1. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   un-be-liev-able! the king of our feline pride, sam-i-am (named for that walton fellow, as he was born in a walmart), has a huge friggin' sebaceous cyst on his side. it has been there for a good while, slowly growing, and i was worried that it might be something serious. however, we have now been reassured by a bona fide vet that it is nothing but a "sebaceous cyst." little thrills are running through my body every time i brush or pet sammy...

   the vet offered to remove it but we declined, as the price was riddikulus. the vet said fine, just leave it alone, it won't bother him -- but bring him in strai)ht away should it become infected. (ooooo! an abscess! wait! i don't want sam-i-am to suffer in any way...)

   so i began a subtle campaign for us to remove the thing ourselves...

   and i am getting major VETOS and negatories and obnoxiously tame pedestrian attitudes.

   of course, i probably should stop squealing: "a zit! a zit! let's pop it! wanna pop it? sure you do! let's pop it! a zit! - etcetera"

   it turns out that fred thinks it would constitute ANIMAL CRUELTY were we to go after the sucker. animal cruelty? no, no, it would be adoration of the magi all over again!

   the cyst is at least 2 inches in diameter, though "round," it is not. more football shaped.

   and if fred has his way... it'll stay there until it outweighs the cat. sammy will need a little red wagon to carry it as he saunters along, or he will tip over.

   i am fighting the impulse to poke a hole in it and have a good long squeeze... because then it would probably get infected... it would definitely grow back... and i would be top of the list of suspects.

   frustration city...

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. kat
   Member

   DO IT!!!
   But do it properly-using sterile implements and rinsing with sterile saline afterwards.
   you should have seen enough vids now to know how...
   and don't forget to film it properly for us
   does he flinch or seem to feel anything if you mess with it?if not,then go for it.you would only be doing what the vet would have done,but as we have recently discussed,causing less trauma and leaving less of a wound-maybe you could keep some of those sticky strips that they use instead of stitches,handy in case you think he needs it after-but shouldn't do if you get the cut just deep enough to pop the sac,but not too wide-just wide enough for it to all get out.
   Don't forget to clear out all the 'pockets' so it won't return.
   if you aren't sure,just study some of the medical procedures on the PTZ vids.

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   i am having second thoughts. i was just BRUSHING sam-i-am this morning, when he calmly and purposefully reached his head forward (as if to gently kiss moi) -- and bit me fiercely on the nose.

   obviously, someone spilled the beans...

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. popables
   Member

   If you had something to sedate or numb him with, I'd say go for it!!

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. pussnstuff
   Member

   Lock Fred in the bathroom & go for it.
   My old man, Sam, has several pea size cysts that I drain as needed. The deshedding brush opens them up & covers his coat with the wax from the cysts unless they're somewhat emptied of contents. His short hair matts up, feels funky & looks dull if they're not drained. (He's too old to be a candidate for surgery.)
   Just some gentle squeezing is all it takes.

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. PoisonIvy
   Member

   We had a Aussie/border collie who, towards the end of her life, developed mammary cysts. The vet said they would be safely removed, so we went with his suggestion. I allowed the Vet to do the honors, and every thing went fine,she recovered quickly, and I suppose they had been sapping her energy, as she began to check the boundries of the back yard like she had done when she was much younger. I wonder if our vet would let us watch the procedure, if it happenes again.....

   PoisonIvy

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. kat
   Member

   watch the great new vid,office back cyst-that is how to properly remove a cyst

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   i am cool on the "how to..." -- i just need to get some courage. i don't lie very well and fred will likely kill me.

   HOWEVER, i promise to keep a very close eye on this thing... and if some sort of NATURAL hole should develop, i will be the greatest zit opportunist ever.

   sammy could trip and fall on a sterile large-gauge needle one day, just seconds after he carefully cleansed the area with alcohol.

   it could happen.

   no animals will be harmed! sam-i-am and i are zit partners already, as he has a recurring "blackhead" in one ear. he's a lovely cat (he must sound totally gross to you!). in fact, in honor of his burgeoning, humongous plug o'junk, i'll change-up and use his picture as my "avatar."

   Posted 1 year ago #

9. kat
   Member

   maybe he might scratch it with his claw and then it would be better to drain it and treat it than risk infection

   Posted 1 year ago #

10. CystFace
    Member

    Go to the vet! You don't know what it is and it could be bad. But bring a camera.

    They just prosecuted a man who drained a cyst on his older dog. he could not afford the vet so he did it himself. it got infected and the authorities pressed charges saying he performed an illegal surgery on his dog....go figure!

    Posted 1 year ago #

11. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    cystface: he's been to the vet! i would NEVER consider this if we hadn't been reassured it was just a sebaceous cyst by someone with DVM after their name. it is completely encapsulated, not infected, not draining -- solid sebum.

    kat: that would be ideal, and the most natural way to proceed.

    Posted 1 year ago #

12. Twisted Cyster
    Member

    Prof: Dont forget about US !!! Dont forget about PTZ !! Film it,...take a Cam to the Vet if he drains, Ask someone else to Cam if YOU drain....Please do not forget !! And for the Solid Sebum...make a good Cut, it WILL come out !! Remember Prof This can be a Fantasic Vid for PTZ !! Your Cat can become a Movie-Star !!

    Posted 1 year ago #

13. kat
    Member

    remember discussions about home vs medical excisions-where the medical ones seem to make huge cuts,leaving greater trauma

    Posted 1 year ago #

14. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    twisted cyster, honey, i think you are getting desperate for new vids! i am personally gonna dedicate an hour to scoping out YT tomorrow on your/our behalf.

    no wonder the poor medicos' hands are always a-quiver, pus and sebum flying everywhere all willy-nilly: it's *performance* anxiety! to please TC, i'm gonna have to slice-and-dice poor sam-i-am. on the other hand, to get kat off my back, i'm gonna have to suck the stuff out with one of those mini-straws. jeesh!

    we don't own a video camera... which means the cat will just have to hang on to this sucker until either GOOG hits 800 on the NYSE or PTZ starts issuing creative grants (whaddaya say, emil?}.

    i'm thinking something along the lines of Emil's National Endowment for the Zits.

    Posted 1 year ago #

15. kat
    Member

    do you have a cell phone with a camera?or a webcam maybe?

    Posted 1 year ago #

16. Twisted Cyster
    Member

    Found me a Juicy one Proff??

    Posted 1 year ago #

17. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    My son's dog, a schnauzer, has some big and some small bumps on her. I have strict instructions from him to leave them alone but when I pet her I can't help but feel them and wonder. I am sure they are sebaceous cysts but he knows my desire and doesn't want me to maybe cause an infection. Sigh... so close but so far away!

    If I were you, prof, I wouldn't hesitate! Go for it!

    Posted 1 year ago #

18. kat
    Member

    my dog has quite a good sized cyst,as many older dogs do.But she is 16,and i think the stress of me messing with it would be bad for her,hence i haven't done anything with it.If she was younger,or even a dog that didn't mind being messed with,I def woulda popped that thing.

    Posted 1 year ago #

19. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    I wouldn't mess with anything if Maisey was very old, either. She is nine so it probably would be okay. I just would LOVE to get just one of those and see what is in it!
    My lil Yorkie has had some zits on her and she is fairly patient letting me get them off her. But there is this ONE that I think is a skin growth because nothing comes out of it. It sure bugs me, though, and it is getting bigger. It is light in color and looks like a pimple but isn't. Hope she doesn't have to have surgery to get it off.
    The last real thing I popped was a sebaceous cyst on my son's shoulder. His (then) girlfriend (now wife) started in on it and got scared when she saw the white stuff in it. I got all of that out as well as the sac... darn it. I would have left a little bit in it had I known then what I know now about cysts! LOL

    I want to pop something BIG! Something with substantial goo inside it! sooooo badly!

    Posted 1 year ago #

20. kat
    Member

    please don't tease-if you did it and we didn't see it,it's just not fair

    Posted 1 year ago #

21. pussnstuff
    Member

    Sam-i-am looks like the critter on the frontline for felines box. Handsome feller you have there, Prof. You know his level of tolerance better than anyone & what he's comfortable with. BUT.....you could always get some tranquilizers from the vet that would calm Sam, (maybe enough) for an attempt at cyst removal. Wrap or cover his feet so that you don't have to wear oven mitts for claw protection.
    Have you ever tried the pedipaws? I bought it to use on the dog but he's not cooperative. The cats don't mind it at all.

    Posted 1 year ago #

22. MirrorSpatter
    Member

    LOL @ PPM! You would have left the sac in, too funny! Prof, is this the kind of cyst that could surface on its own in time? I had a dog that had a sebaceous cyst rupture on her back. She was a German shepherd mix with wiry hair, so we didn't even know she had it until we found a giant "scab". The vet told us she needed surgery otherwise it would keep filling up. Knowing what I know now I probably would have waited to see if it actually filled up again, rather than have her knocked out at the age of 11. Anyways, is there a chance it could just take care of itself?

    Oh, and in that pic it looks like your cat is saying "just you try it. I DARE you." LOL!

    Posted 1 year ago #

23. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    well, bless his bones, our dear sammy is very ill. progressively worse, it all began as a loss of appetite. he can now barely swallow. (i am pretty sure he hates me and my syringe full of water -- forcing fluids...)

    fred is taking him back to the vet, in whom i am rapidly losing confidence. last trip, he sent sammy home with a packet of "appetite stimulants" -- but did no diagnostic testing. i guess, at that point, all the symptoms were rather vague, and it seemed to fall under that huge umbrella of "malaise." no longer.

    anyway... it looks dire, so if you believe in the power of prayer or in the good influence of compassionate thoughts, please pray and think "healing" on sam-i-am's behalf.

    Posted 1 year ago #

24. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    so sorry to hear about your dear cat, prof. I will pray. Good thoughts your way as well.

    Posted 1 year ago #

25. pussnstuff
    Member

    Oh no, that doesn't sound good for Sam. How long has he been refusing to eat & drink?

    Posted 1 year ago #

26. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    don't worry, emil! i won't turn this into the sammy show...

    however... the vet called us late this evening to say he was eating, nonstop. the theory is that he feels so much better after getting fluids...

    his spleen is huge, which suggests a cancer. his liver is very small -- which no one understands. he has sustained kidney damage, which we expected, and may have an infection, to boot. his g.i. tract, despite being completely empty, showed no obvious problems -- no masses or blockages.

    he will be getting "intensive care" for at least 2-3 more days at the vet. we were getting irritated with them, felt they weren't responding to our observations as good pet stewards -- i mean, we *knew* he was acting strange and feeling awful, but because "he looks pretty good," they were putting off treating him.

    well, i think we finally found a vet we feel comfortable with from the practice, and sadly, i guess sammy didn't look so good today, as they kept him... whatever, they are paying him the necessary attention.

    at least there is some breathing room -- we have time to figure out the best thing for him without the fear that he is in immediate danger hanging over us. thanks for your thoughts and prayers! sammy has been a great and faithful companion to us, we are trying to return the favor.

    Posted 1 year ago #

27. pussnstuff
    Member

    That's good news Prof. The "boys" & I will continue to send positive thoughts for Sam.

    Posted 1 year ago #

28. Innaffitoften
    Member

    Yikes, prof. When any of our animals have been sick, it felt so strange not to have their faithful companionship in our home. That, along with all the worry is certainly anxiety inducing. Wishing Sam-I-Am all the best.

    Posted 1 year ago #

29. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    Damn it. His kidney function has rebounded a little bit, but not enough for him to come home. "Maybe tomorrow." Vets are as bad as people doctors! Today, they say he "likely" has lymphoma, judging from his bloodwork, and trying to explain the enlargement of his spleen. He's also pretty anemic... and is not a good candidate for chemotherapy. The vet we talked with today is not our favorite. She is afraid to say "I don't know," and to me, that is a sure sign of incompetence. We are going to hitch our wagon to the vet who cared for him Sunday and Monday when we pick him up tomorrow. We'll be doing home infusions -- something we are familiar with, unfortunately. Poor Sammy... she said he was showing signs of being unhappy (I wish she had not told us that!) -- plus he has a urinary catheter in, which is surely a source of discontent...

    I don't equate human and animal life, but try to honor each appropriately. He's been such a good friend, I hope we do the right things for him. Getting rid of the catheter is probably high on his list.

    Posted 1 year ago #

30. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    I'm so sorry about the state of little Sam-I-Am! I guess the sebaceous cyst is the least of his worries now. Charles Norris and Gizmo (dog and cat) and I will send positive vibes his way. :( Poor little man. Best of luck to you too, prof.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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