Welcome To The Cat House — Pt. 2
IS THERE A VET IN THE HOUSE?!?!?!!?
Seriously — this THING, this lump, started growing on Biddy’s tail early this year, but since the yuppie-priced vets around here charge through the NOSE, I haven’t been able to take her in for an exam.
Father Tyme, one of my favoritest people on the planet, sent me a DVD about pet first aid, but since I’m kinda freaking out right now, I don’t know if cysts/tumors/whatever-in-the-hell-this-is is covered in “first aid.”
It started out as a fatty-tissue-feeling lump, but then suddenly, over the past few weeks, it’s doubled in size and feels like it’s got pus above the harder “fatty”-textured tissue. I shaved the lump because I thought that I could lance it and get whatever was causing the increase in size to come out, but NOTHING. Not a drop or ooze of ANYTHING came out.
This whole time, Biddy has acted as if it’s no big deal — she doesn’t appear to be in any pain, but then, she doesn’t want me or anybody else messing with the lump, either. The lancing expedition was as traumatic for her as it was for me, but she seems to have forgiven me. Either that or she’s planning on sneaking over here in the dead of night and piercing my uvula with a rusty fishhook.
SO — since we are almost all critter people, and cat people especially, I’m wondering if any of y’all have seen anything like this before, and if so, how dangerous is it, and is it something that I can afford to have treated, or will Biddy start suffering from it before I can hock my truck or something? I’m not hitting anybody up for money here, that’s not why I’m posting this — I really need y’all’s advice, because the few pet health sites that I’ve explored had BUPKIS about this except, “GO TO A VET!” which is pretty much a big DREAM for me at this point.
Do y’all know of any vets who might offer any suggestions? Have y’all ever seen anything like this before? If so, please let me know. We’ve been together too long for me to let her down like this, and while I know that she doesn’t hold it against me (thus far), she deserves better than what I’ve been able to give her. I need your help. I need your expertise and critter sense.
And I sure as hell need my Biddy around as long as felinely possible.
December 31st, 2006 at 11:10 am
There ARE so-called “fatty tumors” that appear (and sometimes even disappear) on animals; these tumors sometimes cause the animal little or no pain. On the other hand, ANY tumor — on animals or people — is a sign of cell-growth gone awry.
Unfortunately, tumors are well beyond the realm of “first aid”, so a vet is definitely called for. Various Humane Society and SCPA offices offer reduced vet rates, so you might try calling them. Or if there’s a vet school in your area, they might have a clinic with reduced rates.
December 31st, 2006 at 1:50 pm
I think Andrew has the correct answer. I did wonder some of the possibility of it being a hoof fly although I haven’t heard of them on cats before. I could probably talk a vet into doing some pro bono work here but I’m afraid it’s a bit too far away. I’ll send out good vibes for her though!
December 31st, 2006 at 9:45 pm
My advice is to go to the nearest animal shelter, pref a “no kill.” Good shelters have people working in them who know an awful lot about sick cats. And they might also know a vet who will give you a reduced fee.
If you lived around here I’d suggest the University of Pennsylvania. Vet schools charge a lot less than yuppie cat docs.
Please keep us posted on your baby.
January 1st, 2007 at 12:48 am
If this hick-ass town-cum-white-flight-burg HAD an animal shelter of ANY kind, I’d have had her there for help a year ago, and I wouldn’t have to feed the ferals here at Hotel Du Fucktards.
I appreciate all of your advice, I do, I just don’t know how in the hell I’m going to be able to even get her to the LSU vet school, but I guess that I’ll have to figure out a way.
And yes, while Father Tyme’s wonderful first aid video DID teach me a few things that I never knew, it wasn’t exactly up on fatty tumors or any other long-ranging conditions. Much more in the “if-your-cat-gets-run-over” EMERGENCY vein. Very helpful in emergent situations, just not exactly what I need here. Father Tyme HAS been such a huge help to me already, y’all don’t even know — but he is one very unique and generous human being. Mother Tyme is truly a fortunate and quality woman to have a dude like him.
January 4th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Annti, that LOOKS awful. I hate to say it, but it really looks like she needs to see a vet.
Maybe one of your local vets will let you make installment payments? In the meantime, you might could raise some moolah online for the vet bill. I’d throw in some.
January 4th, 2007 at 4:47 am
Annti, just wanted to say I hope you and Biddy find some help.
January 4th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Call one of the pricey vets up, explain the situation, offer to email them a photo of the growth. Ask if they know of anyone who offers free animal care. If the motherfuckers turn you away, I hear bad publicity on the net can be a bitch. I’m just sayin…
January 5th, 2007 at 12:50 am
Desi, I always have loved the way that you think… When KC said that she was sending in the Marines, honey, she wasn’t kiddin’!
And KC & JBlue, I have an appt. at 10:15 in the morning with the “fluffier” vet up here (no sliding scale, but very nice… in a fluffy sorta way) and if she can’t give me a concrete diagnosis and wants me to sell the pickup to run “tests,” then I’m headed for either CAAWS or LSU Vet School.
And I know that she doesn’t want anybody to know, ’cause she’s like that, the little critter-gawdmother that she is, but if it weren’t for S.Z., I wouldn’t have been able to do even THIS much, so put some good incense on her karma, k?
And Father Tyme, that darlin’ heart (with probably the most patient wife on the planet, and who shares his twisted sense of humor and love of cats) is sending some homeopathic help, so y’all cross yer fingers for us and I’ll keep y’all updated.
Thank you all, so much, for caring about my Biddy & Boy… Isn’t it weird, how we cat people always find one another? Cats are the best judges of character that I’ve ever known, for damned sure.
January 5th, 2007 at 2:07 am
Annti, here’s what MrsMG’s daughter posted at my place:
Hi There, I’m the daughter. From what I’m seeing from the photos and what you have described, I do believe that you should have it looked at. I worked for a vet for 8yrs. You need to find out if it is benign or not. Ask them for just a biopsy, its possible that they could do this with a needle aspirate, in the room. Tell them that you don’t want bloodwork done at this time, but you would like to know what you’re dealing with, with the tail.I won’t lie it is possible that it is cancer. And if that is the case you may be looking at an amputation and bloodwork, and there is no telling what other tests. Just be honest with them that you don’t have the money for extensive treatment. Some vets have a program called Care Credit, you should look for one in your area that does just in case you do have a worse case senario. I hope this is more informative than the vet sites.
I’m so glad you’re taking Biddy to the vet tomorrow and I hope it’s nothing too bad.
Oh, and s.z. is one special person.
January 5th, 2007 at 3:14 am
My cats and I are wishing you guys well!