Just want some opinions really on what you would do if this was your dog.
Took my dog (Collie Cross) to the vets this week to get her checked over and make sure it's ok to give her anti-histamines as she's been really snorty and sneezy lately. It's not a new thing, it's happened on and off over the years and I think she's reacting to pollen or some other allergy.
Vet says half an AH is fine, and it's definitely helped. I'm not giving it every day but on the days she's most snuffly, it seems to work.
Vet also checked her over as I pointed out she has a short patch of hair above her tail on her back - figured that could also be allergy related as she spends most of her time in the garden and likes crawling under bushes and trees.
Could also be clipper burn as we had her groomed late last summer and it never really grew back properly there.
Vet starts checking her over. Says her glands are up in her neck and her nose looks swollen on one side but her airflow from her nose is fine.
Then she finds lumps in one of her mammary glands - three of them. I have a feel and I find two more in the same gland. I've since felt her over at home and I think she has a couple in another one (both back teats).
I'm pretty sure I noticed she had lumpy teats at Christmas when she had a phantom pregnancy. Vet examined her then and didn't mention them.
Vet then asks if she's drinking a bit more water than usual. She probably is, but it's been really hot. But she never has accidents indoors and doesn't drink excessively.
So vet says she may have Cushings disease (weight gain, thin patch of hair, drinking more)
And that the lump in her nose could be something serious.
And that she needs antibiotics as her glands are up.
And that the mammary gland and possibly glands around it will need to be removed asap.
She aspirated two of the lumps with a needle and said that they weren't fatty lumps, but that having them tested for cancer was usually inconclusive so she said it was "best to just do the operation next week to remove the gland and possibly other glands" to be sure.
Now, I'm not sure if I need a second opinion from another vet.
I just can't believe I can take an otherwise happy and healthy (but admittedly aging) dog to the vets and come out with three potentially terribly serious diagnoses.
Money is not an issue and I can pay for whatever she needs.
But I've seen that the mammary glad removal (they may need to take more than one gland away) is a big operation and that she'll need drains in the wounds. She's full of beans and it will be hard to keep her still while she recovers.
She was a rescue, so we can't be completely sure about her age either. She's currently playfighting with DP in the lounge and barking her head off Her tail rarely isn't wagging.
Yes she's slowing down - but that is only really showing itself in that she struggles the day after a big walk, which I've put down to a bit of arthritis in her older age. She's still loves to chase a ball and goes crazy when we get her lead out.
She may or may not have had these lumps for six months.
She really is happy in herself. Completely mad most of the time in fact.
So.
Second opinion from a different vet? Proper biopsy before going ahead with an op?
So what would you do? Any advice gratefully received.
I've stopped crying about it and now trying to be logical while doing what is best for her.
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The doghouse
What would you do? Nearly 11 YO dog with lumps in mammary gland. EPIC post, sorry but need help.
11 replies
CallerIDBingo · 28/06/2014 21:27
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