Mast cell tumour....

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Little Flick greyhound went to the vets yesterday as I was increasingly concerned about the lump on her toe - she has been put on antibiotics and pain killers for the weekend, in the hope that the lump decreases in size.

I knew in my heart that it wouldn't get smaller and it wasn't an abscess, it is hard and bleeds easily - the vet has already spoken to me about taking the toe off this coming week, which didn't really concern me as it is very common for greyhounds to have toes removed.

Then I made the mistake of looking online today after Flick knocked her toe on the dog walk and it bled again.

I am 95% certain that it is a mast cell tumour.....

I am totally devastated, I know there are three different grades and Flick might be lucky, but I cannot bear to think that I might lose my little white greyhound so soon after Islay. She isn't even 11 yet and she acts like she is about 2. It just isn't fair for her :(
 
NEVER google anything medical - you rarely get happy stories. I think, if it is a tumour, it is best to remove it ASAP? Then you will just have to hope for the best. Everything crossed for you. x
 
Clodagh said:
NEVER google anything medical - you rarely get happy stories. I think, if it is a tumour, it is best to remove it ASAP? Then you will just have to hope for the best. Everything crossed for you. x
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Thanks Clodagh. My wonderful vet is on call this weekend, he told me to call him if I had any concerns - I am so tempted to ring him and ask him if he can do a biopsy NOW....
 
Don't bother with the biopsy - have it off with a big margin and then have it analysed. And stop reading Dr Google!
My dog had a lump removed from her eye and the analysis found it was an aggressive mast cell tumour. She's 9.5 years old. I scared myself stupid on Google; then I downloaded some veterinary record articles with case studies and got a copy of the histology sent to me directly so I could actually look up all the variable. For her age and for the location of the tumour, things are as good as they could be. I obsessively check her eye, I poke I prod, I panic when it's red, but in reality I can only go by what is visible not by anything that might hidden deep inside. I can only go by her behaviour and her condition. I am certainly not ready to lose her any time soon. So I enjoy every day with her x
 
Google is not always your friend!

Fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious, and let’s be honest, what’s one toe between friends. We had a ferret that lost a toe, never bothered him one iota. Xx
 
Have the toe removed and stop looking at google! Steroids are the usual meds for reducing the size of tumours if that's what it is, really hope not.
 
Hey Levrier, try not to worry! Our dog had a mast cell tumour removed at the end of last year and so far (touch wood etc) it hasn't come back anywhere else. She's still happy and bright, chasing sticks as much as before! Fingers crossed for you and your pooch xx
 
My IWS had a mast cell tumour removed from his gum when he was about 6, I had a bit of a panic a couple of years later when a similar lump appeared which turned out to be an infected thorn site! He died from old age in the end so do try not to worry too much, easier said than done I know but I spotted his early and it was all sorted really easily. I know you are really vigilent with your pups so you will have picked this up quickly and the outcome is likely to be positive also x
 
aztec said:
Why?
Didn't you ask the vet what he/she thought it might be?
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Because I found a picture of a mast cell tumour on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier that looked absolutely identical to the lump my dog has. Yes I did ask him - he is a fantastic, sensible vet who knows me very well, and because of that he certainly wasn't going to give me worst case scenario at this point
 
Thank you all very very much for your positive stories :) :) :) I am hoping beyond all hope that it is a level 1 tumour which means she would lose the toe and that would pretty much be it.

If it is a grade 2 then I believe they need to remove 2-3 cm of flesh, which is difficult with a skinny greyhound toe! I have had a tripod greyhound who coped fantastically well, but I need to bear in mind that Flick will be 11 in January so might not cope as well.

If it is a grade 3 then the answer for me is clear.

For now, she is being spoilt rotten (as usual!) and she is on pain killers so I know she is comfortable and happy :)
 
From what I know of you on here Lev, Flick will get whatever treatment and care she needs. Try not to worry until you know you have something to worry about. Many many lumps are harmless or slow acting. X
 
Some years ago I took my older Bt to the vets as he was getting a bit stiff behind, in the course of her examination she found a lump in a lymph node and suspected lymphoma. We decided to have it examined. I went home and googled lymphoma, had a bloody good cry but decided I didn't want to put the old boy through an aggressive treatment. when the result came through all they had found was fatty cells, a lipoma. He lived for another couple of years, quite happily and rather spoiled until we decided it was time to say goodbye. Stop worrying and deal with what is found when you have a proper result, it might be nowhere as serious as you think. x
 
Lévrier;13650794 said:
Because I found a picture of a mast cell tumour on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier that looked absolutely identical to the lump my dog has. Yes I did ask him - he is a fantastic, sensible vet who knows me very well, and because of that he certainly wasn't going to give me worst case scenario at this point
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I think you need to calm down a little, seeing a picture on the internet that "looks like" your dogs lump is hardly scientific is it?

Any kind of lump on your dog is a worry but until it's properly diagnosed you don't know what you're worrying about!

As for your vet, if you ask he should tell you... never mind this "worst case scenario" malarky.
 
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Levrier, Aztec does like an argument! (In case you hadn't noticed). Obviously not someone who has ever just needed a bit of support in their life.
 
you sound as bad a worrier as i am. take a deep breath and look on the positive side...once monday comes you will feel a bit better. fingers crossed all will be well .....good luck
 
Mast cell tumours are known as the great pretenders. I'd have the biopsy (they're very distinct on microscopy) and go from there :) If the toe has to come off so be it but a needle biopsy will give a good indication as to how high they ought to go.
 
Lévrier;13650882 said:
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A bit pointless since I'm on ignore but still....

I hope your dog makes a speedy & full recovery from her illness, I really do.

As for my experience of this topic, it won't help you at this time!

The point I was trying to make is that you are worrying yourself silly over what could be, rather than what is... human nature I suppose.
Get it properly diagnosed & go from there.
Good luck.

BTW, I don't remember calling you any names.....
 
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Thank you all for your support :) :) I'm going to ring the vet tomorrow morning because my appointment isn't until 6pm, I'm wondering if I go in earlier whether they could look at the biopsy on site for me. I suspect they'll have to send it away to the lab though.

Flick is in great form this weekend and is loving being spoiled :)
 
My Golden retriever had a lot of these in his skin and they were the worst grade. He had them removed with large margins. The first one was diagnosed when he was about 2 years old he died last year aged 13.

If it's a tumour have it whipped off with large margins and he will be fine.
 
I would just book in to get it off with a decent margin to be on the safe side.. Biospy will need to go to the lab regardless so theres still a wait unfortunately.

Lots of benign things look like mast cell tumours though so dont worry until you've got confirmation!
 
My old boy had a few mast cell tumours removed over the years. The first couple were grade 2 but the last one was a grade 3. I expected to get 6 months with him max. He lasted 6 more years. The last two were spent dealing with a tumour in his liver and then one in his eye, which probably did spread from the original skin tumour, but he was healthy in himself up until those two years and even then was happy and bright until he died in May of bloat.
 
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