The symptoms of feline intestinal lymphoma are vague and occur with many other illnesses in cats. [4] X Research source Don’t worry if lymphoma doesn’t immediately come to mind when you notice the symptoms. Your vet will be able to make the diagnosis.
In addition to eating less, your cat will start to lose weight. Decreased appetite and weight loss are two of the most common signs of feline intestinal lymphoma. [6] X Research source
If your cat is constipated, you’ll see fewer feces in the litter box. Diarrhea occurs in about 30% of feline intestinal lymphoma cases. [10] X Research source
Eating inedible objects is called pica.
The abdomen may feel completely normal, even if the lymphoma is advanced. [13] X Research source Your vet will need to perform other tests to diagnose intestinal lymphoma in your cat. Your vet will also listen to your cat’s heart and lungs. During the physical exam, give your vet a history of your cat’s symptoms. Explain when you noticed them, how long you’ve noticed them, and if they’ve gotten worse over time.
Your vet will also analyze your cat’s blood work for anemia, which is the most common blood work abnormality in cats with intestinal lymphoma. [15] X Research source Beatty J and Barrs V. J Feline Med Surg. 2012;14(3):182‒190. Anemia is a decrease in red blood cells. Your vet will also check your cat’s blood for levels of Vitamin B12 and folate. Blood levels of these two nutrients are commonly reduced in cats with intestinal lymphoma. Thyroid testing is also useful to rule out hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) as a cause for your cat’s symptoms. [16] X Research source Geiger T. Vet Clin Small Anim. 2011;41(2): 419–432. Hyperthyroidism can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss.
An abdominal ultrasound will show intestinal wall thickening and enlarged abdominal lymph nodes. Your vet can use ultrasound to take a sample of affected tissue to confirm the diagnosis. This is called an ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA). An FNA is a collection of cells taken with a thin needle.
Endoscopy is less invasive and faster than surgery, making it a good option for very sick cats. However, the endoscopy tube can reach only limited sections of the intestines. Also, the sample taken via endoscopy will not be as thick as that taken during surgery. Surgery allows for a thicker tissue sample that can be analyzed more thoroughly. However, surgery is invasive. Discuss the pros and cons of each procedure with your vet to decide which procedure would be best for your cat.
