Squamous cell carcinoma in cats

One of the most common tumors in the mouth of cats is squamous cell carcinoma. It accounts for 75% of all tumors in the oral cavity.

This tumor can grow under the tongue, on the lips, on the palate, and even affect the jaw. In the early stages, when the tumor is very small and there is a chance to remove it, there are no symptoms, and it is almost impossible to notice anything at home. When the tumor starts to grow, the cat may experience poor appetite, drooling, swelling of the muzzle, and bad breath.

An examination by an oncologist is required to establish the diagnosis. A high-quality examination is not always possible without the use of sedatives. If you know that your pet has a difficult temperament, or is anxious whenever it leaves the apartment, it is better to warn about this at the time of the appointment, as sedatives may be recommended before the visit to the clinic, which will save the animal from unnecessary stress.

To establish the diagnosis, a fine-needle biopsy is performed. If its information content is low, material is taken for histology. If it is close to the bone, X-rays may be required. If a malignant process is suspected, diagnostics are performed to exclude metastases (chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, blood tests - control of hypercalcemia)

Not all cats can undergo surgical removal of the tumor and have to choose a tactic aimed at maximizing the slowdown of tumor growth. And this = COX 2 (meloxicam, piroxicam), Palladia (toceranib)

Palladia is a chemotherapy drug that has proven to have some effect in the fight against oral carcinoma. But the drug can only be ordered abroad

It is precisely because of the insidiousness of this education that regular scheduled examinations by a therapist (every year) are so important, especially if your pet is older than average.