cbmcts
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I'd really like your views on what I should do about my Rottweiler.
Settle down, this may be a very long post
He is 8.5 years old and has had various operations since he was 3
3 x Cruciate ligament repairs in 4 months at 3 yo as he wrecked the first op by hurdling a baby gate the day he got home from the RVC. That same year he had xrays and scan to diagnose the cruciate problems
2 x ear cleanouts under GA (before I discovered Thornit)
Bone chips removed from his elbow at 5yo, also at the RVC - that particular problem took a while to diagnose and he also had scans and xrays over the 3 months prior as oesteosarcoma was suspected especially as the lameness was sudden onset and of course, his age and breed.
Since then we have avoided any more orthopaedic surgery and he has done very well with a combination of weight control, hydrotherapy and in the last year or so, daily metacam but he has had an epilas (sp? Growth on his gum) removed twice, the last time was 6 weeks ago. Histology wasn't taken on the growth.
Anyway, he was at the vets yesterday for his jabs and I mentioned to the vet that the epilas was coming back. She looked and seemed very concerned that it might be more than a benign growth and recommended a biopsy but not as a matter of urgency.
Not a problem you might say - just get the biopsy and deal with any bad news after. Well, the problem is that this dog reacts badly to GA (always has done and the 'hangover' has lasted longer with each GA) but the last time he was really off for over a week after the op and tbh wasn't back to his normal, goon self for at least two weeks. He also had horrific guts for those two weeks and that also causes issues with getting his metacam into him - his hocks were noticeably stiff and sore until his tummy settled down and he could restart hydro and metacam...
I have got time to think this through as due to the poxy Olympics I cannot take any time off work until mid September for anything less then a life or death emergency and even then I'd have to lie through my teeth and risk the sack! - so the biopsy really won't happen before then as I wouldn't be happy leaving him at home alone for at least a few days after.
I was thinking about asking for a referral to somewhere like the RVC so that the lump could be checked while he was still under and they could remove if need be without waiting do a 2nd op as my vets can't do the histology on site. I would need to check that this is feasible first!
I have to be realistic though and while I have paid all his vet bills without too much quibbling in the past, there isn't mega sums of money available now - sadly, no he isn't insured, believe me I do really regret that and have learnt my very expensive lesson on that subject - and while I can find a couple of thousand to do this, I really do have to at least try and keep the bills down if at all possible so going to the RVC might be the expensive way to do it...
Soooo, what it comes down is do I;
Go straight to biopsy at my vets to find out if I need to panic?
Straight to RVC (or similar) in the hope that they can sort everything in one go and hang the expense?
Watch and wait with the risks that involves?
Anybody got thoughts, experiences or any other ideas?
I'd really like your views on what I should do about my Rottweiler.
Settle down, this may be a very long post
He is 8.5 years old and has had various operations since he was 3
3 x Cruciate ligament repairs in 4 months at 3 yo as he wrecked the first op by hurdling a baby gate the day he got home from the RVC. That same year he had xrays and scan to diagnose the cruciate problems
2 x ear cleanouts under GA (before I discovered Thornit)
Bone chips removed from his elbow at 5yo, also at the RVC - that particular problem took a while to diagnose and he also had scans and xrays over the 3 months prior as oesteosarcoma was suspected especially as the lameness was sudden onset and of course, his age and breed.
Since then we have avoided any more orthopaedic surgery and he has done very well with a combination of weight control, hydrotherapy and in the last year or so, daily metacam but he has had an epilas (sp? Growth on his gum) removed twice, the last time was 6 weeks ago. Histology wasn't taken on the growth.
Anyway, he was at the vets yesterday for his jabs and I mentioned to the vet that the epilas was coming back. She looked and seemed very concerned that it might be more than a benign growth and recommended a biopsy but not as a matter of urgency.
Not a problem you might say - just get the biopsy and deal with any bad news after. Well, the problem is that this dog reacts badly to GA (always has done and the 'hangover' has lasted longer with each GA) but the last time he was really off for over a week after the op and tbh wasn't back to his normal, goon self for at least two weeks. He also had horrific guts for those two weeks and that also causes issues with getting his metacam into him - his hocks were noticeably stiff and sore until his tummy settled down and he could restart hydro and metacam...
I have got time to think this through as due to the poxy Olympics I cannot take any time off work until mid September for anything less then a life or death emergency and even then I'd have to lie through my teeth and risk the sack! - so the biopsy really won't happen before then as I wouldn't be happy leaving him at home alone for at least a few days after.
I was thinking about asking for a referral to somewhere like the RVC so that the lump could be checked while he was still under and they could remove if need be without waiting do a 2nd op as my vets can't do the histology on site. I would need to check that this is feasible first!
I have to be realistic though and while I have paid all his vet bills without too much quibbling in the past, there isn't mega sums of money available now - sadly, no he isn't insured, believe me I do really regret that and have learnt my very expensive lesson on that subject - and while I can find a couple of thousand to do this, I really do have to at least try and keep the bills down if at all possible so going to the RVC might be the expensive way to do it...
Soooo, what it comes down is do I;
Go straight to biopsy at my vets to find out if I need to panic?
Straight to RVC (or similar) in the hope that they can sort everything in one go and hang the expense?
Watch and wait with the risks that involves?
Anybody got thoughts, experiences or any other ideas?