A post from Kelli–
Last week I told you that I took Puppycat into the vet for a lump she had on her left side. Well there’s news on that–not good but not quite bad either!
I got a call from the vet on Monday with the results. But they weren’t really able to make a conclusion. After talking to Dr. Sarah, she said that it could be a fatty tumor or it could be a cancerous one, but the biopsy didn’t provide enough cells to make an accurate diagnosis. She said this is common with fatty tumors, however if it’s a non-shedding tumor, that could also explain why there weren’t enough cells to test.
She ended up giving me two options–Take it out surgically, or leave it and just continue to monitor it. After a bit of thinking, I have decided to have it taken out. On the off chance that it is cancerous, I don’t think I could ever forgive myself if we found out down the line that it was cancerous and I passed on the chance to have it taken out. And even if it’s just a fatty tumor, the vet said that it’s small enough that surgery to have it removed won’t be too debilatating.
So, with my new job, I work 12 hour shifts which means that I only work 3 days per week. Because it’s my weekend to work this weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) I have quite a few days off next week. I’ll take her in for surgery on Wednesday and I’ll be able to stay home with her on Thursday. I have to work Friday, but then have the weekend to watch her and make sure she’s still doing well.
Hopefully, it’ll all come back clear, but on the off chance that it doesn’t, I think this is the best choice!
Prayers for Puppycat that the tumor is only a fatty one.
Hope the surgery goes well, and the recovery is swift. Hugs and peanut butter kisses to Puppycat.
No matter what the pathology says you have made the best choice to “live with”. Hope that Puppycat bounces back quick!
Good for you… and Puppycat. Sounds like the right choice to me. :)
I probably would have made the same decision. Wishing you and Puppycat many more years together
Prayers for Puppycat! My actual cat, Freya, developed a mammary tumor, which are usually malignant. We had it removed and biopsied (is that a word?). It was malignant. Usually it comes back again with poor results, but my vet says this one was self-contained and he was able to remove all of it. He is hopeful that Freya will do well. You did right to choose to remove it, even if it’s not cancerous. Puppycat will be much happier!
I know you will be happier having it removed. I think if it were me, I’d always wonder about it. Keeping her in my prayers! Thanks for the update! I’d been wondering!
Sending healthy prayers and strength for the stress. This is the choice I would have made.
and the lucky pooch has his own private nurse!!!
I think you’ll be glad that you made this decision.
I would have (and did) done the same thing. It’s better to err on the side of caution, at least IMHO.
Prayers to all.
I hope Puppycat is okay. I love your dogs. I had a Beagle growing up and she was my favorite dog. Seeing yours brings back happy memories.
Prayers to Puppycat and you and Jason. You will rest better knowing either way.
I think you made exactly the right choice for Puppycat and also for you. Having it out, whatever it is will give you peace of mind. That’s worth a lot! Sending good thoughts and prayers for Puppycat quick recovery!
My thoughts are with Puppycat and your family. Our furbabys are family.
Kelli, prayers for Puppycat. But, Please once they remove whatever it is in surgery, they can send it off to have it biopsied again. I went through this not long ago with my American Bulldog, Recon. The first biopsy was like Puppycat’s, after removing it, the vet told me, it didn’t look cancerous… but upon further evaluation, it was indeed cancerous, and a vascular cancer that spread rapidly throughout his body. I took him to a highly recognized animal hospital for cancer in San Antonio, Tx, but to no avail. Did chemo & special diet… But my Recon, did not make it. So please, please be over cautious & ask to actually see the reports. Will keep Puppycat in my prayers.
This may turn into a bit of a long post, but here it is. I have 3 Boxers that at our age are our babies. The oldest (and my very 1st Boxer) Miss Candy Kane had a small lump just above her left ankle when we left her under my son’s care over the 4 day Thanksgiving day holidays. When we returned home it had grown 3 times bigger! I immediately took her in to find out 1st that the Boxer Breed is 2nd on the list of dogs that get cancer and 2nd to have a biopsy taken. The results came in that it was a type of malignant cancer. I had the option of putting her down, taking her to San Antonio once a week for chemotherapy for 4 months with no guarantee of healing her or run several tests to make sure it hadn’t spread to any other areas. Needless to say I wasn’t going to put her through chemotherapy (I seen my Mother suffer through that (and she could tell me what she needed or how she felt, whereas Candy wouldn’t be able to tell me) so I opted to have several test ran as well as ultrasounds. It all came down to the options of unknown Chemo results or greater chance of healing by way of amputation of the offending front leg. It was 2yrs ago that she lost her leg. She is doing great!! She can still chase a squirrel out of the yard at top 3 legged speed and make our two male Boxers stop playing when they get on her nerves lol. The only difference is that she can no longer sleep in bed with us anymore only because she can’t get up into or down from our bed. It is funny to watch her “Moonwalk” out of a corner or area she managed to get into. My prayers for Puppycat’s speedy recovery.
God Bless
Jeri Niksich Oldtisme@aol.com