Well just back from the vets with Cupar. I'm trying not to cry and worry. Last week Cupar had a small cut on his leg and I also noticed what looked like a wee bite. He started licking it and it got bigger. So after cleaning it I put a small bandage on it. I checked it yesterday and it was looking clean and dry. I Removed it this afternoon and within 15 minutes Cupar had managed to make it wet, red and sore. So vets phoned. My vet took one look and said these words histiocytoma tumour. It really wasn't what I expected to hear. My first labrador died at age 11 with tumours on her toes. I know she must have had internal tumours, but all I saw were her toes. I actually cried in the vets. I was so shocked I didn't hear any other word apart from tumour. He's then trying to reassure me that it is most likely benign. This boy is the most precious dog in the world to me and when he said that I felt as if I had been punched. I know I am over reacting, Cupar is now sleeping, perfectly happy that he has got his donut collar off. So I now need to think of something else to stop him licking his leg. Thanks for listening,my family don't understand, it's a what? Oh he'll be fine. What's for dinner?
Re: Histiocytoma Oh, I'm so sorry. I have never heard of that, but I would be the same if I heard the word "tumour". Do you have a plan of action with the vet? A biopsy or similar? Big, inadequate hugs to you and Cupar x
Re: Histiocytoma Poor you and poor Cupar and not surprised you were so upset in the vets. We worry so much about our dogs and always fear the worst. I've just googled Histiocytoma and it may not be quite as bad as you feared - we always fear the worst to begin with. According to wikipeadia they are usually benign and normally disappear by themselves in 2 - 3 months. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histiocytoma_(dog) Think Cupar is a bit unlucky as not so common in labs as some breeds. Try not too worry too much or beat yourself up about worrying Hugs from me and licks from Juno.
Re: Histiocytoma Sorry that you have had upsetting news, I can understand you crying at the vets'. I haven't heard of the condition so I am sorry to say I can't help but I hope it all goes well.
Re: Histiocytoma Oh poor you , I really feel for you . Its no use saying Try not to worry, because you will do , hoping all goes well
Re: Histiocytoma I am sure that you feel the bottom has dropped out of your world right now. It is like that with us and our dogs. You are hearing the word tumour and going into panic mode. Have a look at Google (yep, got to screw up your courage to do that) I think you will feel better after reading what it has to say. You really both have my very best wishes (that sounds so formal, but you know what I mean) Tina
Re: Histiocytoma Thankyou everyone for your kindness. It really is nice to have somewhere to go that understands. We go back to the vet next week unless it grows . In the meantime I have to stop him licking it. Which is going to be difficult as he's managed to reach the sore with the collar on. Then he actually managed to get the collar off. my vet wants to leave it and see as he's a young dog and these things are usually benign in young dogs. It could take up to three months to go away. He has no idea what causes them, although when I said it looked like an insect bite until Cupar had a go at it, he did say that could be the cause as it would be itchy. I think it's an over production of histamine. If it doesn't clear up or it gets bigger Cupar will have to get it removed and then they would test to see whether it's benign or not. So I have all my fingers crossed. In the meantime I will phone pet insurance and make them aware of this. Although at the moment I'm paying for treatment as we go along. Fortunately I don't need to worry about the cost of removing it if need be. My problem is I have never forgotten Dawn. We found she had a tumour on her toe and when my vet saw it decided to remove it and do a biopsy immediately. When she had the bandage removed another tumour had grown on her other toe. I have never seen anything grow so fast. Dawn died within weeks of that. I know this is different to What Dawn had, but I still worry. Any ideas on collars that A: stays fastened and B: stops the dog from reaching the itchy bit. Thankyou all once again
Re: Histiocytoma Just want to send you big hugs xx The word tumour is a horrible thing to hear, wether it is benign or not. Take your time to digest what the vet has said, then make a plan of action to get treatment and for the future x
Re: Histiocytoma My vet thought my dog had a histiocytoma, but it turned out it wasn't, so maybe Cupar's isn't - fingers crossed.
Re: Histiocytoma Ok, don't panic, it is not uncommon for dogs to get these on their legs. My Ruby had one removed about 2 years. I had needle aspiration done first and because the vet wasn't 100% sure she recommended removal. Once they have one they are prone to having more. So you can either have a needle aspiration done first, although these are not always a fail safe method, or you can just have it removed anyway. Don't worry, I am sure it will be fine. Chloe
Re: Histiocytoma [quote author=Stacia link=topic=10137.msg148391#msg148391 date=1425930102] My vet thought my dog had a histiocytoma, but it turned out it wasn't, so maybe Cupar's isn't - fingers crossed. [/quote] I really hope so Stacia. I have all my fingers crossed. [quote author=rubyrubyruby link=topic=10137.msg148392#msg148392 date=1425930370] Ok, don't panic, it is not uncommon for dogs to get these on their legs. My Ruby had one removed about 2 years. I had needle aspiration done first and because the vet wasn't 100% sure she recommended removal. Once they have one they are prone to having more. So you can either have a needle aspiration done first, although these are not always a fail safe method, or you can just have it removed anyway. Don't worry, I am sure it will be fine. Chloe [/quote] That's reassuring thankyou. I worry about everything but I'm feeling a bit calmer now and have managed to get my practical head on. So it shall be monitored, treated with the steroid cream the vet gave me and I shall see what it's like at the end of the week. Thankyou everyone.
Re: Histiocytoma So pleased to hear that you're feeling a bit better now. Take it one day at a time, and you've got us all here for support
Re: Histiocytoma Harry had one of these on his toe a couple of years ago. We opted for the op to have it removed. The hardest part was keeping him off it afterwards to allow it to heal. We bathed the area in hibiscrub, and kept the cone on when ever we weren't watching him constantly. The thread is here: http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=2304.msg22328#msg22328 I had to do a forum search, but it was a lovely chance for me to see that fore lorn pic of Harry with the soft cone on! Easy to say, but try not to worry, Harry was back to his usual self in days. x
Re: Histiocytoma I hope it all turns out ok...best wishes to you. [quote author=Cupcase link=topic=10137.msg148388#msg148388 date=1425929821] Any ideas on collars that A: stays fastened and B: stops the dog from reaching the itchy bit. [/quote] Charlie did very well in a comfy cone after his op - I bought one that extended beyond his snout so he couldn't get to anything, like a traditional plastic one (but the comfy cone is soft), and it worked very well.
Re: Histiocytoma Poor Cupar. I can understand how worried you must be especially after what you went through with your old dog. I wonder how the vet knew it was a histiocytoma ? They don't usually give lumps names until they've been tested, well not in my experience anyway. Maybe, as Stacia has said, it will turn out not to be. In any case from the replies you've had from those who've experienced this it will probably be benign. It has an unfortunate name and you've had a horrible experience in the past so it's understandable to think the worse . Take care and don't worry on your own come and share it with us.
Re: Histiocytoma Hi, I don't know anything at all about Cupar's condition but I'm sorry to hear your bad news. If it's any consolation I have cried three times in front of three different vets in the last 6 months and double that amount at work. It's hard for other people to understand how you feel about your dogs, (I have worked out who to talk to / who not to talk to about Monty's poor health) but I am sure we all do here and understand how stressful and upsetting it is for you
Re: Histiocytoma I can understand why you feel so upset having had such an awful time with Dawn. From what people are saying who have experience of this it sounds almost certainly benign. Hope you feel a bit better by now.
Re: Histiocytoma I am a terrible worrier, and imagine things that might happen to Otis to worry over, very silly of me. I hope your week goes well with treatment, and the advice on here has been reassuring for you, best wishes, and Otis sends licks, Maggie x
Re: Histiocytoma It is good that you had found it and the vet is dealing with it. I can totally understand your feeling of devastation hearing this. Hopefully it will be removed and that will be that. Fingers crossed for you x
Re: Histiocytoma Hi. They are not normally anything to worry about, although I understand why you would be worried. I spay dogs every week and was very nervous while my boss did Amber!! I felt what it's like to be on the owners side. Histiocytomas are quite common in young dogs, normally benign and sometimes even shrink down/disappear all by themselves. Often they get removed if they irritate the dog, become sore or cause issues due to their location. Sending the lump away to be tested confirms the diagnosis and provides peace of mind. Or obviously if it is something different you then know what it is. Hopefully all goes well for you and it can be quickly forgotten about.
