Causes of intestinal lymphoma in cats, types and symptoms of the disease, treatment features and prognosis

Oncological diseases in domestic animals have not been sufficiently studied. Intestinal cancer is rare in cats, but often has an unfavorable outcome. The course of treatment and further prognosis depend on the owner and how early it is to take the animal to the veterinarian. Timely consultation with a doctor significantly increases the animal’s chances of starting a healthy, happy life.

Etiology of the disease

The risk of developing oncological pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract increases when feeding cats fatty, fried, and salty foods. Some breeds are more prone to cancer, such as Siamese cats, and older animals are more likely to get the disease. Viral infections increase the chance of developing a tumor, but they are rare. Risk factors include harmful substances in the atmosphere, carcinogens, and excessive exposure to sunlight. The etiology of diseases such as a stomach tumor in a cat and other malignant tumors has not been fully identified.

Cancer in a cat. Last stage

A photo of an animal at this stage of the disease evokes nothing but pity and a great desire to help him. True, during this period it is unlikely that anything can be corrected.

Here everything depends only on the owner of the animal. Most people with the last form of cancer stop treating them and put them to sleep. Although this decision is often premature. After all, you can try your luck using another method, you just need to talk to the veterinarian about it and consult with him. And then, perhaps, it will be possible to do something.

Whatever you decide to do, try to stay with him until the last days of the animal’s life, love him the same way as before. After all, animals are like people, and we have the same diseases.

After all, you wouldn’t, for example, put your elderly relative to sleep? Likewise, a cat is a full-fledged member of the family. So try to give her all your love in the last days of her life.

Some types of cancer are completely curable, others are not, but you can try to help the animal (by alleviating suffering, etc.). So don't be afraid to try new ways. This won’t make your pet worse, but it could make it better.

Cancer cells can develop in any organ or tissue; most often in cats, lung cancer, skin cancer, intestinal cancer, stomach cancer, blood cancer, and mammary cancer (in older animals) are diagnosed.

There are four stages of development of the malignant process:

first – the presence of a limited tumor nodule, metastases and severe symptoms are absent;
second – the growth of the tumor continues, the cancer grows inside the organ and metastasizes to the nearest lymph nodes;
third – tumor mobility decreases, the number of metastases increases;
fourth - the process is irreversible, the cancer affects large areas and leads to the death of the cat.

Types of Cancers

Lymphomas, adenocarcinomas, mastocytomas, polyps and neoplasia are often found in cats. More details about each:

Alimentary lymphoma is a tumor formed from lymph. Metastases quickly spread to neighboring tissues and organs. The animal loses its appetite, the stomach increases in volume, diarrhea alternates with constipation.
Intestinal adenocarcinoma. Develops from the epithelium. The prognosis depends on how quickly the owner contacted the veterinarian. It progresses quickly and metastasizes to other organs. The first symptoms: constipation and intestinal obstruction.
Mastocytoma. Comes from cells that secrete heparin, histamine and hormones. A sign of pathology is intestinal inflammation and diarrhea. Metastasizes to lymph nodes.
Polyps. Most often occur in the large intestine. They are often benign, but they tend to degenerate into adenocarcinoma.
Neoplasia. There are benign and malignant. It is aggressive, develops quickly, grows into neighboring tissues and metastasizes.

Etiology of cancer

The causes of the disease are not fully understood. It is possible that when feeding cats fried, fatty or salty foods, the risk of intestinal tumors increases, as in humans. But there is no exact research data. It has been established that Siamese cats have a breed predisposition to intestinal cancer.

Mostly animals over 11 years of age are affected. Lymphoma can be a consequence of feline viral leukemia , but in many animals with such cancer the pathogen has not been isolated, meaning the virus is only one of the factors. The causes of adenocarcinoma and mastocytoma in cats remain unclear.

Various cancer cells can be found in the intestines. The most common types found in cats are:

Alimentary lymphoma. In this case, cancer cells are formed from lymph. Since the disease is systemic, it often affects many organs and most parts of the intestine. It usually causes diarrhea, alternating with constipation. At the same time, the abdomen increases in size and the animal loses its appetite.
Intestinal adenocarcinoma. With this pathology, cancer develops from the glandular epithelium. The prognosis depends on the presence or absence of metastases. The first sign of the disease is constipation and intestinal blockage. The pathology progresses rapidly, often giving metastases to the liver, kidneys, lungs and other organs.
Intestinal mastocytoma. Originates from mast cells. Since these cells secrete heparin, histamine and other hormones that are responsible for inflammatory reactions, one of the striking symptoms is acute intestinal inflammation with severe diarrhea. Metastases are also observed frequently and are usually found in the lymph nodes.

The most common type of tumor in cats is lymphoma.

Clinical picture

Depending on the location of the tumor (small or large intestine), symptoms vary slightly.

Small intestine

There are many nonspecific symptoms that may suggest cancer:

loss of appetite;
weight loss;
vomiting or nausea;
stomach ache;
pallor of the mucous membranes.

characteristic symptoms may appear :

When the intestines are blocked, severe abdominal pain appears, the animal constantly vomits, and bloody diarrhea without feces may be observed.
When the wall is perforated, anemia quickly develops, the animal lies without strength, tachycardia is observed, the main symptom is ascites - abdominal dropsy.
With lymphoma, diarrhea alternates with constipation, but the main diagnostic sign is low levels of protein in the blood.
In the case of a mast cell tumor, particularly severe, incessant diarrhea is observed, which occurs due to the action of histamine.
With adenocarcinoma, complete blockage of the intestine quickly develops.

Colon

Most often, the tumor is localized in the last third of the large intestine; rectal cancer is usually diagnosed. Regardless of the histological type of tumor, the pathology is always accompanied by severe constipation, followed by bloody diarrhea (without feces). The animal constantly tries to go to the toilet and experiences severe pain.

It differs depending on which department is affected.

Small intestine

It is impossible to make a diagnosis during the initial examination and medical history, but palpation of the abdomen will clearly indicate the presence of a foreign object in the intestine. After this, the veterinarian will send the animal for an x-ray, where you can clearly see the organic origin of the “foreign object,” which will be the reason for the diagnosis.

You can suspect cancer on an X-ray based on the following signs:

violation of the progress of the contrast agent;
thickening of the intestinal wall;
intestinal ulcers.

But to accurately determine the condition of the tumor and intestines, a number of procedures are necessary:

A biochemical blood test will show changes in electrolyte balance, which is a reflection of the severity of the process.
When the tumor penetrates the entire thickness of the intestine, a decrease in the amount of proteins in the serum can be seen.
With metastases in the liver and other organs, corresponding changes will be found in the blood.

However, all this does not give an accurate indication of the histological composition of the tumor. This information can be obtained during abdominal surgery, when a biopsy can be taken and the tumor can be visualized.

Since the tumor is usually localized in the rectum, the simplest and most reliable way is a rectal examination . It is often done using a special instrument - an open proctoscope, which stretches the intestine, which makes it possible to see the tumor.

Simultaneously with proctoscopy, a biopsy sample is taken to determine the cytological structure of the tumor. In some cases, an X-ray is taken with a barium enema (for contrast), this is necessary to determine the spread of cancer along the intestine, as well as the presence of metastases.

Stages of development and prognosis

There are several stages of cancer development:

The tumor does not grow into the serosa (the outer lining of the intestine), often the lymph nodes are not involved in the process, and there are no metastases. If resection is performed correctly, the prognosis is favorable; in the presence of adenocarcinoma, the prognosis is cautious.
The tumor grows throughout the entire depth of the intestine , including the serous membrane. In this case, the lymph nodes will already be involved. In some cases there are metastases, in others there are not; depending on their presence or absence, the prognosis can be cautious or favorable.
The tumor grows into neighboring tissues and organs. In this situation, neoplasms will be found in many distant lymph nodes, as well as in the liver, kidneys, spleen and other organs. The prognosis is unfavorable.

Stages and symptoms

Small intestine

Poor appetite and sudden weight loss signal the development of cancer in your pet.
Signs of the disease are varied and individual for each animal. The most common are abdominal pain, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss. At a later stage, when the tumor begins to close the intestinal lumen, more severe symptoms appear. Cats experience severe vomiting, loose stools with blood, and severe epigastric pain. The general condition worsens - anemia, tachycardia develops, and ascites appears. Adenocarcinoma causes complete obstruction, and lymphoma causes diarrhea alternating with constipation.

Colon

The most common cancer is rectal cancer. Symptoms of colon tumors depend on the location of the tumor. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting, increased gas formation, weight loss, mucus and blood in the stool. With further growth of the tumor, rapid heartbeat, loss of appetite, general weakness, and loss of consciousness are observed. Possible intestinal bleeding and the development of peritonitis.

How does the picture change depending on the degree of bowel cancer?

All malignant neoplasms go through 4 stages:

1 - a small tumor that has not yet spread beyond the intestine. If a tumor is detected at this stage, the survival rate is high.
2 - the formation grows into the intestinal wall, and the lymph nodes are involved in the process. The first metastases appear, but may still be absent. The animal's chances of survival become less.
3 - characterized by further germination into the organ. The tumor partially or completely closes the intestinal lumen, causing intestinal obstruction. The number of metastases increases. The cat's chance of life is reduced to 50 percent.
Stage 4 - growth of the formation into neighboring organs and tissues; this process is irreversible. The animal does not survive. Metastases spread to the lymph nodes, liver, heart, lungs and other organs.

Symptoms of intestinal cancer in a cat

Among the specific symptoms of developing intestinal cancer in a cat are the following:

intestinal dysfunction - diarrhea alternates with constipation, blood and mucus are noticeable in the stool, if the tumor is located in the small intestine, the stool may turn black. If a cat has colon cancer, bloody, foul-smelling discharge or bleeding from the anus is likely;
detection of lumps that can be felt through the abdominal wall may indicate the presence of a neoplasm in the intestine; dense lumps in the groin may be enlarged lymph nodes; an urgent consultation with a doctor at a veterinary clinic is necessary.

Diagnosis of intestinal cancer is quite difficult due to the fact that it also has nonspecific symptoms that are common to other diseases. Among them:

frequent vomiting with blood, bile, mucus;
foul odor from the mouth;
weight loss, poor appetite, lethargy caused by internal bleeding;
the cat periodically screams, then sits with its mouth open and breathes heavily, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), absent-minded gaze;
exhaustion (cachexia) and complete lack of appetite accompany cancer in the last stage.

Any of the symptoms of intestinal cancer in cats should not be discussed on an animal lovers forum, but only with a veterinary oncologist. Next, we will tell you what to do if your cat is confirmed to have intestinal cancer. There is no need to panic, you need to pull yourself together and unite in the fight to prolong the life of your pet.

Diagnostic methods

When a cat exhibits the above clinical signs, the owner needs to take the pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

To identify the location of the tumor, the cat undergoes magnetic resonance imaging.
If intestinal cancer is suspected, the doctor will prescribe the necessary examinations.
To diagnose the disease, a general blood and urine test and biochemistry are prescribed. To find out in more detail the type, location and stage of the tumor, you need to perform an X-ray examination, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. The main diagnostic method is biopsy. During the procedure, a piece of tissue is taken from the animal with a special thin needle and sent for histology. This mini-operation takes place under general anesthesia. Often, a biopsy is taken during surgery to remove the tumor.

Clinical picture

Depending on the location of the tumor (small or large intestine), symptoms vary slightly.

Small intestine

There are many nonspecific symptoms that may suggest cancer:

loss of appetite;
weight loss;
vomiting or nausea;
stomach ache;
pallor of the mucous membranes.

Remember! All these signs develop gradually, which is why they often go unnoticed in the early stages.

characteristic symptoms may appear :

When the intestines are blocked, severe abdominal pain appears, the animal constantly vomits, and bloody diarrhea without feces may be observed.
When the wall is perforated, anemia quickly develops, the animal lies without strength, tachycardia is observed, the main symptom is ascites - abdominal dropsy.
With lymphoma, diarrhea alternates with constipation, but the main diagnostic sign is low levels of protein in the blood.
In the case of a mast cell tumor, particularly severe, incessant diarrhea is observed, which occurs due to the action of histamine.
With adenocarcinoma, complete blockage of the intestine quickly develops.

Colon

Treatment of intestinal cancer: is it effective?

Treatment methods depend on the stage of the disease. Surgical treatment is the main way to get rid of the disease, in which the doctor removes the tumor in cats. Whether there will be a complete recovery or not, no one can say. After all, metastases may be discovered later in other organs. This is because when there are cancer cells in the body, they can recur.

Radiation and chemotherapy are also used for treatment. During radiation therapy, the animal is irradiated using a special machine that produces x-rays and gamma rays. Chemotherapy involves taking pills and intravenous drugs that destroy tumors. This treatment method has quite a few side effects, the most common being hair and whisker loss. Immunotherapy is another treatment method in which immunoglobulins, cytokines, and immunostimulants are introduced into the animal’s body, creating an immune response to the tumor.

Stages of development and prognosis

There are several stages of cancer development:

The tumor does not grow into the serosa (the outer lining of the intestine), often the lymph nodes are not involved in the process, and there are no metastases. If resection is performed correctly, the prognosis is favorable; in the presence of adenocarcinoma, the prognosis is cautious.
The tumor grows throughout the entire depth of the intestine , including the serous membrane. In this case, the lymph nodes will already be involved. In some cases there are metastases, in others there are not; depending on their presence or absence, the prognosis can be cautious or favorable.
The tumor grows into neighboring tissues and organs. In this situation, neoplasms will be found in many distant lymph nodes, as well as in the liver, kidneys, spleen and other organs. The prognosis is unfavorable.

Surgery and prognosis for intestinal tumor in a cat

A malignant intestinal tumor in a cat is not a death sentence; with modern treatment methods, the animal’s life can be extended for several years, and there are cases of complete recovery. The main thing is for owners not to give up and do everything to help their animal.

There are three main methods of treating malignant tumors, which, depending on the indications, can be used both in combination and separately:

chemotherapy;
radiation therapy;
surgical intervention.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is prescribed by an oncologist in the form of droppers or tablets, followed by treatment of inevitable complications, since all chemotherapy drugs are toxic, that is, cystitis, reactions from the hematopoietic organs, kidneys, and liver are possible.

Radiation therapy

Radiation or radiotherapy produces fewer side effects when the tumor is irradiated with gamma rays, which are popularly called radiation. Radiation therapy is better tolerated by animals, although they must be immobilized for the procedure, so anesthesia or deep sedation is used.

Surgery to remove the tumor

These methods are combined with surgical intervention, which consists of resection, that is, excision of the affected area of the intestine, including parts of healthy areas, so that tumor cells capable of growing do not remain in the body. Surgical treatment is the main treatment for a benign intestinal tumor in a cat: surgery helps to completely get rid of damaged tissue, and the prognosis is favorable - usually a complete recovery.

With malignant intestinal tumors, such an outcome is very rare, and doctors only fight to prolong and improve the quality of life for several years. Take care of your pets and be attentive to their health!

My cat has a tumor in his intestines - what should I do?

Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment of feline intestinal tumors. And here the main role is played by the attention that the owner pays to the health of his animal, and timely access to a doctor.

It must be said that there are no specific signs of intestinal tumors in cats, but the owner should be concerned about such symptoms as: general lethargy and depressed state, loss of appetite and exhaustion, vomiting, sometimes with blood, diarrhea, diarrhea with blood, blood flowing from the anus, enlarged lymph nodes, for example, in the groin, lumps in the abdominal cavity.

Many diseases are characterized by similar symptoms, so immediate consultation with a veterinary oncologist is necessary to begin treatment as early as possible. In the clinic, the animal should be provided with the following types of assistance:

carry out differential diagnosis to exclude other diseases. This requires blood biochemistry, a clinical blood test, a urine test, and a coprogram;
determine the location, size of the tumor, the spread of metastases using ultrasound and tomography, examining blood and lymphatic vessels using X-rays;
determine the type of tumor and the degree of its aggressiveness. In order to understand whether it is a malignant or benign formation, a biopsy is performed under ultrasound guidance for histological examination;
conduct an endoscopic examination for lymph node biopsy.

The treatment regimen for intestinal tumors in cats depends on the stage of the disease, the type and location of the tumor, and the age of the animal.