Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Dr. Tobin -- I have a quick question, but want to give you some background...

On Wednesday (two days ago), my 18 y/o cat had a single lengthy nose bleed and then congested breathing. Ran the battery of blood tests, etc., ruled out URI, etc. Two vets talked to me. One wanted to treat for sinus infection/dry nose/burst vessel first (but did mention it could be tumor), the other was saying it was probably a tumor due to age... "18 year old cats don't have a nose bleed without it being a tumor..."

I have had senior cats and know it very well could be a tumor due to age (my first thought when I took him in). The vet that isn't jumping straight to tumor gave him a new long lasting (14 day) antibiotic shot, called "Convenia", and has me giving him saline nose drops about 3 times a day for a few days to keep his nasal passages moist.

My question is, if it is a tumor, how long before another nose bleed or symptom might show up? He just had one incident two days ago. I would think if it is pressing on something, I would see a sign again in the near future. When his brother had a brain tumor, he was dizzy and steroids controlled it. When we took him off steroids early on to confirm it was a tumor, he almost immediately got dizzy again. If it is a tumor rather than dry nose/sinus in my 18 y/o, wouldn't it show up again fairly soon? I kind of want to know if I can let my guard down some in a couple weeks if he shows no further symptoms. I do have steroids on hand if he does (haven't used them yet).

So, would a tumor show itself again fairly soon?

Thank you!
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

The thing that makes tumors so dangerous is that they continue to grow, making the symptoms more extreme. While the symptoms can sometimes be diminished by treatment such as moistening the area, or using steroids, or secondary symptoms controlled with antibiotics, the symptoms rapidly redevelop when the treatment is stopped, as the tumor is unaffected. If there is a tumor causing the symptoms, what will you do about it? If you have a reasonable treatment plan, it may be worthwhile to do all the diagnostic work necessary to determine if it is in fact a tumor, and what type. If you are not going to try to treat the tumor, or if the prognosis is so bleak that the cat's quality of life would be so impaired that the cat would be miserable, other options should be considered.

Another possibility is to treat for other causes, which is what the second vet is doing by giving antibiotics et al, which may relieve the symptoms and at least improve the quality of life.

Thank you. There has been no recurrance of a bloody nose or anything out of the ordinary since last Wednesday afternoon. I am hoping it was just a bloody nose because it is so dry (he sleeps under an air vent and doesn't like my humidifier in the bedroom because it blows cold air).

I have steroids at home (from the emergency vet) if the symptoms show up again, but I will call/take him to see his geriatric vet when they do show rather than just start giving them to him without her opinion (she was on vacation last week).

They ran enough tests last Wednesday that we are at the point that he'd need X-Rays or other tests that would need him to be sedated. I am hesitant to sedate for too many tests at age 18, but will do whatever she wants me to do.

Right now, the antibiotic shot is good for 2 weeks and I continue to moisten (saline drops) three times a day.

I am hoping that without the steroid, the tumor will show itself fairly soon, if it is a tumor. As the days progress, I relax a little more more thinking it may have just been dry nose, but I'll stay on edge for a while...

I can't think a tumor would stay hidden without another symptom for too much longer.
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)