Cancer of the Leg in a Cat

While cancer in humans is a regular occurrence, we rarely think about how it can affect animals until a precious pet becomes ill. However, learning all about the cancer --- its causes, effects, treatments and chances of survival --- can help an owner make an informed decision about what to do. What is best for the owner and what is best for the cat should dictate, in the end, the decision regarding how to proceed to combat leg cancer in a prized best friend, a pet cat.

  1. Causes

    • The cause of cat leg cancer is the same as it is throughout the rest of the body --- irregular cell growth causing tumors, malignant ones being cancerous. Cancer in the leg is quite common in cats, because the appendage has ample bloodflow that cancer needs to continue to grow. Whether hereditary, through exposure to radiation or a trauma that began the cell growth such as a repeated vaccine, pinpointing the exact causation of the cancer is difficult --- but treating it is not.

    Effects

    • Small, fatty benign tumors --- noncancerous --- are common on aging cats and dogs and have a different effect on the animal than cancerous ones, though both may begin the same way. Cancerous lumps --- either several small ones or one large one --- on an animal's leg will continue to grow, whereas benign ones generally stop getting bigger after a certain time. Limping is one of the main effects of the cancer and is a good indicator that the small tumor is continuing to grow and cause pain. Sluggishness and loss of appetite are also symptoms of malignant cancer.

    Diagnosis

    • While lumps can be felt with hands and the effects of cancer are seen, it is important to have a definitive diagnosis of cancer before deciding which treatment to proceed with. An X-ray can generally reveal if there are masses that appear cancerous, after which a veterinarian will take a biopsy from one of the masses in order to tell whether it is malignant or benign. The X-ray, if the masses are found cancerous, can also determine how far the cancer has metastasized, or spread, to the rest of the body.

    Treatments

    • While there are treatments for pets with cancer, they are costly. If the cost is too high, many owners often opt to euthanize their cat. Surgery to remove smaller masses is the most common option for cancer that is just beginning in the leg. If the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the leg, or the bone, amputation is necessary. When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, such as the essential organs of the animal, the most humane move is to put the animal down.