multiple organs with no known center. This prognosis is difficult for cats as it is a signal of a very advanced stage of the disease. The mediastinal form is when lymph tumors are found in the chest cavity and affects the thymus and associated lymph nodes. The aliemantary form is another term for intestinal feline lymphoma as the tumors are found in the digestive tract.
Cats are more susceptible to lymphoma than humans or dogs because of the feline leukemia virus. Experienced pet owners seek the guidance of their veterinarian once a certain symptom occur since it is critical that early diagnosis is made to manage the onset of the disease and improve the cat’s quality of life. The symptoms of feline lymphoma include lumps or swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, loss of fur, coarseness of coat, breathing troubles, fluid in lungs, and increased thirst and urination. Any signs of these symptoms should be checked with the veterinarian for consultation.
Once the veterinarian suspects feline lymphoma, your pet cat will undergo a series of tests that includes a biopsy, the biopsy determines if the tumor is malignant or benign. Once feline lymphoma is diagnosed, the route for treatment is chemotherapy. However, there is no real cure for feline lymphoma and chemotherapy can do is increase your cat’s life. Cats with feline lymphoma can go on remission and live for an additional 4 to 6 months after chemotherapy. Some cats get complete remission and live for two years. Without treatment, cats with feline lymphoma have only four to six weeks to live. Relatively chemotherapy is an encouraging method to manage the disease.
Feline lymphoma is a common cancer in cat. It is affected by other feline diseases and is also regarded as a silent killer. While treatment is promising, cats can only go up to two years in the best case before they eventually succumb to the disease. The most effective way to combat this disease is prevention which can only be done through limited exposure with other cats or applying vaccination from virus such a FelV.
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