Is my cat's behavior change due to lymphoma or Leukeran side effects?

Maybe and maybe not. You will need to talk to the doctor who is treating your cat as to whether or not he or she thinks that the poor appetite is due to the small cell or due to the leukeran. This drug can cause this side effect so it is important to discuss this with your doctor. If you are not seeing an oncologist your doctor can contact a local oncologist for advice on your kitty. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear that Trixie has this issue :( It is very difficult to give much of an opinion about this without having the entire medical history, but in general, I would say that if she has been doing very well so far with no set backs, you could stop the Leukeran and just continue with the prednisolone. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes!

Hello and thank you for your post! I am sorry to hear that Dinky may have leukemia. Some changes on blood work that you can see include anemia, low white blood cell count and low platelets to name a few common changes we see. I am unsure whether or not you mean leukemia or lymphoma? Leukemia can be typically diagnosed with a snap test that your vet's clinic should have on hand that would help confirm the diagnosis. If lymphoma, abdominal ultrasound would help but to get closer to a definitive diagnosis for lymphoma, you would need intestinal biopsies. Unfortunately with both diseases, they tend to progress and worsen. You can talk to your vet about appetite stimulant drugs and see if you can get a prescription for this. I would be careful with the steroids as they can cause further immunosuppression and could make things worse. Offer lots of tasty foods and see if it is a matter of palatability as well. Anti-nausea drugs such as Cerenia (from your vet's clinic) may also prove useful in getting the appetite back. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear Henry has lymphoma, I know this is a difficult time for your family. Side effects, especially from Lomustine can include bone marrow suppression, but more commonly GI upset signs like vomiting, diarrhea, etc. If the side effects are very severe, please contact your doctor, as we can administer gi protectants as well as anti nausea medications to help lessen the symptoms. My best to all of you.

Hello, and thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear about Trixie's diagnosis! It's great that you're working with an oncologist; I can tell you're wanting to provide the best care for Trixie. Most cats do feel better and perk up on the medication. If her appetite was down, you may see her start eating a bit better, and if you had noticed lethargy you may see her perk up and act more social again. Often we can see an increase in both appetite and thirst, which leads to more urination as well. Generally we don't see too many other side effects from the medications, and your oncologist will want to know if you do have concerns with how Trixie is feeling on the meds, as they may tweak the dose based on how Trixie's responding. I have seen a few animals go into remission, but I would defer to the oncologist on the actual numbers, as they see far more cases than we do in general practice! Hope this helps. Hugs to you and Trixie.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear that. Lymphoma is an aggressive disease in cats, especially when in the gastrointestinal system and in circulation. Usually even with chemotherapy you are looking at a prognosis of 2-6 months depending on the exact type of lymphoma. You could try prednisolone as a palliative treatment to make her feel better for the time being and perhaps extend her survival time for a few weeks. If she is already anemic, she may also require a blood transfusion making things a bit more complicated. If she is not doing well and you are not interested in pursuing therapy knowing the prognosis then euthanasia is a good option. Let me know if you have further questions regarding her disease. Sorry for the sad news!

His response to the steroid injection may be more indication that he does have lymphoma. Prednisone, a steroid, is commonly used in conjunction with a chemotherapeutic agent to treat lymphoma in cats. The steroid will decrease inflammation which may reduce his symptoms. Consider a consult with a veterinary oncologist to discuss testing for a definitive diagnosis after which treatment, if you choose, can begin.