Growth in his nose, What could it be? Options

[Pharaoh]

Pharaoh is up to his tricks again!!!!

The other day (about 2 weeks ago), I noticed a clear/transparent thing sitting at the end of Pharaoh's nostril - and thought it was nothing important - just the obvious. Now, it turned white in colour and is now becomming the same colour as his nose - chocolate. It appears to obstruct half his nostril, and I have been told that cats only breathe thru their nose.

So, can cats only breathe thru their nose?

I have tried to remove it but can't. It doesn't seem to bother him, but if I can see it growing towards the front of his nose, how far back could it be going????? He hasn't had any obvious trauma to his nose, and it is soft, not like a scab.

Am I over-reacting or are my concerns genuine? He is just over the myriad of other things he as had, and his health is great at the minute. I don't want to miss something that could be important.

Can anyone help????

Amanda, Pharaoh and Sphinx.

[fleabag]

Time for a vet visit ...it could be a foreign object getting grotty or something else ...hi ho hi ho ..it's to the vets you go!

[Clan Chattan]

I agree with Bronnie, another trip to the Vet just to be on the safe side. Your Vet will have enough money for another holiday soon with the amount of visits your cats have had there.

Elaine and Alex siamese.

[Pharaoh]

I pre-empted this response and have booked him in for the Vet's tomorrow - and would you believe she is on HOLIDAYS!!!!!! (Funded by the Pharaoh and Sphinx foundation I suppose)

Anyway, it gets worse. After writing the message, Pharaoh jumps onto my lap and has blood oozing from his nose! It stopped easily, but he wasn't at all impressed at me touching it. He will be even more unimpressed tomorrow after what the vet does to him.

Thanks for your help.

[Muffy]

Good luck for tomorrow

[Heather Sharada]

I'm glad you are going to the Vet - sometimes it is nothing but other times it can be something nasty.....good luck!!

[fleabag]

Good luck ..poor little bugger deserves a break ..it may just be a scratch that isn't healing well ..it is MOIST in there.

[Clan Chattan]

I hope all goes well for Pharaoh today,he has had a difficult life.He is so lucky you found and rescued him,he must know how much you love him.
Hugs for the lad.

Elaine and Alex Siamese.

[Pharaoh]

Firstly, thank you to everyone for your kind wishes.

Secondly, we went to the vet, and not a peep from Pharaoh - he behaved so beautifully, I was so proud.

Thirdly, the verdict. The vet said she was not exactly sure what it is, and can be one of two things. 1 = inflammation, 2 = cancer.

Inflammation - doesn't really fit because Pharaoh is not bothered by it at all, and inflammation is usually painfull. Also, he should be sneezing a lot and having a discharge from the nose - neither of which are happening.

Cancer - she said it is rare in a 10 month old kitten, but can happen.

Treatment. To treat the inflammation costs $25- in meds and a lot of effort from me convincing Pharaoh to take them. To biopsy the growth costs $400- in anaesthetics, probes and culturing / biopsying, and a lot of recovery for poor Pharaoh.

The conclusion - I am treating Pharaoh as if he has inflammation and are hoping for the best. If it isn't then the treatment won't hurt him, but if that is all it is, then it should be better in 1 week and he doesn't have to go under anaesthesia for no reason (and I won't have funded the vet's holiday fund any more than is necessary).

I will pretty much know in 1 week how things are going. I'm also praying it's option #1, especially seeing that my other half is away, and I don't really want to do this alone. Anyway, positive thinking, here we come.

Amanda, Pharaoh and Sphinxy-girl.

[fleabag]

Oh good luck....he deserves an easy fix! Sigh ...

[Muffy]

I have everything crossed that it is No1. Poor baby deserves a break after the rough start he had. Good luck Amanda.

[Clan Chattan]

Amanda,
Wishing Pharaoh well, I did not realise he was so young,he certainly has had a rough start he deserved to be loved by you.
Just a thought , is it possible he has some sort of foreign body in his nostril eg. plant seed or some thing from his previous home.
Hope to hear some good news soon.

Elaine and Alex Siamese.

[Pharaoh]

Well, a week is almost up, and I'm not convinced. The growth has gone from black back to the original white/opaque colour, but still seems to be about the same size, (maybe a tiny bit smaller but that could be wishful thinking). I could maybe see a scratch on the outer of is nose, but this could be something Sphinxy has done to him in the last few days - she never lets up. Anyway, the antibiotics are finished and the cortisone/antihistamines are continuing for a few more days. I don't think it could be a foreign body because he hasn't been outside since the growth appeared, and I don't think there is anything in the house that could do it, but I could be wrong. I have entertained every possible cause and are still lost.

Anyway, I have to ring the vet tommorow for an update, but it's not looking good. I may have to get it biopsied seeing that it is still the same size. He is reluctant to let me see it (the fact that I have just done 2 nightshifts doesn't help - he cracks it a bit when I'm at work).

So, still don't know what is going on really. I really appreciate everyones well wishes, and Pharaoh appreciates them too.

Amanda, Pharaoh and Sphinxy-girl

[fleabag]

Oh poor boy ..he deserves a break ..good luck at the vet ...

[Clan Chattan]

Amanda,
I hope we hear some good news soon about Pharaoh.Special hugs for the lad.

Elaine and Alex Siamese.

[Heather Sharada]

I am continueing to keep my everything crossed for the poor wee lad (and you).

[Pharaoh]

I called the vet and she was not available (had an incident with a horse). So I spoke to one of her colleagues. Without seeing Pharaoh's nose (and with my very average description over the phone), he said to bring Pharaoh in next week for another check-up. He seems a little more optimistic, and said it could be just a polyp or something similar. If so, Pharaoh will be sedated and have it burnt off - a much better option than a biopsy and the possibility of cancer. The lump is now pink and is getting bigger, so he will have to go on Tuesday and get it checked before I go to nightshift. I have to watch Pharaoh for signs of respiratory distress until then - they can apparently breathe thru their mouth but it is not natural.

Thank you everyone for you well-wishes. I gave in and told my other half (in Austria currently) what is happening, and he even sounded quite concerned - I tried to play it down a bit so he wouldn't worry (he is not as cat-mad as I am).

Thanks everyone - I will update after Tuesday's little expedition.

Amanda, Pharaoh and Sphinxy

[Clan Chattan]

Amanda,
Having Pharaoh checked by another vet is a good thing,even if it is by default.I hope all goes well for his visit on Tuesday.To be on the safe side fast him for at least 6 hours prior to his surgery,whether they use a light sedation or general anaesthetic it is better for Pharaoh.It will enable the vet to have a good examination of his nose,I sincerely hope all goes well for the darling lad.He has had a hard start to his life,he must be happy now that he is loved by you and by your OH( even if he will not quite admit it as yet).

Hugs to you fur babies.
Elaine and Alex Siamese.

[fleabag]

Fingers crossed for the little man ... polyp sounds good ..grin ..

[Pharaoh]

Well, Pharaoh has had his $600- nose job. He had to stay at the vet's overnight last night because I was working and he could not be home alone, so he stayed there and was sedated for the night.

Home this morning, and we have a piece of nose missing - but it isn't too obvious at first glance, only if you look for it. He is in good spirits considering. I need to continue with his meds and watch him for excessive licking of his nose. All is going well so far.

The results of the biopsy will hopefully be in today or tomorrow, and depending on what that shows will determine our next step. I'm hoping it's nothing serious, because I can't imagine having to even consider radiotherapy (which was discussed if it is cancer). I don't think I could put my little man thru it. Anyway, the results will be in soon, and I will update you all then.

Thanks for everyones well wishes, I know they are making Pharaoh and me feel much better.

Amanda, nose-job-Pharaoh, and Sphinxy-girl.

[Muffy]

Poor baby. Fingers crossed that it's not serious.

[fleabag]

OMG a CAT with a nose job ..WHAT is the world coming to?
Poor little bloke ..fingers crossed for benign polyp ...
Can't say he doesn't keep you on your toes!!!

[Clan Chattan]

Sending get well wishes to Pharaoh,I certainly hope the biopsy results are negative for the nasties.Radiotherapy would be expensive but apparently cats respond well to treatment,but I hope that it does not come to that.He is only a young boy so he has youth on his side.
He has just about caught up with Alex in the vet bill competition or maybe passed him.Alex was around $4500.00 I stopped counting after that,but he was worth every cent spent on him, he has repaid it in love and mischief. I have had many people say how could you spend that on a "cat"
Pharaoh must be worth his weight in gold. :-)

Elaine and Alex Siamese.

[Pharaoh]

Yes, Pharaoh is worth his weight in gold - all 3.1kg of him!

Well, the results are in. Pharaoh has been recovering very well since the operation - he is back to his "normal" self now.

The biopsy came back as a "benign polyp"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could not ask for better news - it's not cancer!!!! Apparently polyps are quite common in the nasopharynx of cats (so I'm now told). So, although it may return in the future, he is free of it, and his right nostril is now slightly larger than the left.

I cannot thank everyone enough for their wishes and support - it made a hugh difference to me. Thankyou

Amanda, Nose-job Pharaoh, and Sphinxy-girl who is now showing off and can fetch!!!!!!!!

Wonders will never cease.

[Clan Chattan]

Amanda,
Fantastic news about Pharaoh,it must be a big relief.Pharaoh is a whopping 3.1kgs! Alex was 3.4kgs when his weight was recorded at his last vet visit,it dropped to 2.4kgs when he was ill.We certainly have heavy weight cats.!!
I know you will not be popular but take Heather's advice and do not let Pharaoh play with string.Even though the last piece was retrieved from the rear orifice,the next piece he swallows could cause a bowel obstruction.I think you have donated enough money to the vets holiday fund.

Hugs for the special boy and clever girl.

Elaine and Alex Siamese.

[Muffy]

That is such good news. Pharaoh deserves a good break. Give him a pat from me

[fleabag]

Yay a benign polyp as you ordered.