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Original poster

Worried about my dog - she has a lump

81 replies

CountessDracula · 18/04/2004 23:07

My 3 year old spayed ridgeback bitch developed a lump on her right thigh (quite low down) about 3 weeks ago. It flared up for a few days and then went so I assumed it was a bite.

When we were in Wales recently it flared up again in the same place and went again in 2 days. Last week it then flared up again and I took her to the vet who has given me the doggy equivalent of fucidin (antibiotic and steriod cream) to see if that works. If not he will chop the lump out and send it to the lab for analysis.

I am now worried sick that she has cancer of course. Anyone got any experience of doggy lumps in this area - what could it be? Feels very "surface" ie you can move it freely, but is quite big, about the size of a Minstrel chocolate, maybe a bit bigger.

OP posts:
Babyannabel · 19/04/2004 18:25

Well I'll definitely have to change it then!!!

Original poster
CountessDracula · 26/04/2004 12:01

Update, the vet gave us some fucidin which have put on for a week now, the lump went down again and has now come back up so she's got to go and get it chopped out tomorrow

Poor puppy

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 27/04/2004 11:17

oh she is under the knife now

OP posts:
ghengis · 27/04/2004 11:34

Hope all goes well CD .

Original poster
CountessDracula · 27/04/2004 11:35

Thanks ghengis - just called the vet, it's all over but they can't tell if it's nasty or not without sending it off

OP posts:
prettycandles · 27/04/2004 14:12

X Fingers crossed for you X

Babyannabel · 27/04/2004 14:17

Glad the operation is over and you can spoil her rotten when she gets home. Fingers and toes crossed for the results.

princesspeahead · 27/04/2004 16:39

oh cd, I missed all this! poor you, and poor puppy. hope she is fine and back home soon. I'm sure it will be OK.

Freckle · 27/04/2004 17:39

IME pets are ridiculously grateful when you pick them up after an op. So puppy is probably being spoilt rotten and thoroughly enjoying being the centre of attention now. Hope the lump proves to be benign.

willow2 · 28/04/2004 18:58

Hey CD, fingers crossed for you and R xx

Original poster
CountessDracula · 28/04/2004 19:18

Well she had an awful night last night - up whimpering a lot - I slept in the living room on the sofa so I could be there for her if she felt rotten. She started vomiting and having awful diarrhoea this morning and her back legs kept trembling - in the end I took her back to the vets and he reckons she has picked up gastro-enteritis on top of it all

She is a bit better tonight but feeling v sorry for herself.

As for the lump, we may hear on friday what it was but if not will have to wait until Tuesday FFS

Thank you all for your kind thoughts

OP posts:
Lisa78 · 28/04/2004 19:21

Oh no CD Its so awful when they are poorly, I hope she is feeling better soon, poor poor darling

Original poster
CountessDracula · 01/05/2004 20:58

Well we got the results and yes she has cancer

Poor pup - it's a mast stem tumor (?) I think and she has to go for an ultrasound scan on Tuesday to see if it has spread to any organs or the lymph system. We are obv devastated - I had a very bad day yesterday, was waiting for call from Vet and the phone rang, it was my Mum saying that my stepfather had had a massive stroke and would prob not make it through the nightt (he did but will prob die soon or will have no quality of life if he doesn't poor love ) I hung up and the vet called to say that Ruby had cancer. I was totally floored.

Will update on Tues after scan

OP posts:
tamum · 01/05/2004 21:01

Oh heavens CD, I'm so sorry. What a nightmare time for you, you poor love.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 01/05/2004 22:37

Thanks Tamum, yes I am not having much fun this weekend it has to be said!

OP posts:
pickledbeetle · 01/05/2004 22:52

I read this a few days ago but didn't post because it sounded too familiar.
Our labrador had a mast cell tumour in Jan 2003, aged 3yrs. He had the lump and large surrounding area removed. It was malignant. The tumour was at the top of the blood supply to the liver so also required ultrasound to check liver and spleen were clear. They were.
In Jan 2004 he had another lump, again malignant, again removed.The growth was just where the previous lump had ended. This time they took a larger area away and lots of fatty tissue which all tested negative for further cells.
He wasn't 'ill' with either and I felt awful putting him thru surgery. In both cases he had a needle biopsy as soon as the lump was found which gave almost immediate confirmation of a tumour rather than a cyst. The advantage of a needle biopsy is that the animal only requires surgery if it is a tumour. Then, because they know it is a large as possible surrounding area can be removed
They cannot guarantee he won't develop any more so we have everything crossed all the time. Mast cell tumours are very common. There are 3 grades and both of Kai's tumours were grade 2.
Are you insured?
My dogs are as much a part of the family as he children and i would hate for them to suffer. I really hope your dog is ok.
Sending you big hugs. You are in my thoughts.

Tinker · 01/05/2004 22:55

Oh God, so sorry about this CD.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 01/05/2004 23:09

pickledbeetle thanks for posting that and thanks Tinker - the vet had said it could be a mast stem cell tumour before the investigation - I am so happy to hear that your dog is still doing well after all this time - and obviously sad to hear that it re-occurred. I didn't realise that these were so common. Unfortunately due to the circumstances with my step father we could only go and see the vet briefly today, but quite honestly he can't tell us how severe it is until after the scan anyway. We are booked for a good talk with him on tues pm.

We feel the same as you do about our dog - we always say she is our first (and hairy!) daughter. I just couldn't imagine life without her.

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 01/05/2004 23:10

oh and yes we are insured thank goodness.

OP posts:
pickledbeetle · 01/05/2004 23:15

Wish you lots of luck and will be watching to see how you get on on Tuesday.
I really hope you have some quality time with your step-father too
Thinking of you

Original poster
CountessDracula · 01/05/2004 23:20

Thanks - we rushed down to see him (they live 80 miles away) last night and he was just about able to realise we were there. He has remained the same today - he is 85 so we were expecting something at some point but this has all been so sudden. TBH just happy I got to see him quickly and tell him that I love him

OP posts:
Freckle · 02/05/2004 07:57

So sorry to hear that the news was bad. Treatments are amazing these days, so it doesn't have to be a death sentence. Sorry to hear about your stepdad too.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 02/05/2004 09:40

Thanks Freckle

OP posts:
willow2 · 02/05/2004 10:34

hey matey, just to say we're thinking of you xxxx

Janh · 02/05/2004 10:48

Oh, CD, this had passed me by completely - so sorry about both the dog and your stepfather. Glad you were able to see him and talk to him, and I hope your hairy daughter can be treated successfully. xxx