[ROBG81]

Hi

We have a 4yr old cat. He has had diarrhea for as long as I can remember. We have changed his diet and been to the vet numerous times. He has had antibiotics and steroids, we and the vet thought it could be some Nast Bacteria.

It was suggested that it could be cancer, so a biopsy was done last week and the results have came back negative.

The vet said that his lymph nodes were massive and he had a high white blood count, no naturally he thought it was leukemia.

The biopsy says otherwise, what should we do?

He has to go back to the vet on we'd for a checkup, but I'm beginning to think the vet doesn't have a clue what isup with him. I want him to be referred to a specialist.

Could it be cancer and the biopsy was a false negative?

Thanks for any advice.

On behalf of Toby

 

[nicolaa123]

did they look at possibilty of ibd or colitis? Riley had biopsy results that did not show cancer thank goodness, but all points to ibd/colitis and diarreah can be a symptom....maybe talk this over with your vet..

 

[Ianthi]

Hi there and welcome!

Sorry to hear about your cat. I assume you mean an intestinal biopsy. If it was a full thickness biopsy ( requires surgery ) then it's far less likely to be wrong. Fine needle biopsies are far less accurate. Intestinal lymphoma would be the most likely consideration with resistant diarrhea than leukemia. What did the biopsy show up then if cancer was ruled out? Inflammatory bowel disease?

A high white cell count and swollen lymph nodes can also be a sign of infection. Has he ever had a high temperature? Have parasites like Giardia ever been tested for and ruled out?

In your position, if this vet has been treating your cat for this duration with no resolution I would be seeking a second opinion elsewhere. Left untreated inflammation can morph into conditions like lymphoma so it's important to pin this down right now. No need just yet to opt for the referral centre.

What is he currently eating? Have you tried a novel protein food?

 

[ROBG81]

It was full surgical biopsy. I will be going up on we'd and will suggest what has been mentioned, but I think my vet is stumped on what the cause is.

I may look for a second opinion elsewhere, before the refferal route.

 

[nicolaa123]

How is your cat now after the surgery. I did not opt for the full surgery seing as the colonoscopy points to the ibd anyway. Have they done any other tests??

 

[ROBG81]

It was the vet who initially recommended the operation, as they suspected cancer. We went with it as he convinced us that it was indeed cancer.

He is fine, back to his normal loony self. It looks to be healing, although his stools are a little worse than normal, or they were at the weekend.

I thought a blood test would indicate that, even leukaemia would be detected by a blood test.

We have been in terror for the past week as we have another 2 cats and we were keeping them apart, just as a precaution.

We are contemplating going to another Vet, as this has been going on for a long period of time and we have been seen by the 3 vets who are based at the surgery.

We have tried many different foods for sensitive stomachs

 

[Ianthi]

He is fine, back to his normal loony self. It looks to be healing, although his stools are a little worse than normal, or they were at the weekend.

I thought a blood test would indicate that, even leukaemia would be detected by a blood test.

We have been in terror for the past week as we have another 2 cats and we were keeping them apart, just as a precaution.

We are contemplating going to another Vet, as this has been going on for a long period of time and we have been seen by the 3 vets who are based at the surgery.

We have tried many different foods for sensitive stomachs

It all depends on which white cells are raised. Very high elevations of lymphocytes, for instance could point to lymphocytic leukemia (or certain lymphomas) but you'd need a bone marrow aspirate to confirm. However, IF this were the case then I'd expect your cat to be much more ill than this, especially with the leukemia. Incidentally, did the vet sample the enlarged lymph nodes as well? This is normal practice in a case like this.

it's important to remember severe inflammation can cause a similiar response and with the chronic diarrhea I wouldn't be surprised-additionally the biopsy came back negative.

DEFINITELY another opinion now. I wouldn't waste a minute longer with your current ones.

 

[ROBG81]

I don't actually know what was sampled. I heard rumblings of more tests, but my wife will grill the Vet on Wed .

I think we are at our limit and will go with another vet. If I find out that a biopsy wasn't needed then I will go off my head at the vet.

I will keep this thread posted on what the outcome is.