April 11, 2017

Knowledge Is Not Bliss, But It Beats Ignorance!

A few weeks ago, I noticed a spot in Rita's armpit. It felt like a scab stuck in her hair, so I tried to pull it out, but then realized it was attached. I gave it a few days, thinking it was just a scab that wasn't ready to fall off.

When it was still there a week or so later, I figured we better get it checked. It was small, and I thought it was probably just a mole or skin tag, but made an appointment anyway. The night before the appointment, I took this picture of it.
As you can see it was VERY tiny. But I got a little worried because it was SMALLER than it had been before. And I knew, from our beagle having some mast cell tumors, that tumors that change size rapidly, or even get smaller, are usually a bad sign. (If interested, here's more on mast cells/mast cell tumors on PetMD.)
A very nervous girl waits on the vet
Sure enough, the vet found mast cells after doing a fine needle aspirate, so the next day we went back for surgery.

He also found a broken tooth in the back of her mouth, so said they'd remove it and clean her teeth too. While she was out, an Xray revealed another tooth with a very small fracture, so that one had to go too.

Poor kid was not very happy when she came home. But hope for treats always springs eternal - she crashed in the hallway across from the pantry where her treats are stored. :)
"I'm exhausted!! ... but will wake for treats."
She really told Daddy her troubles once he got home!

Slices of hot dog seemed to make her feel a LOT better. :)

We're supposed to be keeping her quiet - the vet said 10-14 days at first, but when I told him my sister's dog Reggie was coming to stay with us he lowered it to 5. Well, Reg arrived at about the three-and-a-half-days point, and they've been playing pretty crazy, but we're trying to keep it to a lower roar than usual. But I can't even get a few decent pics of them together cuz they're always a blur....
Nurse Reg checks Rita's wound
We'll find out the biopsy results this week. Mast cells tumors get rated a I (good), II (meh), or III (not good). Here's hoping Rita is No. I!

They say ignorance is bliss, but... knowledge is power - so personally I think it's better to know what's up with your pup! It's worrisome to wait on the results, but we're thinking pawsitive!

Thanks in advance for sending pawsitive thoughts! And don't forget to check YOUR pets for lumps and bumps and if you find any, get them checked out!

Thanks to BlogPaws for hosting Wordless Wednesday! Stop by their site to check out all of the other blogs in the hop.

47 comments:

  1. Poor Rita! Booker T and Cassius send lots of get well smooches her way. We're always on the watch for anything odd with the boys because boxers are so prone to cancerous tumors and cysts. We've had several removed in the past. I'm praying Rita's is I which she should be because we all know Rita is a #1 pup! Knowledge is power but I can attest, the waiting sure does suck!

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  2. I hope the results are good ones. Poor Rita, she looks so forlorn.

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    1. Poor sweetie had a rough week. She is NOT going to be happy when we go back there to get her stitches out....

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  3. We're keeping fingers and paws crossed for Rita and you and the hubbs too. Scary stuff.

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    1. Thank you. We are trying to not worry too much - trying to wait until we get the results!

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  4. A good reminder to feel your dog up on a regular basis looking to suspicious lumps. Paws crossed that all turns out well.

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  5. I hope Rita is feeling better now. I feel for you having to wait for histopathology results. Keep us posted!

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    1. She seems to be feeling pretty good. It'll be easier once she can start eating hard/crunchy stuff again!

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  6. So glad you were able to catch it! A good note for what to look for, and the earlier the better. Hoping it's a I!

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    1. Yes, the earlier the better! Don't put off those checkups!

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  7. Two teeth pulled to add insult to injury! Poor baby! I am hoping her test results are the best possible!

    Wilson, in his old age, is covered in those fatty tumors. It's awful. One is HUGE but inoperable so hopefully it never interfers with his walking ability.

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    1. That's always a problem as they get older - our beagle had a lot of lumps as she got older. It was alsways good to find out they are just fatty lumps!

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  8. All pug paws crossed here that Rita gets a #1
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  9. oh my word. Amazing you noticed it. The video is adorable of both of them. Here's hoping for a 1. Love and hot dogs
    (I had a cracked tooth removed too... no fun)

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    1. I try to check her pretty thoroughly - but obviously I need to start checking her mouth too!

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  10. Poor Rita, and poor you, worrying about her. We are hoping/praying that the results come back good. So glad she has her buddy to play with though!

    Thanks for sharing that information - I did not know mast cell tumors could get smaller. We often monitor things like that, and I would probably think that was a good sign. So important to know it might not be.

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    1. Yeah - that's really a good thing to look out for - definitely differentiates them from fatty tumors, which usually just keep getting bigger.

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  11. Oh, poor girl. I hope she is feeling better! And I hope that the results are good ones! Reg looks like a good nurse and knows that play and happiness is good medicine!

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    1. Thank you! She seems like she's doing pretty well. Into the "my stitches are itchy" stage now!

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  13. Big hugs and lots of good thoughts and prayers for Rita and her humans. Get well quick, especially since you now have an in residence nurse to help.

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  14. poor baby. Prayers for an easy recovery.

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  15. Oh poor Rita. We will keep paws and fingers crossed for good results. And yes, bites of hot dog really make everything better.

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    1. We got the good news today that it was benign! Yay!

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  16. You're right, we should always get any change in our pets checked out - some dogs and cats are masters at masking pain or discomfort. By getting them checked as soon as you notice something, you shorten the length of their discomfort. It pays to give them a visual and touch check each week to catch any changes earlier rather than later.

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    1. Rita is actually kind of a Drama Queen (as the video shows...) so I think if her teeth had really been bothering her, she would have let me know. And the spot was so small, I don't htink it was bothering her - yet. But, yes, most dogs and cats definitely hide their pain!

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  17. Sinead had a mast cell tumor right above her eye about a year ago. I had it biopsied, and then had the leftovers treated with a new type of radiation. I wrote about it on the blog. Love to tell you more, if you need it.

    Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

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    1. Sorry you had to go through that with her! Thanks for the info - but we found out today it was a benign hemangioma! Removing it was the end of the story. Yay!

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  18. Fingers and paws are crossed and prayers are up from our pack to yours for a good pathology report for Rita!

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  19. I'm glad you got her checked out and surgery done. So happy to here the great results.

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  20. hello rita its dennis the vizsla dog hay i am sorry yoo had to go to the vetnameez playse that is never enny fun but it is always better to no wot is going on rite??? and dada sez he saw on teh faysebuk that yoo got gud nooz and gud nooz is always welkum!!! ok bye

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    1. Yes, it's better to know! (Especially when it ends up being good news...)

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    1. Thank you - we got good news! (Full details in the next post!)

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  22. I sure hope all is well with Rita. Too bad about the teeth. Do you think she injured them?

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    1. Going to ask when we go back to see the vet to get the stitches out. Hope it's not her beloved Himalayan cheeses... but not sure what else it could be. She hasn't had a bone or antler in a long time.

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  23. Such a dog's life (so glad it all turned out ok). Sorry, I'm waaaay behind but wanted to let you know how glad I was to learn Rita will be fine. 💗

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