Species: Dog Breed: Mix Breed Mid Build Age: More than 15 ye
My Dog Re has a large Growth on hes neck, we live 100kms from any vet so with hes age hes 15-16 years old I have wanted take him anywere the grow started 12 months ago and was small the last couple months it has grown large he has a cough somtimes when he gets going after sleeping but he eats drinks well and he has will to want to be apart of life still wants go out about on farm and be apart of whats going on, however he has now 2 times stopped breathing and ive had to bring him back both times were when he was walking fine has gone to get hes bed at night and he has lay down and its like hes airway has been blocked
Been the age he is I just tried to keep him happy and he lives inside and spends hes days out in the sun as we have just had a very cold winter here and when I am going out the farm he still acts like hes a puppy even know I have lift him in and out the 4wd.
I would be happy to take some photos of the growth
Than You
David Dettmann
Dr. Marie replied:
Thanks so much for your question David. I would love to see a picture of Rex's lump. Can you email me some pictures at #####?
I won't be able to give you a diagnosis but I can definitely give you my thoughts on your situation.
I am just heading out of the office and will be back online in 30-60 minutes, so when I come back online I'll check my email for the photos.
Thanks,
Dr. Marie
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Customer reply:
Dr. Marie replied:
Oh, poor Rex. This is indeed a very large growth. When I first read your description of a lump on the neck I wondered if perhaps this was an abscess, but unfortunately by looking at the pictures I am more concerned about cancer. (Please note, I cannot legally make a diagnosis online, so this is only my guess by looking at the pictures.)
If I had Rex in my office right now I would likely be doing a fine needle aspirate which is a test that usually tells us what we are dealing with. But, regardless of what type of cancer this is there may not be much we can do for him.
There is a possibility that this is a benign growth which means that it would not spread to other areas (such as the lungs or liver). However, it looks like it is growing rapidly. The ulcerated area tells me it is growing too much for the skin to keep up with.
When he is having breathing difficulties it may be that the lump is growing inwards as well and actually constricting his trachea (windpipe).
There is a chance that this lump could be removed surgically, but it would be a very difficult surgery. The lump is right in the area where the jugular veins and carotid arteries go and if it encircles these vessels it may not be able to be removed.
There really is not much you can do to reduce the size of this lump. If the ulcerated area is smelly or has pus oozing then a course of antibiotics would help for the short term but these would need to be prescribed by a vet. If this were my case I may possibly be prescribing some steroids such as prednisone to help short term with the swelling but again it is a short term solution.
If Rex is having more and more problems with breathing it may be time to make some hard decisions here. This is a problem that is not going to go away and will continue to get worse.
I'm sorry for the bad news.
Dr. Marie.
Customer reply:
Just to let you know I took the photos 2 Rexs vet and they pretty much said the same thing and they have put him on 10 days of tables to see if it helps if not I will take him in to be xrayed to see the risk of having it taken off and see if its spread
Thank You For you Help Cheers Dave
Dr. Marie replied:
You're very welcome Dave. I really hope everything goes ok!
Dr. Marie.
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Veterinarian, Dr. Marie created this site to be able to provide quick, accurate veterinary advice online. She would love to help with your pet's problem!
Dr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.
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