I found some links for those of you who want to read more. I visited them, and saw that there are differing opinions, as there always is.
An E-How Article
One from the National Canine Cancer Foundation
VetInfo - this site discusses that this type of cancer might be related to hemangiosarcoma, which is disheartening because that was the kind my dog Haley died from before I got Vida.
After researching it's clear that we're lucky that the tumor was on the outside of the leg, not buried within the tissue.
It's also clear that one should take these growths more seriously. I had assumed that it was a simple lipoma, something to ignore, something that all dogs get. I've learned that sometimes you need to do surgical interventions even if the growth isn't causing obvious problems.
I think this will also be a lesson for our vets, who, like me, assumed it wasn't much to worry about. Ultimately it was resolved, which is a relief. I think that it was easy for me, who is not a vet, to assume it was nothing, but it is their job to give honest, strong opinions if they are concerned and have information that I need to make a decision. I hope that my dog's out of the ordinary cancers are teaching them too.
2 comments:
Cute pup!!
Our dog was 3-legged lame a few years ago and one of the possibilities was a nerve sheath tumor. Fortunately that was not her problem, because they told me it was pretty bad news.
Did your vet ever aspirate the "lipoma?" The fat cells are pretty obvious under the microscope.
Hopefully Vida will continue with her happy high energy health!
Hi Marcia,
We never did aspirate it. I think my vet and I both, until very recently, thought "leave well enough alone" as many do when they see was looks like a simply fluid blob that's movable in the skin. I think this aspect might be unusual, that this type is more often within the tissue and causing lameness, etc. I feel pretty lucky about that. Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it.
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