Support for Cat Lymphoma (Customer Question)

"My cat, Dave, was just diagnosed with (digestive tract) lymphoma. One of his symptoms is chronic diarrhea. He is over 15 years old and we have opted not to give him chemotherapy treatment; however, he is on prednisone. He also has thyroid disease and is taking methimazole. Would you recommend ES Clear as a treatment? We want to make him as comfortable as we can for as long as we can."

Hello Dave,

Yes I would recommend ES Clear for you cat, and I'll tell you why. First let me run through the conventional medications that he is taking.

Methimazole is used to manage hyperthyroidism (over activity of the thyroid gland).

Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid used for many conditions in veterinary medicine. Its anti-inflammatory activity is approximately four times that of hydrocortisone.

Side Effects of Prednisone:

• Although cats are less likely to develop side effects than dogs, occasionally polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight gain, GI disturbances and behavioral changes occur.
• Corticosteroids suppress immune response. Animals receiving systemic corticosteroids may be more susceptible to bacterial or viral infections.
• Chronic or inappropriate use of corticosteroids, including prednisone, can cause life threatening hormonal and metabolic changes.
  

Lymphoma in cats more often affects internal structures, which makes it difficult to diagnose. In cats, the clinical signs of lymphoma are frequently more insidious than those in dogs and are related to the organ or organs involved.

For your cat the gastro intestinal tract is compromised so he is having problems with diarrhea and probably weight loss. Unfortunately diarrhea is also a symptom of hyperthyroidism as well. You will need to make sure he is getting enough nutrients. You may want to consider a supplement like cat Nupro. It may also be an idea to see if he will drink water with electrolytes in it. I have heard of people using Pediolyte, but you will want to check with your vet first. There is also a product called Hydro Dog (for cats too) at http://www.hydrodog.com/.

Because lymphoma and hyperthyroidism both benefit from immune system boosting the ES Clear would work well in your case. The ES Clear is also a companion product that can be used while taking other medications so you will not have any interactions.