I am so upset right now. I feel so helpless and I am at complete loss of what to do. My kitty, of which I have had almost 13 years, developed this strange swelling on the bridge of her nose over the memorial weekend. Being very concerned, I took her to the veterinarian's office first thing Tuesday morning when they were open. The vet seemed to be unsure what could have caused the bump (whether an abscess, a sinus infection, eosiniphic granuloma, mast cell tumor, etc.), so we decided to do some preliminary blood work to determine whether any of her lab values were abnormal. We additionally took her temp, which was a 102.9 (this is a low grade temp for a feline). It was decided that we would give her a short acting steroid to decrease some of the inflammation as well as start her on antibiotics in case there was an infection. The vet said she would call me the next day with the blood test results. The doctor called me the next morning stating that her white blood cell count was elevated, her thyroid level was a little high, and everything else was within normal levels. The vet suggested that I keep her on the antibiotics for a week, to see if the swelling subsides. After 5 days worth of antibiotics, the lump had gotten larger, and was now pushing her right eyelid downward. This was Sunday. Surprisingly, my kitty was in good spirit - running around, playing with the other cat, eating and drinking normally. This morning I got up really early and took my kitty back to the vet. While in the waiting room she started to sneeze (she has allergies and has been sneezing a lot since the spring season hit), only this time their was blood in her sputum. I tried so hard to hold my composure - I knew that if I started to cry I wouldn't be able to stop, I also knew I would upset her and become useless when the vet did call me back to be seen. I didn't let myself cry. My kitty is so sensitive to my feelings, she knows when I am upset and I didn't want her to know that I was worried. It was at this moment we were called back to see the vet. The doctor then came in and looked at her face, and went over her symptomology with me. We decided that I would bring her in tomorrow to have her head shaved and to have a biopsy performed. Then we will no definitively whether this is a bacterial or fungal infection or if it is cancer. If it is cancer, my vet indicated I would have to take her to Auburn to have surgery performed - an expense I am almost positive I would not be able to afford - I mean just this past week I have spent $700 - and I don't even know what she has yet. A surgical procedure in another state, I am sure would cost thousands. What am I to do? I do NOT believe in putting your animal to sleep - we don't do it to people and I wouldn't treat her any differently. I have always been the type of person who treats her animals as if they are family. Unlike many of my friends, when I accept an animal into my home - it is for the duration of their life. I feel as if my own child is sick and that I am waiting to hear whether or not she has cancer. I can't sleep or do my school work because I am so upset. Why can't I be like the parents in Lorenzo's Oil? Why can't I cure her. I just don't want to loose her, she means the world to me. I am at a complete loss of what to do. Right now, I am staying home with her all day - trying to make her as comfortable as possible before her procedure tomorrow. Please have her in your prayers. Has anyone else experienced a situation like this? The growth developed in two days!!! Thank you.
This is a picture of her bump. It is at the top of her nose.
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