Finley's trip to the vet

[RhodyNewf]

Phew...
What a whirlwind. We got to the office and they were running late. He weighs 74 lbs, up two pounds from after his amputation. He went into the exam room and proceeded to jump up on the table that they use for cat exams. He was a total ham. He got cookies and kisses and tons of love. They absolutely adore him. The vet came in, and she said he looks great, eyes, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, all looks good. He jumped back up on the table and she couldn't believe it!!! They cant even get four legged dogs up there, and they could not believe how easy that he jumps up!
She aspirated his lump and said that she feels good about it, it feel like a jellyfish, which makes her think it is a fatty tumor. She looked at it under the microscope and said that she sees fat cells, but that they are multiplying quickly.
She said that given his history, she would remove it if he were her dog. She said that 1 in 10,000 dogs have a type of fatty tumor that is quick growing and it is a lyposarcoma- a rare cancer. There is no way to know if he has that without removing the tumor and getting a pathology. But again, it is rare.
My concern with this is where do you draw the line? I hate to put him through another surgery, anesthesia, recovery...for nothing. But then again, what if I don't remove it and it turns out to be something? Many dogs have fatty tumors and they live with them...no big deal.
After the amputation I decided that this was the end of my heroic measures for the dog. If cancer pops up somewhere else, what will be will be. So much easier said when you aren't in the situation.... What would you do? Remove it and confirm what it is or leave it and keep an eye on it? And then, if I do remove it, what happens if there is another one six months down the road? Do I keep removing them?

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

Hooray! Fatty tumor!!!! So, sooo happy for you Gillian!

 

[padkins]

Wow, that would be a hard decision. I don't have any experience, and I'm sure you will get a lot of good advice here. Did the vet give you any information about the pros and cons of having it done right away or waiting and monitoring? I'm sure that you will make the right decision for you and Finely. :hugs:

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

God, Gillian, I wouldn't know what to do in your place either. i guess get all the information you can from the vet of the pros and cons and trust your own intincts. Saying prayers for Finley and you. He has a great "mom" and you'll do the best you can for him.

 

[Pregreen]

Yeah for Finley! If it was me, I wouldn't have the tumor removed unless it started growing rapidly and/or bothering Finley. I would take the wait and see approach. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[takemebacktotulsa]

I'm no expert, but this sounds like really good news. My big lab mix had his first fatty tumor removed and we were able to confirm it was non cancerous. The 8-10 that came in following the removal I let him keep. They did not slow him down or cause him any harm and I thought his "fake boobs" in funny places gave him a little extra character

 

[new_2_newf]

I *think* I'd be of like mind in saying leave it alone. I wouldn't want to put him under for that either unless something really changed. I do know dogs live with fatty growths all the time, so unless there was something else that might suggest something like cancer, I don't think I'd jump to remove it. I assume it isn't causing him any distress or issues walking? If he doesn't care about it and it isn't medically serious, I'd probably opt to just leave it alone and monitor it.

 

[mulenag]

What would you do? Remove it and confirm what it is or leave it and keep an eye on it? And then, if I do remove it, what happens if there is another one six months down the road? Do I keep removing them?

So glad it is probably nothing! At this time, I'd say just watch it. If it changes abruptly, then maybe do another aspirate to see if there are noticeable changes in the cells.
The "what ifs" are so hard, and I totally understand...when we found Ebony's mast cell tumor while she was undergoing chemo for her lymphoma we also wondered "what if" another one pops up in a short matter of time. Do we put an immune-compromised dog through another surgery? Honesty, you have to banish the "what if" from your vocabulary. With a cancer dog there are so many "what ifs" that you can drive yourself crazy. Enjoy the time you have been given...obviously Finley is enjoying every second of it! You are being a wonderful advocate for your boy!!
Best thoughts and hoping there are no changes in his lump!

 

[R Taft]

Well I go the opposite way.....i work in an area where we deal with cancer all the time. We do biopsies and lumpectomies in our Department all the time. It is better out and checked and it will be gone. Pathology can give you the final diagnosis.
The earlier you get rid of something the better, especially with his history. the anesthetic will only be very short and quick, hardly a problem. It will ease your mind when you have the answer and you will not be constantly checking. if all is negative and it is just a lipoma, you will just be able to get on with life.
If it is the other it is caught early and if you choose, it can have some treatment.
We get people and some Surgeons who prefer to wait and see. But from what I see the motto "if in doubt cut it out" is better.
Here is praying it is only a lipoma :hugs: Ronnie

 

[RhodyNewf]

Some minutes I think I want to cut it out...and some minutes think that I am overreacting and dogs live forever with fatty growths.... She told me to take some time and think on it. I have no idea..

 

[Lori]

Glad to hear they think its a fatty growth. Been through a lot of these with Sydney. As she gets older, she's getting more of them. We get them checked out and aspirated as they come, which she needs to have some checked out as we speak. But the first ones the vet knew I would worry too much, so we took them out. She's just going on 10 and that was several years ago. Came through the surgery fine, even had her teeth cleaned while under. Now with all these other ones popping up, we're doing the watch and wait. But she doesn't have a prior history of cancer, so I can't say for sure what I would do in your situation. I can see both sides, wait or just get it out and over with. Finley's your baby, so go with your gut. You've got him this far and look how wonderful he's doing!!

 

[hemingway]

phew is right! glad to hear some happy news.

 

[chumleysma]

Most dogs live just fine with lipomas. If they grow to interfere with muscle, joints, or movement they can then be removed. If the vet saw fat cells in the microscope, that would be enough for me to just leave it alone, unless he/she is terribly inexperienced in cytology. A fat cell is easy to distinguish from any other cell. A dead giveaway is you see some of them floating off the slide into the methanol when staining . You can tell better if it's fast growing which may be cause for removal down the road. If you are still worried, you could ask the vet to do a fine needle aspirate of the cells, smear them on a slide, and send them off to a pathologist (rough guess would be an extra $120 for that fee alone.) Personally, I wouldn't go that far unless the vet saw abnormal cells. Keep in mind vets can make money by removing a fatty tumor.

 

[Erika]

Most dogs live just fine with lipomas. If they grow to interfere with muscle, joints, or movement they can then be removed. If the vet saw fat cells in the microscope, that would be enough for me to just leave it alone, unless he/she is terribly inexperienced in cytology. A fat cell is easy to distinguish from any other cell. A dead giveaway is you see some of them floating off the slide into the methanol when staining . You can tell better if it's fast growing which may be cause for removal down the road. If you are still worried, you could ask the vet to do a fine needle aspirate of the cells, smear them on a slide, and send them off to a pathologist (rough guess would be an extra $120 for that fee alone.) Personally, I wouldn't go that far unless the vet saw abnormal cells. Keep in mind vets can make money by removing a fatty tumor.

I agree !!!!!!

 

[Thehallk]

My golden growing up had several fatty deposits, the vet kept telling us they were benign but never excised any of them so now I'm wondering how she knew? Anyways after we noticed the first she lived several more years and they did not distract her in any way from her usual vigor and naughtiness. She lived to 13 (which i think is at least Average if not quite senior for a golden retriever) and what finally slowed her down was unrelated. We called them her lovely lady lumps good luck with whatever you choose and glad the other recovery is going so well. Sounds like Finley has a lot of spirit!

 

[skoorka]

Gillian, you guys have been through so much, I could argue for either.... or flip a coin! Either way, he is one lucky boy to have such a wonderful mom!

 

[newfy]

Mickey had fatty tumors since he was 2, the vet said they were nothing to worry about; when he was about 8 the vet decided to do biopsies of the few, they were non cancerous; he is almost 12 & going strong, alittle slower, & he is starting to lose his hearing, but he is otherwise healthy.

 

[luvmynwfy]

Hi
First of all - fantastic news that the lump is just fatty-tissue!
I feel for you and Finley, this has been a rough time on both of you - although he sounds like he's bounced back
I would leave it alone and just monitor it in the future - if it really changes. As you mentioned he's already been through a lot (and you too), and you never know what may come up that 'has to' be dealt with it. Still, go with your gut. I'm wrestling with all sorts of decisions right now - its makes you crazy. This forum is so great for getting feedback.
All the best,
Marina & Timber

 

[RhodyNewf]

I was talking about this today with my family, and everyone thinks I should watch and wait....except my sister (who is borderline obsessed with Finley) and she thinks I should definitely remove it and have the pathology done, just to make sure. So, I am still undecided.

The amputation surgery was AWFUL. I know that this will be nothing like that...but still it was a bit traumatizing. I hate the idea of anesthesia, again. Oh... I dont know, I dont know...

 

[Pipelineozzy]

Fine needle aspirate does not require anesthesia and would be helpful. Some labs will accept and examine those.