Hi all.
I was having a difficult time trying to pin this down with my internet searches so I figured I'd post here and see if any of you might recognize these symptoms and help me get onto a right track for diagnosis. I unfortunately do not have access to a vet until next Wednesday (6 days from this writing) but I have a feeling this may need to be addressed sooner than that.
I have a smallish (small for his litter) app. 4-5mo. old kitten rescue that has a rather massive lump across his left upper chest and into his left armpit. The diameter is app. the size of a baseball and it protrudes out about an inch and a half or so. It feels like a large semi-rigid muscule (like if someone was flexing their pectoral muscle). The kitten has lost weight since I got him about 5 days ago and his back vertebrae are showing. The litter mates (3) are perfectly healthy.
My research so far has unearthed many different possibilities, none of them good. I've seen cancer, leukemia, FIP, as well as a host of other diseases that share similar symptoms. After researching, it seems plausible that the lump is fluid buildup. He is not coughing or wheezing so I would guess that rules out leukemia. He has lost weight but I do not know if he's necessarily showing signs of lethargy or not because he's still feral and hides (thus not moving) whenever I'm near.
Does any of this ring a bell with anyone? I'd hate it if this guy is done for so early in his life. Many of the diseases I've seen are incureable and/or fatal. At least one (FIP) is contagious so I'm additionally worried about his litter mates (who are currently housed with him in my bathroom while I tame them).
Any suggestions and thoughts are appreciated.
-Art
*** you can see part of the lump in the 2nd pic below (very center of pic just behind and above his elbow)
I was having a difficult time trying to pin this down with my internet searches so I figured I'd post here and see if any of you might recognize these symptoms and help me get onto a right track for diagnosis. I unfortunately do not have access to a vet until next Wednesday (6 days from this writing) but I have a feeling this may need to be addressed sooner than that.
I have a smallish (small for his litter) app. 4-5mo. old kitten rescue that has a rather massive lump across his left upper chest and into his left armpit. The diameter is app. the size of a baseball and it protrudes out about an inch and a half or so. It feels like a large semi-rigid muscule (like if someone was flexing their pectoral muscle). The kitten has lost weight since I got him about 5 days ago and his back vertebrae are showing. The litter mates (3) are perfectly healthy.
My research so far has unearthed many different possibilities, none of them good. I've seen cancer, leukemia, FIP, as well as a host of other diseases that share similar symptoms. After researching, it seems plausible that the lump is fluid buildup. He is not coughing or wheezing so I would guess that rules out leukemia. He has lost weight but I do not know if he's necessarily showing signs of lethargy or not because he's still feral and hides (thus not moving) whenever I'm near.
Does any of this ring a bell with anyone? I'd hate it if this guy is done for so early in his life. Many of the diseases I've seen are incureable and/or fatal. At least one (FIP) is contagious so I'm additionally worried about his litter mates (who are currently housed with him in my bathroom while I tame them).
Any suggestions and thoughts are appreciated.
-Art
*** you can see part of the lump in the 2nd pic below (very center of pic just behind and above his elbow)
