Brian Moore
Moderator
Wasn't sure whether to show this but I figured some of you know Sadie through the occasional shot I've captured during our walks. I hope this doesn't strike you as sensationalism or whatever. (Even at this moment,...don't know if I should post it.) But I've decided to post it as a public service announcement for those of you who love your pets.
Anyway, Sadie developed a sarcoma at the top of her right front leg and she had surgery last week. This picture was two days after the surgery. They put in 49 staples to close the incision.
We noticed the lump when we got back from holiday in August. Still there after a couple of weeks we took her to her vet. He said, probably nothing to worry about; probably she injured it and this is the body reacting. Give it 6 or 8 weeks and it should dissipate. Ok.
8 weeks or so later, back to vet. It seems to be getting bigger. This time, vet takes sample and sends to lab. Results back show something wrong but he doesn't know what it is by the report. He consults a couple of other vets. We are recommended to a specialist. An oncologist.
She says its a sarcoma. Surgery required. (By this time the lump is clearly larger. Indeed, it is now rather significant.) Won't know how bad it is until the surgeon removes it.
Surgery was last week. 90% of the mass was "encapsulated" said the surgeon,...10% had "broken through." To control, and with luck destroy, the remaining cancer cells "chemo beads" were installed.
If our vet had given us a recommendation to have the lump biopsied at the time we noticed it, surgery would have been recommended then, it would have been a much smaller mass to remove, and therefore the chances of getting it all would have been greater.
So,...public service announcement: If your pet develops a lump that seems to want to stay, play it safe and get it checked thoroughly.
By the way, Sadie never felt any pain with the lump; it didn't bother her at all. So why did they remove so much of her coat? The surgeon was unsure before going in how much of the area around the lump he'd have to remove. There was the possibility that stitching afterward might not be possible, and so a flap of skin from her side or back would have had to have been used to cover the area of the surgery.
She looks like a mole rat, now.
However, she has a spring in her step and is a happy dog. With luck the cancer won't come back.
Anyway, Sadie developed a sarcoma at the top of her right front leg and she had surgery last week. This picture was two days after the surgery. They put in 49 staples to close the incision.
We noticed the lump when we got back from holiday in August. Still there after a couple of weeks we took her to her vet. He said, probably nothing to worry about; probably she injured it and this is the body reacting. Give it 6 or 8 weeks and it should dissipate. Ok.
8 weeks or so later, back to vet. It seems to be getting bigger. This time, vet takes sample and sends to lab. Results back show something wrong but he doesn't know what it is by the report. He consults a couple of other vets. We are recommended to a specialist. An oncologist.
She says its a sarcoma. Surgery required. (By this time the lump is clearly larger. Indeed, it is now rather significant.) Won't know how bad it is until the surgeon removes it.
Surgery was last week. 90% of the mass was "encapsulated" said the surgeon,...10% had "broken through." To control, and with luck destroy, the remaining cancer cells "chemo beads" were installed.
If our vet had given us a recommendation to have the lump biopsied at the time we noticed it, surgery would have been recommended then, it would have been a much smaller mass to remove, and therefore the chances of getting it all would have been greater.
So,...public service announcement: If your pet develops a lump that seems to want to stay, play it safe and get it checked thoroughly.
By the way, Sadie never felt any pain with the lump; it didn't bother her at all. So why did they remove so much of her coat? The surgeon was unsure before going in how much of the area around the lump he'd have to remove. There was the possibility that stitching afterward might not be possible, and so a flap of skin from her side or back would have had to have been used to cover the area of the surgery.
She looks like a mole rat, now.
However, she has a spring in her step and is a happy dog. With luck the cancer won't come back.
