My 23-year-old cat has a cyst. Is sedation safe for removal?

Hi. I understand your reluctance to anesthetize an older pet but there are many options that can make it a safe procedure. I would have her evaluated but a veterinarian to discuss options. If this is truly a cyst sometimes they can be sterilely drained. It will recur but may reduce the size for a while. Otherwise doing preanesthetic bloodwork can assess if she would be a good candidate for anesthesia and you and your vet can work out the best plan for Ghosty's treatment together.

Unfortunately no, any lump removal does require being put under, whether is general anesthesia or sedation. Lump removal can be done in senior cats, and I recommend having a geriatric blood panel done on Pursie prior to deciding to remove the lump. That will tell the vet how her organ's are functioning, and can give an idea of the anesthetic risk of putting her under.

Cysts can be painful, and I would take Cry Baby into the vet first thing in the morning to have the cyst drained sterilely. It may need to be removed to prevent it from growing again, but it should definitely be drained to prevent it from rupturing. Please do not dry to open it yourself, as that can introduce infection into the area.

If you are sure they are benign sebaceous cysts, you can monitor them for rapid change or growth. Keep the area clean and dry. If they become infected, ulcerated, cause pain or restrict movement, then you can discuss surgical resection with your veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would agree with your veterinarian that surgery is likely the best option at this point. Another option is to continue draining it on an as needed basis but that may get uncomfortable with time if you have to do it consistently. Anesthesia can be very safe if done appropriately. Unfortunately there is rarely any medical therapy for cysts. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That will depend on the veterinarian seeing the patient and also the tolerability of the patient with the procedure. Generally, that is not the case and at least a mild sedative is required. Most patients do fine with anesthesia. In reality even if under anesthesia or sedation, that would be a very quick removal. Good luck!

You are right, there is always some risk with surgery. However, you may want to visit with your veterinarian about the anesthesia monitoring they do. It may surprise you how low the risk is and how much effort is put into safety. As far as the mass goes, I do get concerned anytime a mass is changing. I do recommend surgical removal any time there is a big change to an existing mass. However, there is always the possibility that it could remain quiet and never cause a problem. I would recommend visiting more with your veterinarian and making that decision together. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.