Page 65 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

◁ Loss of appetite
Cats with lymphoma often have little appetite
and lose weight. They may also develop other
digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhea,
or regurgitation of undigested food.

▽ Microscopic examination
To help identify skin disorders, a vet may scrape
a sample of cells from an affected area of the
skin and examine them under a microscope
to detect abnormalities.

63

often occur on the hind legs or cells that fight infectious
paws, or inside the mouth. Plaques organisms. These cells collect in
are flat, red, thickened areas of tiny, bean-shaped lymph nodes
bare skin, often on the abdomen (which also trap disease organisms Immune system disorders
or inner thighs. Ulcers (or rodent and cancerous cells).
ulcers) are raw areas, often with a Lymphoma has three main forms. lymph nodes. Treatment may
raised border, that usually develop Alimentary (intestinal) lymphoma, involve surgery, radiation, or
on the upper lip. Mosquito bite the most common, causes weight chemotherapy, depending on
hypersensitivity may lead to sores loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and the location and size of tumors.
on the nose, ears, and pads of the enlarged lymph nodes in the There is no cure for lymphoma, but
paws. The cat may scratch or lick abdomen. Mediastinal lymphoma treatment may prolong life.
sores, possibly breaking the skin develops in the chest. Signs include
and causing infection. difficulty in breathing and Pemphigus
A vet may take samples from the regurgitation of food. Multicentric This refers to a group of skin
sores to confirm the diagnosis, and lymphoma involves lymph nodes disorders in which the cat’s
may prescribe corticosteroids to throughout the body. Swollen immune system attacks the
reduce inflammation and antibiotics nodes may be felt under the jaw skin tissues. This causes scaly
to clear up any secondary bacterial and in the armpits and groin. Cats or crusty areas, fluid-filled
infection. You will need to prevent carrying feline leukemia virus blisters, and ulcers. These usually
exposure to allergens—for example, (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency develop on the head, ears, and
keeping your cat indoors to avoid virus (FIV) are at a greater risk of pads of the paws, and in some
mosquitoes, or eliminating fleas. lymphoma because their immune cases on the gums and lips. The
system is already weakened. sores are itchy and painful. A vet
Lymphoma Immunization against FeLV can may take skin samples from the
One of the most common forms of reduce the risk of lymphoma in sores to identify the disease, and
cancer in cats, lymphoma arises in cats. A vet will test the cat for FeLV prescribe corticosteroids and
the lymphatic system. This system and FIV, carry out blood tests, immunosuppressant drugs to
carries lymphocytes—white blood and will take biopsies of enlarged reduce the disease activity.

US_062-063-Immune_disorders.indd 63 24/10/2013 15:05