Cancer, abscess or infection? *Pic warning*

[Oldfurbabyconcerns]

Our 18 year old cat suddenly developed a swollen chin yesterday. We took him to the vet today but she didn’t manage to get the best look at it, as he was very cross and wasn’t really letting her close (unlike him, he usually charms them all as he get his jabs and checks). Despite this, she said it looks like it could be cancer. We’ve been given antibiotics and painkillers (he has a sore back too) just in case it’s something that can be cleared up, and have been told to see how he gets on over the next couple of days. If it’s an infection, it’ll hopefully go down. If not, it’s looking like PTS 😢

We’ve managed to get some photos of inside his mouth this evening thanks to some licky treats, and we also noticed he has a sore under his chin now that wasn’t there earlier. It’s oozed a bit so now I’m wondering if it’s an abscess?? I know we’ll find out soon enough, but I can’t stop thinking about it and was wondering if anyone had a similar experience or recognises what it would be from these photos.

I’m just devastated at the thought of losing him, I still remember choosing him as a kitten 😢

Really gross question but what colour was the ooze? I’m seriously no vet but have dealt with a fair share of cat abscesses recently! The ooze is a white cloudy pink sometimes yellow ooze and it stinks! Hoping for you as it’s near a tooth that it may just be an abscess or as you say there is a visible sore, perhaps he got into a scrap or hurt himself and it’s gotten infected? That would definitely be best case scenario. An abscess can feel slightly squishy especially if some fluid has oozed already to relive the pressure and you can move it slightly with the skin. Antibiotics first showed signs of working about 4 days in for us.

Really hope it is an abscess for you. I had a cat until he was 19, there is something so lovely about having an old boy ♥️🥰 wishing the best for you both.

Really hard to tell. If it came up literally over night, probably an infection/abscess. If it came up over a couple of days, could be either infection/abscess or an aggressive cancer & if it took a week or more to come up then most likely cancer I'm afraid.

Oozing is probably a good sign, depending on the colour. Cloudy and yellow, green or similar colour good, clear & watery not so good; bloody colour could be either.

I'd give him a few days on the antibiotics to see if that helps, and if he will tolerate it then bathe with warm water. Fingers crossed you get a great big pus filled explosion!

Thank you for the replies!

He seems a little bit better this afternoon, thank goodness. His chin seems slightly less swollen and although I’ve not managed a good look in his mouth today, it doesn’t seem as bad in there (I think!). He does have more sores under his chin though. The ooze seems to be a pink or a bloody discharge. No smell. I’m really really hoping he has an abscess and that the antibiotics will fix it. He’s had two doses so far so hopefully that’s why we’ve seen some improvements 🤞

These are the best pictures I could get of his chin today. The swelling does seem a lot smaller!

@Allergictoironing@lilyflower1803

Hopefully the final update: it must have been an abscess! There’s so much gross discharge, but he’s himself again 🥰 the swelling in his mouth is barely there too. Thank goodness for that!!! So happy to have our gorgeous old boy back ❤️ who is currently wolfing his dinner down as I type 😂

That sounds hopeful. IME with abscesses you usually notice them being under the weather for a while. Once the abscess bursts they pick up no end

I'm so pleased she's feeling better. It was very rash of the vet to say it looked like cancer.
They shouldn't say that unless they've really thoroughly examined him and ideally done biopsy.
I'm sure it was just an abscess. My cats have had really gruesome ones. They're very prone to it. Poor kitty. X

Oh I’m so relieved!! I agree it was a bit wrong of the vet to say cancer without a thorough examination! It would definitely make me panic. I’m sooo glad he’s feeling better ♥️ what a gorgeous boy. Glad he’s got his appetite back too- it must have been so painful for him!