Hello everyone I have a beautiful black lab called Polly she had a cancerous mammary tumour removed in May of this year. She had chest Xrays and it was clear ultrasound and no obvious sign of a spread. The histology came back with good margins but a positive lymph node. She has been fit and well eating and very happy having long walks and full of life, Saturday morning she woke up didn't want to move and wet herself. I and my husband took her to the vets and as she was sat in the car i found a hard lump the same as last time in the same site she had the tumour removed. I told the vet she examined her and came back out (COVID means we are not allowed in the room) with antibiotics and Metacam she said she can't find a lump! I put her hand to it and she said oh yes, she has given us meds and thinks she has an infection and a temp her chest is still clear my question is i don't want to put Polly through further surgery, she has improved with the anti bs and is drinking and eating but she does not want to move around or go on a walk, I may be jumping the gun as I have 6 more days of anti bs but is this the cancer and if so what should i expect? as my vet couldnt find the lump she has said it may be or it may not be! I have lost confidence in the vet and i am going to call a new one first thing tomorrow sorry for the long post I just want to do the right thing for polly she is 7 and a half and is super fit and healthy other than the cancer !!! thank you, Natalie
Hi Natalie and Polly, Welcome to the forum I'm sorry you're going through such a worrying time. I'm afraid I'm not qualified to offer an opinion on Polly's condition, but I absolutely think that if you've lost confidence in your usual vet, then you won't have peace of mind until you've received a second opinion. I hope Polly receives a good prognosis - do let us know how you get on!
Hi Natalie so sorry you are going through this. Have you been referred to a specialist for the cancer treatment. My dog had the initial diagnosis of Mast Cell cancer at the local vets but was then referred to a specialist centre for surgery and chemo. I would be asking to be referred especially as you have lost confidence in the vet and there is lymph node involvement which you don’t mention further treatment for. Also if she is getting better with the antibiotics I would have thought that was a good sign it isn’t another tumour. Keep us posted with progress.
