Tumours in older cats

With increasing age, tumours are more likely to form in cats. And as life expectancy has increased in cats, there is a growing number of cats developing tumours. The earlier the tumour is detected in the cat, the better is the prognosis for the animal.

• Increasing Age
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Dendritic Cell Therapy

Increasing age in cats

As in humans, the body of the cat becomes more susceptible to diseases in old age - including tumours. Most cancers occur in cats seven or eight years of age and older. According to this, especially from this age on, the corresponding symptoms must be taken into account.

Symptoms

The classic symptoms of tumours (and even cancer) include loss of appetite, weight loss, general weakness and fatigue. However, these signs are more common in younger cats than in older cats. This is because these symptoms are often attributed to the age of older cats. However, early diagnosis and treatment is important to ensure that the cat has the best chance of fighting the tumour. Also rather "inconspicuous" symptoms like tiredness and loss of appetite should be taken seriously and the animal should be presented to the vet.

Treatment

The treatment of (malignant) tumours can be very stressful for older cats. In the case of particularly aggressive tumours, a combination of surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy is often used. In some cases, both chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used after surgery to fight the tumour as best as possible. However, this can be very exhausting for the already weakened body, especially in older cats.
If the general condition of the cat is very poor, the veterinarian may also advise against curative treatment. In this case, only palliative treatment will be performed to make the cat as comfortable as possible.

Dendritic Cell Therapy

The Dendritic Cell Therapy is a gentle immunotherapy based on the body's own cells. These are cultivated from the blood of the treated animal and subsequently returned. This is to rebuild the immune system of the cat and to stimulate the independent fight against the tumour. This treatment method is particularly gentle and has only minor side effects. With the help of dendritic cell therapy, the life expectancy of older cats suffering from a tumour can be increased and the quality of life improved.