Lump

goatman68

 My heart tells me if could be cancer, but you know what, it has to be removed regardless what it is .  My biggest fear, is will removal make anything worse if it is cancer?  And could the antibiotics have caused this to grow so much now.

Of the "change" is something that if you catch it fast is minimal problem.  My Billy had a lump on the front of his chest -- it was an odd shape for a lipoma but we'd aspirated it a couple of times and it was always fat -- suddenly it got 'hard' and a bit bigger and I took him up and the vet took it off -- it was "one of those things" -- had we left it probably it would have quickly turned malignant -- as it was we caught it in time.

To be honest -- one of the things that has ALWAYS made me feel better is to use a cancer diet.  Grain carbs feed cancer -- they've known that in human and veterinary medicine for about 35 years.  So switching her to a diet with no grain -- even something homecooked -- can at least give you the assurance you aren't "helping" cancer to grow IF there's anything there.

Good luck!!!

goatman68

Worried about my girl,even though I know things happen

We moved Pella's surgery up to today, because the lump is really bothering her.  Well, they couldn't put her under because her liver readings were too high (they are saying her liver levels are high due to her cushings diease).  So they did a local, and she handled it well, with alittle morfene.  She is coming home tonight.

The mass was pretty well attached to tissue under neath it. We are not having it checked out, because it really doesn't matter what it is at this point in her life, we will do everything we can for her for as long as possible.  But not put her through chemo if it is cancer.

My question is, I don't see signs of cushings in her, so I never really belived that she has it.  So, can anyone tell me what to look for?  According to our vet, she was diagonised with it 3 yrs ago.

  I hope the lump isn't anything serious, and I'm glad she came through the surgery well. Are you giving her anything for her liver; Sam-e and milk thistle are very helpful. Jessie was tested for Cushings last fall because she has high blood pressure and every other possible cause was ruled out. Thankfully she does not have Cushings, but I learned a lot about it when it became a possibility. These links include symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment;

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Syndrome) in Dogs - Page 1 

Cushing Symptoms 

Cushing’s Syndrome in Dogs 

Cushing's Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism) in Dogs 

   Was she tested for Cushings?  Without doing the tests described in the links, I don't know how your vet could make that diagnosis.

goatman68

My question is, I don't see signs of cushings in her, so I never really belived that she has it.  So, can anyone tell me what to look for?  According to our vet, she was diagonised with it 3 yrs ago.

Janice is right -- and it's REALLY easy for a dog to **look** like they have Cushings but it isn't really Cushings.

Janice,  thank you for the info on the SAm e and Milk Thistle, I will look at these.

They do normal blood work before the surgery and her ALKP was over 2000 U/L and Her ALT was 212 U/L.  That is what prevented them from putting her under for the surgery.  I just read an article on Cushings and Pella has several of the symptoms, over the last 6 months she is slower, low energy and her leg strength is pretty weak, it takes her forever to do steps and them she is very winded.  I always thought it was a hip issue, but she pretty much has trouble pulling herself up.  And she is always just laying around now, no get up and go.

The lump was neurofibcosarcama, they got most of it, my understanding there are alot of roots which are hard to get.  She got 18 staples and 8 stitches, so she is wearing a lovely cone.  (they need to invent something different).  Last night was not a pretty sight, but she is doing better today.

I am going to go with the thought that it is cushings that she has, and try treating her liver to improve it.  She is 12 going on 13, and I do not want to subject her to the normal meds given to treat cushings, due to side effects.

Thank you guys for your comments, it really does help me.

 I am going to go along with this thought:  The most important thing is that your pet be happy in its autumn years and you are a better judge of that than your veterinarian.

  ((( hugs )))  I'm so sorry Pella is battling cancer and Cushings. You probably know this already, but that type of cancer is slow to metastasize, so hopefully it won't spread. The treatment is radiation, not chemotherapy. I hope the incision heals without any problems.

goatman68

The lump was neurofibcosarcama, they got most of it, my understanding there are alot of roots which are hard to get.  She got 18 staples and 8 stitches, so she is wearing a lovely cone.  (they need to invent something different).  Last night was not a pretty sight, but she is doing better today.

Help her learn how to navigate with the cone -- show her how to pick her head up (literally teach "Head UP!" as you lift her head) so she doesn't catch it on the floor and stairs.  Show her how to back up and approach the water bowl with the cone *lowered* so she can drink, show her how to move the cone left/right to get loose when she's hung up.  Encourage her to push thru -- and honestly within 24-48 hours she will join the "BASH IT -- IT WILL MOVE" club of e-collar wearing dogs (Charlie's had his for almost 2 weeks b/c of cataract surgery !!)

As to the cancer -- you may want to think about doing a cooked diet for her -- grain carbs feed cancer -- and you can slow cancer and it's growth by omitting grain carbs from the diet and by giving various herbs and supplements.  If you want to email me I can send you some stuff/information -- I've done cancer diets MANY times and they really DO help.

goatman68

I am going to go with the thought that it is cushings that she has, and try treating her liver to improve it.  She is 12 going on 13, and I do not want to subject her to the normal meds given to treat cushings, due to side effects.

A bile acids test is what is needed to diagnose it -- and honestly I'd encourage you to do that -- it's not hugely expensive but it will help you determine how to proceed from here.  It's easy for a dog to develop what they call "cushingoid" symptoms - I think my Billy was tested six times in two years at one time -- he LOOKED cushingoid from battling IMHA but he did **NOT** have Cushings at any time. 

However -- if it **IS** Cushings, it's not the end of the world.  However, I'm going to advise you to investigate using homeopathy.  Cushings is essentially a "body balance" problem and it can respond incredibly well to homeopathy.  There are no bad drug side effects at all -- homeopathy is very gentle but can be danged strong medicine when it's used properly.

 If you will email me your zip code or at least "whereabouts" you live I"ll see if I can help you find a vet who does homeopathy who is GOOD near you.  if all else fails, you can try Dr. Chambreau -- she will work with  you by phone/mail -- she is the grand old lady of homeopathy -- to be honest she taught MOST of the vets in the US who have studied homeopathy.  She's GOOD and she will work with you via phone/mail/internet if you have no other recourse (and for something like Cushings it would be pretty easy to do it that way).

IN all the time that Billy was treated for IMHA (which had a stellar chance of recovery and he DID recover) the threat of Cushings was always there -- but I always maintained that if he ever did have Cushings NO WAY was I going to treat him with typical drugs.  I would use homeopathy and/or TCVM (traditional Chinese veterinary medicine).

Good luck and I hope her recovery is smooth.

I agree with you 100% -- NO ONE knows your dog like you do.  You are their advocate -- and sometimes that means using your own judgment about how you want to proceed.  But hopefully stay open to new things.  There is help out there.

*hugs*  Callie

calliecritturs

A bile acids test is what is needed to diagnose it -- and honestly I'd encourage you to do that -- it's not hugely expensive but it will help you determine how to proceed from here. 

  I haven't heard that before Callie, and that test wasn't in the links I posted. I thought the bile acids test was for liver disease? I had a urine cortisol : creatine ratio test done for Jessie; it was the least stressful since you collect the urine at home.

   Marilynn; Since Pella's rear legs are weak, there are aids you can buy to help her get around, such as slings that go under the body. Here's an example;

 ComfortLift Carrier: Sling-style dog carrier supports and assists older or arthritic dogs

  Massage or acupuncture can be very helpful too. Jessie is almost 14 and has arthritis in her knees. The videos by a vet technician on YouTube demonstrating massage and acupressure points have been very helpful;

   YouTube - Dog Acupressure for Knee Arthritis : Dog Massage for Knee Arthritis: Sacrum

jessies_mom

calliecritturs

A bile acids test is what is needed to diagnose it -- and honestly I'd encourage you to do that -- it's not hugely expensive but it will help you determine how to proceed from here. 

 

  I haven't heard that before Callie, and that test wasn't in the links I posted. I thought the bile acids test was for liver disease? I had a urine cortisol : creatine ratio test done for Jessie; it was the least stressful since you collect the urine at home.

Absolutely it *is* the Bile Acids test -- Billy had like SIX of them done (the most recent was just over a year ago before I lost him to that heart attack). 

 They have to be fasted for it and then I'm not sure if it is blood or urine that they take TWICE - before eating and then a specific amount of time after THEY feed them a small amount.  It was never hugely expensive, but he used to have to be at the vet for most of the day (which Billy thot rocked).  So I don't know the minimum amount of time (probably 6 hours or so) but I know he used to be done just after noon so he got to hang out with all his tech buddies in the afternoon.

Dr. Bailey always told me it was THE definitive Cushing's test.  And I know that's what they requested at UF as well.

I will second EVERYTHING Janice said about acupuncture.  It is THE most helpful thing you can to help maintain pain relief and reduce inflammation. 

 If you are thinking of actua acupuncture -- I've had the best results with actual acupuncture (rather than cold laser acupuncture) -- I've actually had it done on ME and I get far far better results with classic acupuncture.  If you go to my videos right here on the forum, there is a video of Billy getting acupuncture at Dr. DiNatale's office. 

I've had like 8 different dogs who have had acupuncture -- each dog reacts a bit differently.  Some just plain fall completely and totally ASLEEP (as in dead to the world) during acupuncture.  Some want to wander around (not a good idea).  It does NOT hurt (unless you try to wander all over and move the muscle with the needle in -- then you can feel it a bit). 

It's VERY common to have them fall deeply asleep afterwards (and that's a really GOOD thing - my holistic vet describes that as a "body reboot";).   *I* will go home and crash after I get acupuncture -- in fact I usually arrange it at the end of the day for that very reason.