should my dog have to go through BIG op when it could be unnecessary?

Question

My 9yr old labrador cross springer spaniel is healthy,fit and well but I have found several lumps of different sizes around her teats Iv taken her to the vet the lumps are in her mamory glands and has suggested large op to remove as many lumps as possible on one side Why not just do biopsy first? If it isnt cancer she need not go through a nasty op?if it is cancer will the op speed up the growths? any advise? im so scared putting my beautiful dog through big op and regretting messing with it as she is so well.If she was unwell i wouldnt think twice about it.

Answer 1

If she has not been spayed or was spayed later in life, this very well could be mammary cancer. These tumors are rare in dogs that were spayed under 2 years of age. Unlike human doctors, veterinarians do not autopsy everything, nor when removing lumps and bumps do they send it off to be examined. Often, many owners opt not to due to finances. This is generally costly, compared to removing the tumors (or possible tumors). I'm sure they are not fatty tumors (sebaceous cysts) because your vet is very familiar with these and they pose no risk, per say. Approximately one-half of all mammary tumors in dogs are benign, and half are malignant. Benign growths are often smooth, small and slow growing. Signs of malignant tumors include rapid growth, irregular shape, firm attachment to the skin or underlying tissue, bleeding, and ulceration. Before this metastasizes, why not schedule the sx and ask the vet to have a biopsy done. Anytime tumors are found on the mammary glands, you don't want to 'wait and see'.

Follow your vets advice and have the sx sooner rather than later. Good luck.

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Answer 2

Lumps are never a good thing i'm sorry to say.
Lumps are not meant be there naturally and are more often than not a sign somethings developing.
They may start off being inactive lumps but can very easily escalate to something a lot more serious.
It's wise to be safer than sorry. Cancer in dogs is a very common thing and more dogs have to be put to sleep because of it more than any other reason.
Get the op done. Loosing a member of the family like that when you could have easily done something about it when you first spotted the lumps is something that will be hard to come to terms with.
Beleive me, i know !!
Pet insurance is also a very wise thing to invest in. Only a few quid a month covers every eventuality and will pay for any op they may need.
Yet again, please, get the operation. Its better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 3

It is very likely that they ae nasty lumps. They usually are when found around the mammary region. They grow vey fast so your vet is just keener to remove them now ather than when they are too big to. A mammary strip is usually performed and yes his is a big op. I guess you didnt have her spayed. maybe this would of helped early on as this will reduce the risk of mammay tumours.
Try not to worry though. im sure she will be fine and your vet will take all precautions such as pre op bloods and iv fluid.

Answer 4

They can tell if it is fatty tumor by a needle biopsy. Even if she has cancer there are a lot of good treatments chemo works well on dogs.

Answer 5

my friends lab had this and eventually it looked like she had one giant (about the size of an orange) ball hanging from her middle.
It hung down about six inches.
I know she didn't care but the sniggers and looks she got used to upset me as she was such a lovely, beautiful dog.

It was removed in the end.

I'd say get it done sooner rather than later as these things can get complicated in old age, and your dogs recovery wont be as fast or complete when its older

Answer 6

take her to the rspca clinics near you. they give free advice and you only give a donation. many rspca vets have said that most operations and medication given by a private vet is uneeded so they are just making money!

Answer 7

if your dog as you say she is fit and well don't put her to have the surgery unless the fatty lumps are cancerous