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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 15, 2013 18:00:04 GMT -5
Rocky's tumors on his face seem to have gotten a bit swelled with this heat. My husband has said we should consider having them removed. So I called today to find out what it will cost and for a consult with the Holistic vet to get her opinion. She is also in the same practice. I would rather have them aspirated again but due to a symptom he had in the past the vet has said he would just like to remove them. One is too close to his eye for the vet to feel comfortable aspirating. And that one has shown a symptom that is common with mast cell. Therefore if he removes that one he may as well do them all. Suddenly we are seeing 2 or 3 more beginning to develop. They are tiny and would never be found on a dog with hair. He has 2 on his face that are starting to become unsightly and noticeable to people. One was tested in the past and is a fatty tumor. The other looks exactly the same and that one has not been tested. It was once much smaller then the other but now they are same size same shape same color. I have not heard back from holistic vet yet. I really wish I could find a vet who would aspirate them so that I could feel better about choosing to defer surgery. I have deferred it this long so now more blood work up needs to be done so it will cost more than it would have 3 years ago. I am having great anxiety about it and would love to hear how others have dealt with these growths. I fear how traumatized he will be to be left there. He had a terrible time being left when he was neutered 8 years ago. And I only had him a month then. He nearly injured himself trying to get out of the clinic (within the shelter) thinking he was brought back to the shelter. He was suppose to stay over night but they called me to come get him an hour later because they said he would not make the night there. I dont know how I will leave him there to have the surgery. not to mention my anxiety about the risks the god forbid something happens to him having some thing removed that could be just nothing. Have you given your dogs any supplements or anything that has helped too cleanse them or any thing like that? I know I am probably being silly but my anxiety has now come away from focus on my children since they are now adults and back full force through worry of the pooch that has helped me overcome much of the anxiety. I hope you all understand and are able to help me through.
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Post by suziriot on Jul 15, 2013 19:54:27 GMT -5
I'm always anxious when I have to leave my dogs at the vet, even when they're not having surgery. And of course surgeries just make me crazy with worry. Fortunately we have two great vets that we trust, and they always call personally immediately after surgery. That has helped. Having been through mast cell tumors with Nine and Dharma, I absolutely think you should have these growths removed if it's not safe to aspirate them. Mast cells on the face and neck are bad news, and you need to know one way or the other. Keep in mind that Rocky is much older now and probably won't have the same issues with being left that he did years ago. He may not like it, but he'll be so zonked after surgery that he probably won't care too much. He doesn't have to stay overnight, does he?
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Post by maryellen on Jul 15, 2013 20:13:52 GMT -5
I replied in ur duplicate post lol . And i agree with suzi. I was more worried about rufus's tumors coming back cancerous then the actual surgery and. He was 10 when he has his growths removed last year
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 15, 2013 21:08:08 GMT -5
Thanks Maryellen, I am waiting to hear from the holistic vet who is in same office with same practice. I would like to hear her opinion as well. I got your message about Dr. Ramieri at advance vet care in on 23. What I like about the vet I go to now is 5 min away. What I dont like is the new vet although sweet was taken back when she walked in room and saw Rocky. She had been bitten by a pit bull days prior and got a little weird but then she was fine. The vet that has been seeing Rocky would be doing the surgery. The holistic vet does all the vet work for Warwick Shelter. I have a call in to talk to her and as soon as I call and schedule it will be a couple of weeks until he would go in. And if I choose the surgery I would not bother to have them aspirated because there would be no point. But I really would rather have them aspirated then do surgery if not necessary. I can see why he would not want to aspirate because Rocky sees that needle he will panic and flinch and possibly get it in the eye. but I think we could do it if I covered his eyes. Or he would have to be sedated to do it. Oh and I deleted my post Maryellen, but I think it left yours there. I was having an issue with the post going through so I guess it went twice. See Im so anxious even the forum senses it!
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Post by melonie on Jul 15, 2013 23:55:33 GMT -5
I'm sure Rocky will do alright after the procedure. Like Suzi said, he's older now. He's a much more confidant, and secure dog then he was when you first got him. Hopefully everything turns out ok, no matter what you decide. Will keep my fingers crossed and think of you guys!
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 16, 2013 6:24:52 GMT -5
no Suzi he would not stay over night, i was told he will recover on a blanket in a space where someone will be with him. that was a year ago i was told that but will ask again.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 16, 2013 9:20:50 GMT -5
with the one lump close to the eye i wouldnt even chance biopsying it- too much risk . just take it off along with any others - since he will be under anesthesia you might as well get rid of all lumps ...
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Post by maryellen on Jul 16, 2013 9:23:29 GMT -5
also, food for thought- what was the anesthesia used 8 years ago? some dogs have reactions to certain kinds of anesthesia- mine all need to have a different kind as they all had reactions one of the ones used, so now they get the other kind ( i forget the name)
its also very possible since rocky wasnt crate trained from the shelter he freaked out in the recovery kennel crate that vets use for small dogs/puppies. this is another reason why folks should crate train their dogs so that when surgeries come up the dogs dont freak out at vet offices.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 16, 2013 9:24:15 GMT -5
oh and now that rocky is older, yes bloodwork is needed.
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Post by michele5611 on Jul 16, 2013 9:26:24 GMT -5
CA if it were me I would have the surgery and take off what they can. The only other thing would be to sedate Rocky and aspirate the one by his eye. If that was the only suspicious one that would be more of a viable option but you said the other one has mast cell characteristics so that one has to come off regardless. Harley has had 4 mast cell tumors removed and I have never regretted it. Rocky will do fine! It is always harder on us then them.
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Post by michele5611 on Jul 16, 2013 10:46:24 GMT -5
also, food for thought- what was the anesthesia used 8 years ago? some dogs have reactions to certain kinds of anesthesia- mine all need to have a different kind as they all had reactions one of the ones used, so now they get the other kind ( i forget the name) its also very possible since rocky wasnt crate trained from the shelter he freaked out in the recovery kennel crate that vets use for small dogs/puppies. this is another reason why folks should crate train their dogs so that when surgeries come up the dogs dont freak out at vet offices. They used to use Ketamine....besides the recall not a big fan of it. I request that they always use Propofol
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 16, 2013 20:00:43 GMT -5
This is all helping me to settle. I will show you all photos so you can see the tumors that can be seen. I missed the holistic vets call today she wont be in till Thurs now. She really sounds so sweet on the phone.
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Post by sugar on Jul 17, 2013 9:24:28 GMT -5
I agree with everyone else, when in doubt I tend to err on the side of tumor removal. Chubby as had about five to sic tumor removal surgeries since we adopted him three years ago. Honestly, I agree that it is way harder on us than them. Chubby tends to freak out when put into a kennel before surgery, but while recovering is just zoned out. I haven't had to keep him anywhere overnight. I usually dropped him off around 9am and picked him up between 4-6pm.
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 19, 2013 7:27:43 GMT -5
Photo above is the tumor of question. After speaking with holistic vet however she said that being it only swelled the one time that it is very possible that I am right about that he likely scratched it on the Christmas tree as every year he has had Christmas tree injury to the eye 2x. The other tumor had been tested by aspiration and came back as a I dont know how it is spelled, traumatized Sebaceous tumor. They have been bitten by my mothers dog and scratched he rolls on them sometimes etc. The holistic vet said it is up to me and my feelings. There is no cure by taking supplements however it would not hurt to take them. She understands how I feel about him going in for surgery and respects that. She told me to talk with the Dr. more about that. She can be there to do post op Reiki and also I can bring him in week prior for the same. She said laser removal also option but she rather not do that not knowing what the one tumor is. She also suggested that I ask dr. if he would be willing too mildly sedate Rocky for aspiration. However she said he may say if going to do that may as well go all the way. If I keep paying to have the tumors aspirated I guess I may as well have removed being that will add up to the same cost. Holistic vet also said not to scare me but he is only getting older and each year adds risk and I already let 2 years go by. I asked her about giving him Standard Process Immune support which she is ok with except she does not carry that one she has a different one. I was outside by the pool when she called so I actually did not get the type she would prescribe written down. She said that she does not carry Standard Process because it has animal organ products which not knowing what animals come from and how they are fed raised etc. I do have to find out which product she uses to do more research. She said I can start it now or wait until after I find out what the tumors are. Has anyone had success with those types of products. Someone told me there dog has been taking standard process and after tumors removed has not gotten any new ones. close up of the facial tumors the other day my son found something new very small behind the ear. also another bump on the hip. Rocky also has 2 on his leg a small one on the center of chest and one on the chest where the harness clips on the girth that one is not visible can only feel under the skin. That is the one that bothers me but not the vet so much. In fact he is not sure he can even get it as it is likely deep in the muscle. My son finds every little bump on Rocky and wants me to run him to the vet every time he finds something. He is the one who drives Rocky crazy. LOL always touching him and annoying him. They have that brotherly love hate thing going on. Its so special.
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Post by suziriot on Jul 19, 2013 15:15:47 GMT -5
I'm always going to be on the side of having growths removed if there is any chance that they may be more than just skin tags or sebaceous masses, especially on the face and neck. But like your son, we search our dogs constantly for lumps and bumps. When we brought Dharma in a couple weeks ago for a check on her new bumps, our vet jokingly asked if we spend our Saturday nights meticulously checking every inch of Dharma's skin for every new teeny tiny bump. Yep, that's exactly what we do lol!
On the other hand, Brandy has two bumps that are about a year old that look almost exactly like these. They have not changed in size or shape in the past year since we found them. One is on her abdomen and one is in her armpit. They've been aspirated and are just fatty lumps. Since they can be easily aspirated and we can monitor any changes, we won't have them removed unless something changes.
I guess if you would have to sedate him to have it aspirated anyway, you may as well just get rid of them altogether like you said.
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 19, 2013 16:58:05 GMT -5
Yes the the lower one came back sebaceous with trauma. And the other looks exactly the same and I in my gut feel it swelled because it was injured. They have however gotten slightly larger but he does sometimes roll on them or scratch them. Sometimes lays in the dirt and rolls on them. Also Aura has bitten at his face and they get inflamed. they are also more red and less pink then they look in photo. They were more of pink prior but seems they have gotten red with the heat and sun. I really would feel much better if the one could be aspirated. I guess I will be talking with vet again.
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