10yo With Pancreatic Cyst(s)

dan32

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My 10yo male Kee-gee started blimping up mid-January until one day I was looking at him and he looked like a walking cantaloupe. I took him in to my vet who identified his abdominal swelling as a giant accumulation of fluid.

The vet performed: a blood panel (came back normal); an x-ray (couldn't see anything but the giant bag of fluid with Kee-gee's organs pushed to the edges of his chest cavity); a needle aspiration of the fluid (sent out to the lab for analysis); and a preliminary ultrasound by my vet (like the x-ray - the fluid collection was so gigantic that it blocked much visibility as to where it was coming from).

The aspirated fluid analysis came back as neutrophils (white blood cells - found in many types of infections), but didn't appear to be cancer cells. So, my vet thought it was some kind of internal cyst, but was reluctant to diagnose further without Kee-gee getting a better ultrasound from a more experienced technician.

As a last ditch, the vet prescribed a broad spectrum antibiotic (Veriflox) which I gave him for 10 days. To our surprise, the abdominal swelling went down completely after just a few days on the antibiotic. It was as if you had popped him with a pin. All was well for about 5 weeks after the Veriflox, then I noticed he was blimping up again in early March - only about half as much as before.

We went with a second round of the same antibiotic, this time he was completely deflated within three days on the medicine, but we continued for 20 days instead. Meanwhile, I made a very future appointment for an ultrasound with a technician my vet really likes. Kee-gee kind of held his own for 4-5 weeks again off the medicine. I even had more Veriflox stock piled in case I needed it, but resisted re-administering it to see if he could handle the swelling on his own. So last week, the abdominal swelling went down on its own.

Just a few days ago, we finally had the ultrasound appointment and the consensus was that he has a cyst or multiple cysts on his pancreas. They said the cyst was enclosed in a honeycombed bag (sounded to me like his pancreas itself) and even in its relatively deflated state was about the size of a small lime. Considering that when I took him the first time it must have been the size of a grapefruit or cantaloupe - a small lime didn't sound too bad.

Well, my vet said he has never heard of such a thing - looked like he saw a ghost - and said he would have to get back to me once he had consulted with some ER doctors at our specialty hospital as to what could be done. I just couldn't imagine cutting some giant sized cyst off of his fragile little pancreas - certainly nothing the size of a grapefruit.

The funny thing is Kee-gee has never stopped eating, seems in good spirits, and both the vet and the ultrasound tech remarked that he did not look like a sick animal at all. It did seem that whatever it is, it is very susceptible to the Veraflox, but also that he seems to blimp up and down - even without the medicine.

Anyone have anything on this particular illness? I know there have been a lot of people on this board having cats with pancreatitis. When I just search for "feline pancreatic cysts", it isn't that common and mostly you are just pointed to pancreatitis.
 

white shadow

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Hi dan32 .

Mr. Google does have quirks, it seems to me.

Try exactly this: "pancreatic cysts in cats".........oh la la!

Now, I have never had any experience with anything involving the pancreas in any of my cats....making me a complete no-nothing!

My first thought, though, when I read your account, was to wonder whether/not the folks in either one of the specialized online communities that deal with managing the very complicated business of feline pancreas health might be of some help......

There are two I know of:
  • a FB group: Cats With Pancreatitis Now, they've been active for about 5 years, so there's some experience there....perhaps a quick post to them 'Has anyone heard of/had experience with...' might yield something
  • the original Feline Pancreatitis Support community, active since 2007 - you might just try an email to the "list owner" there, and, if that doesn't get a reply, then get a Yahoo email account and join the group to ask (click the purple +Join Group button): Feline Pancreatitis Support - Yahoo Group

Let us know what comes of all this.
.
 

di and bob

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Very good advise there! One problem that may come up in the future though is that eventually the antibiotic will quit working, the body will become too used to it. so other antibiotics would have to be found that work. You really need to find out what can be done about the cyst itself. A specialist is needed, I hope they can work off the tests you have already had done to keep the cost down. I'll pray for your little boy.....
 
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dan32

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Right, white shadow.. I got a bunch more articles from Google with "pancreatic cysts in cats" than with "feline pancreatic cysts". You would think Google would be smart enough to substitute "in cats" for "feline".

None of the articles I looked at sounded very hopeful. I just can't imagine trying to cut some giant growth out of him. I mean if the thing was fully inflated the size of a grapefruit - how could that be removed? I am pretty sure it would kill him in the process. I mean at its peak back in January, on the x-ray the cyst was filling up his whole chest cavity. His little heart and lungs were mashed up to the front and his intestines were mashed to the back. The vet was amazed he was still eating.

...Any hopes I had of my vet doing the surgery (he is an excellent surgeon) sort of went out the window when I saw the look on his face during the ultrasound. He was quick to try and point me somewhere else for the solution, like the very expensive and cold-as-ice ER hospital. Hot potato! I still have not heard back from my vet since the ultrasound four days ago.

I lost another cat about 5 yrs. ago to lymphoma at the same ER hospital, and I swore I would not step in and try and play god again. I feel in retrospect like I just tortured the cat and myself trying to cure him.

I guess they sometimes drain the fluid in these things with needle aspiration, but with Kee-gee it seems the volume of fluid within the cyst is going up and down on its own. I mean at the moment, if I hadn't seen him back in January - I would not know that there was anything wrong with him today. He hides a lime-sized cyst very well and is still eating, seems happy.

My long and short on reading dozens of posts here on pancreatitis is food allergies. There was some new food introduced when this all started, but I would hate to think than some new canned food would cause such a reaction. There was a bunch of fish flavored canned food served out at the time, but would that cause such a reaction?
 

white shadow

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Hey again!

Look: (and all this is IMHO) scrap looking through posts on here about pancreatitis. Get hooked up with, preferably, that specialized group on Yahoo (I find the FB postings very 'thin'/shallow in comparison with the more 'intense'/in-depth responses from most Yahoo communities...plus, there's far more experience to be had from them).

Again, without in-depth knowledge/any experience, I can not speak with any authority on the condition.

If, by "ER hospital, you might be speaking of/meaning a specialty/"referral hospital/center", then it's possible that there will be a board-certified internal medicine specialist there (AVMA - Veterinary Specialties), or be accessible from there. No matter your previous experience with your late cat, I would recommend you pursue what may be there. You are going to be more prepared 'this time' and can work through and manage things better this time.

You're also at a huge advantage with Keegie because he is otherwise (seemingly) in good health.

OK - my thoughts for now.
.
[edit: Kee-gee to Keegie !]
.
 
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white shadow

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I forgot the "new food" issue..........if you're still using using it, I'd say ditch whatever it is immediately.
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dan32

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I was already a member of the feline lymphoma yahoo group from years ago. I just sent a request to join the feline pancreatitis yahoo group.

Both the vet and the ultrasound doctor said they did not think Keegie has classic pancreatitis symptoms currently (not throwing up or not eating), but I will see what the group has to say about pancreatic cysts.

Thanks for taking time to reply...
 
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dan32

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I did join the Yahoo Pancreatitis Group and instantly remember my exasperation with the mechanics of the Yahoo Groups. It is just so hard to follow.
 
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