How To Identify and Treat Feline Lymphoma

Cats are more susceptible to lymphoma than humans or other animals, and those who already suffer from feline leukemia are even more likely to contract feline lymphoma. While the disease is certainly serious and can be life-threatening, it is possible to manage the disease for some time to improve your cat's quality of life. Read on to find out more about the condition and how it can be treated.

1. Feline lymphoma causes tumors to grow anywhere in a cat's body that lymph tissue is found. While this can include almost every organ, tumors are most often found in cats in their intestinal tracts.
2. The disease is most often found in older cats, with male cats being affected slightly more often. The chances of contracting feline lymphoma increases in cats who have a history of intestinal illness, vomiting and weight or appetite loss.
3. Symptoms of feline lymphoma are numerous, but include lumps that indicate a sizable tumor mass, swelling of the lymph nodes, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, loss of fur or coarseness in the coat, breathing troubles, fluid in the lungs, increased water intake and increased urine output.
4. If a veterinarian suspects a cat is infected with feline lymphoma, the cat will undergo a series of tests that will include a biopsy. If there is a visible tumor, that may be removed at the time of the biopsy, but this will not cure the cat of the disease since the infection tends to spread quite quickly.
5. Once feline lymphoma is diagnosed, the usual course of treatment includes medication and chemotherapy. Again, this will not cure the disease but rather control the symptoms and increase your cat's life expectancy and quality of life.
6. Chemotherapy does not cause illness in most cats. While the whiskers will almost certainly fall out, the rest of your cat's coat should remain intact.
7. Feline lymphoma can go into remission with a vigorous treatment schedule. While it will almost certainly return, there is no way to know how long the remission will last. Generally speaking, the chemotherapy treatment will give your cat an extra four to six months of quality life.

Unfortunately, even chemotherapy will eventually not be enough to manage the disease. Since feline lymphoma is so intrusive, it is constantly adapting and will eventually become resistant to the treatment. A second remission at this point isn't possible and the cat will continue to get sicker and weaker, eventually leading to death.