have a tumor, why the f not.

Sometimes finding a new vet for the tumors can be helpful, just as with doctors some are better than others at specific problems.
Having faced these situations many many times at my age, I have to agree with this advice. But don't frame it as not trusting your current vet, but just looking for a specialist.
 
i found a random bulge in one of my girl's teats, made an appointment at the vet immediately. the vet also found another much smaller one between her front legs. took a sample of both for biopsy. results came in today. the larger one is malign, the smaller one is "inconclusive".

the plan was to cut out both for further testing (how likely it is there's more than the two, how likely it is to reappear) and spay her too, but that's the price i'm willing to pay for more time with her.
she went into heat three days ago... extra blood circulating in her teats and overall hormonal imbalance caused by it means no surgery.
got told to make an appointment two months after the heat cycle ends to see if the surgery is still possible/relevant (whatever the bigger bastard didn't eat too much of her).
she's almost nine and how/if she handles anesthesia is another fun thing to think about.

not knowing if i'm making another rainbow bridge post soon or not (i sure as fuck am not ready for her to go) is the best feeling in the world...

Now that just about sucks... Brace yourself as best you can, guy - in my experience, that shit moves FAST once it gets going.

I worked for some folks who had a dane bitch that went that way, and at about the same age - Discovered a teat-lump roughly the size of your typical marble, vet carved it out, and all seemed as well as could be expected as they waited for the biopsy results. Malignant, of course. Followup visit at 6 weeks, new lump about the size of a pea in another teat, and at least a dozen head-of-a-pin sized bumps (you really had to hunt for them, and when you found one, the first thought was "might be a tick?" - we were in terrain where it was basically impossible to go outside and NOT come back in with at least 2 or 3 of the little bloodsuckers on you) randomly scattered, just under the skin. Doesn't look good - Shoot some X-rays. The pics of her lungs had so many spots it looked like she'd been hit with half a dozen loads of buckshot from close range. Too many tumors in too many places to even attempt surgery. A month later, she had marble-sized bumps everywhere the pin-head sized tumors were spotted, and several the size of golf balls in assorted other places. About another month after that, they decided to pull the plug when she went off her chow and started hacking up blood. At least it was fast... That's the only good thing that can be said of it...

Good luck, guy...
 
because the tumors (the ones found or the possible additional ones) can react to the hormonal changes of heats or fake pregnancies.
What about hormonal changes caused by the spay?

Anyway, I really hope that the yesterday's surgery went fine and wish you both luck.
 
No, that's terrible news! I hope everything goes well today and I wish you all the strength and a speedy recovery for her.
 
just got back with her. surgery went well. i was told "if we don't call, come pick her up in four hours. if we call, there's complications". i don't think i ever hypnotized my phone harder.
they took out both tumors along with her uterus (which i was told was lined with up to 1cm large cysts). rest of her insides are clear. they did an xray before the procedure and "checked her insides" during the procedure.
bed rest and little movement is in order for the next few days and i have to keep her separate from the boys so they don't try to lick her wounds.

she got the biggest cone i've ever seen and seems to be mad at me.. then again, it can be the morphine
Now that just about sucks... Brace yourself as best you can, guy - in my experience, that shit moves FAST once it gets going.

I worked for some folks who had a dane bitch that went that way, and at about the same age - Discovered a teat-lump roughly the size of your typical marble, vet carved it out, and all seemed as well as could be expected as they waited for the biopsy results. Malignant, of course. Followup visit at 6 weeks, new lump about the size of a pea in another teat, and at least a dozen head-of-a-pin sized bumps (you really had to hunt for them, and when you found one, the first thought was "might be a tick?" - we were in terrain where it was basically impossible to go outside and NOT come back in with at least 2 or 3 of the little bloodsuckers on you) randomly scattered, just under the skin. Doesn't look good - Shoot some X-rays. The pics of her lungs had so many spots it looked like she'd been hit with half a dozen loads of buckshot from close range. Too many tumors in too many places to even attempt surgery. A month later, she had marble-sized bumps everywhere the pin-head sized tumors were spotted, and several the size of golf balls in assorted other places. About another month after that, they decided to pull the plug when she went off her chow and started hacking up blood. At least it was fast... That's the only good thing that can be said of it...

Good luck, guy...
we knew both tumors were malignant before the surgery. the question is whatever they plan on making a cameo sometime down the line.
I know you were just wishing good luck, but I really don't think anyone needed to read that. I actually feel sick. If I was in nekdoneco's position I especially don't think that would make me feel better.
i don't think he ment it in some "bad" way. also, it's almost a copy paste of how my girl's mother went. only difference being that her owner went to visit the vet with her after she started hacking up blood. she was full of tumors.
 
That's great news, do you have to take her back in a few months to check if anything has reappeared, or what happens from here?

I hope she recovers fast from the op. and can get back to being a happy girl again.

Oh and I'm sure she will want to get that damned cone off that every dog I know hates, but needs to have if fitted in such circumstances. I think apart from being annoying because it keeps hitting things when the dog tries to walk through narrower places, the shape also funnels more sound in towards the ears which can be not nice if they are sound sensitive while recovering and want to rest.
 
i found a random bulge in one of my girl's teats, made an appointment at the vet immediately. the vet also found another much smaller one between her front legs. took a sample of both for biopsy. results came in today. the larger one is malign, the smaller one is "inconclusive".

the plan was to cut out both for further testing (how likely it is there's more than the two, how likely it is to reappear) and spay her too, but that's the price i'm willing to pay for more time with her.
she went into heat three days ago... extra blood circulating in her teats and overall hormonal imbalance caused by it means no surgery.
got told to make an appointment two months after the heat cycle ends to see if the surgery is still possible/relevant (whatever the bigger bastard didn't eat too much of her).
she's almost nine and how/if she handles anesthesia is another fun thing to think about.

not knowing if i'm making another rainbow bridge post soon or not (i sure as fuck am not ready for her to go) is the best feeling in the world...
I know I'm finding this rather late, but my heart goes out 4 U and her. All the best 4 both of U
 
just got back with her. surgery went well. i was told "if we don't call, come pick her up in four hours. if we call, there's complications". i don't think i ever hypnotized my phone harder.
they took out both tumors along with her uterus (which i was told was lined with up to 1cm large cysts). rest of her insides are clear. they did an xray before the procedure and "checked her insides" during the procedure.
bed rest and little movement is in order for the next few days and i have to keep her separate from the boys so they don't try to lick her wounds.

she got the biggest cone i've ever seen and seems to be mad at me.. then again, it can be the morphine
I'm happy 2 hear things R going well so far. I lost my last sweetheart this way (she's in my avatar), so I know something of what U must B going through right now... roller coaster of emotions 4 sure. I do want to add something to this conversation. This website has some of the BEST people I have ever discovered online. I am SO happy 2 C so many men and women caring for their Zoo companion more than themselves. And an extra kudos to the men here because it's nice to C so many good hearted men, caring more for their lovers care and wellbeing than just thinking with their dicks.

This whole thread has me sobbing like a baby... I'm struggling as I type this... I miss her so very much. Here's 2 knowing ur sweetheart will make a full recovery and live out her years with the wonderful human companion that U R, at her side.

I love U guys.
 
just got back with her. surgery went well. i was told "if we don't call, come pick her up in four hours. if we call, there's complications". i don't think i ever hypnotized my phone harder.
they took out both tumors along with her uterus (which i was told was lined with up to 1cm large cysts). rest of her insides are clear. they did an xray before the procedure and "checked her insides" during the procedure.
bed rest and little movement is in order for the next few days and i have to keep her separate from the boys so they don't try to lick her wounds.
All this is good news! Thank-you for your update.
 
That's great news, do you have to take her back in a few months to check if anything has reappeared, or what happens from here?
watch her teats very closely and check in with anything out of the ordinary. i'll be told more, hopefully in two weeks and not sooner when we go to have the stitches removed. right now i'm supposed to call them with her status every two days.
 
watch her teats very closely and check in with anything out of the ordinary. i'll be told more, hopefully in two weeks and not sooner when we go to have the stitches removed. right now i'm supposed to call them with her status every two days.
This is SOOO good 2 hear. ur sweetheart is in good hands. Thank U 4 keeping us updated. U R a credit to our Community.
 
got home today to find her laying on her side, breathing heavily. the teat they operated on is engorged, but not red. she drinks, but doesn't eat and is kinda apathetic. called the vet, he asked for photos and after consulting it with other vets on the clinic decided i should watch her over night and come visit first thing in the morning, rush her to emergency if she worsens. i moved her to my bed so she doesn't just lay on the floor.

why would anything just go well for once....
 
got home today to find her laying on her side, breathing heavily. the teat they operated on is engorged, but not red. she drinks, but doesn't eat and is kinda apathetic. called the vet, he asked for photos and after consulting it with other vets on the clinic decided i should watch her over night and come visit first thing in the morning, rush her to emergency if she worsens. i moved her to my bed so she doesn't just lay on the floor.

why would anything just go well for once....
Oh...geez, I'm so sorry. Please let us know what's happening...keeping my hopes up for both of you.
 
got home today to find her laying on her side, breathing heavily. the teat they operated on is engorged, but not red. she drinks, but doesn't eat and is kinda apathetic. called the vet, he asked for photos and after consulting it with other vets on the clinic decided i should watch her over night and come visit first thing in the morning, rush her to emergency if she worsens. i moved her to my bed so she doesn't just lay on the floor.

why would anything just go well for once....
My heart goes out to you. Sending you good thoughts for a good outcome.
 
got home today to find her laying on her side, breathing heavily. the teat they operated on is engorged, but not red. she drinks, but doesn't eat and is kinda apathetic. called the vet, he asked for photos and after consulting it with other vets on the clinic decided i should watch her over night and come visit first thing in the morning, rush her to emergency if she worsens. i moved her to my bed so she doesn't just lay on the floor.

why would anything just go well for once....
Well that is not good! I hope she doesn't get any worse before the morning so you can take her in to see her usual vet. Getting an Emergency department involved can be costly and may mean explaining a lot of stuff. But obviously if she needs to go, you have to do what is best for her. Good luck and I hope she improves or at least is able to settle and get some rest.
 
so, the hole eaten out by the tumor and partially the space left behind by her late uterus got filled with fluid (no puss involved, a good thing). it probably pushed on her insides which is what made her sort of shutdown. vet fully drained it. no signs of infection, her temperature is normal. we got a bunch of pills for the next few days. i'm staying home with her today and watch her and take her to have it drained if anything builds up again.
she started eating again when we got home.

even tho we're not out of the woods yet, having the stitches pulled out on monday is still planned.
 
so, the hole eaten out by the tumor and partially the space left behind by her late uterus got filled with fluid (no puss involved, a good thing). it probably pushed on her insides which is what made her sort of shutdown. vet fully drained it. no signs of infection, her temperature is normal. we got a bunch of pills for the next few days. i'm staying home with her today and watch her and take her to have it drained if anything builds up again.
she started eating again when we got home.

even tho we're not out of the woods yet, having the stitches pulled out on monday is still planned.
Thank U 4 sharing these things with us. I'm sure it helps U 2 B able to share in a safe place... and it helps the community here with the opportunity of learning about such things vicariously. And, while not out of the woods yet, I can see there's room 4 guarded optimism.
 
Thank U 4 sharing these things with us. I'm sure it helps U 2 B able to share in a safe place... and it helps the community here with the opportunity of learning about such things vicariously. And, while not out of the woods yet, I can see there's room 4 guarded optimism.
i wouldn't really go with safe place. it just feels different to share this here, among ppl who understand what truly is at stake here. other than here, it's only my mother who realizes what my girl means to me to some degree.. other than that, it's just a sea of variations on "i wouldn't have paid so much for operation of a dog" "get a new one" like she's a pair of jeans or something.
 
i wouldn't really go with safe place. it just feels different to share this here, among ppl who understand what truly is at stake here. other than here, it's only my mother who realizes what my girl means to me to some degree.. other than that, it's just a sea of variations on "i wouldn't have paid so much for operation of a dog" "get a new one" like she's a pair of jeans or something.
I understand your point of view... (y)
 
the fluid built up a little over night again. i called the vet first thing in the morning and they told me they ran tests on what the stuff they drained earlier is. i don't really remember the name, but apparently it consists of something that's supposed to be there and i shouldn't worry about a little residual build up. it should dissipate on it's own as she heals.

what worries me a bit more is that i found a new lump on her left cheek today, it 1000% wasn't there a week ago. we'll look into that on monday...
 
Poor girl she can't catch a break. Hopefully the new lump won't be a bad one and the fluid stops causing her any discomfort or swelling up.
 
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