Vet thinks dog may have cancer. Hand holding and experiences needed.

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

Took DorisDog to vets this evening as he has a lump under his eye. It has grown noticeably since we made the appointment on Friday. Vet thinks it might be a mast cell tumour and he's going back tomorrow for an aspiration.
I'm devastated. We've only had him 7 months and I'm terrified of losing him.
Dog owners, have you any experience of this type of cancer? Please tell me he will be ok?

[crapcrapcrapcrap]

There's a big spectrum of mast cell tumours - the aspiration is important. How old is he?

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

He's a rescue so we don't know for sure but around 9. When you say big spectrum, do you mean lots of types? Thanks.

[GooseRoasties]

I couldn't tell you if it's the same cancer, because it was a good few years ago.

But one of our older dogs had a lump above her eye (she was 13), we got it removed successfully and she went on for another 2 years or so with no issues.

[crapcrapcrapcrap]

There's a range of grades, of varying severity - you may find the aspiration gives you more information on prognosis. Good luck :)

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

Glad to hear your dog was ok, Goose though sorry to hear you later lost him.
Thanks Crap, we should get the results in a week.
Have never really considered him to be an older dog, he's so playful. He's lying at my feet looking at me because he wants his tea but no food for him tonight in case he needs sedating

[KiwiJude]

Our boxer had two mast cell tumours removed, one at age four-ish and the second around seven years old. They were on his thigh (my brain is refusing to tell me what that is in dog anatomy speak) and both times were removed successfully. He was with us until he was 10 1/2.

I'm surprised aspiration results would take that long to come back. On both occasions our vet took a little scraping and checked it while we were there, then took aspirated sample and was back to us that evening with surgery planned two days later.

Good luck!!

[tabulahrasa]

I have no idea what type of tumour it was because it was about 20 years ago...but I had a dog with a fast growing tumour beside his eye, he had it and the eye removed (it was too close to leave the eye).

He was about 11 at the time and lived until he was 15 and he was PTS for something completely unrelated.

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

Great news, they went to take the aspiration and it was full of fluid. Something in it (they're not sure what, maybe a parasite) and have drained it. Such a relief

[inmyshoos]

Great news. You must be so relieved

[KiwiJude]

Yay, fab news!

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

Thank you, yes massively relieved and fab news indeed
He's been spoilt rotten after our scare and had extra pork chop and sausage treats. And lots of cuddles. Here he is looking content with no idea of what he/we just went through!