I've learned so much from these forums - thank you all! This is my first post and I hope you more experienced owners can offer your opinion...
This is a growth on the hind leg of one of my 3 1/2 year old sows. I discovered it on Sun, when the blackened center was 1/2 the size. It is about 1" (2.5cm) in diameter. Her hair had been covering it until then - we noticed only when the pressure built to the point where the skin began to die and turn black on top. We handle her daily so I don't know how we missed it!
The vet saw her Dec 31 and said it is a growth of a sebaceous gland. But unlike pictures I see online, this one is solid-ish (not fluid) so can't be drained. It is mobile, so he says it is simple to remove surgically. But in Canada even a 'simple' surgery costs $1000 so if this is malignant we would be considering euthanasia instead
In the 4 days since we discovered it, she has chewed the dead skin away plus some of the lump, so it looks nasty now. It is certainly growing, but I can't tell how quickly. He says it is pressure from the oil. When he squeezed it there was only blood and to me it looked like it came from beside the lump, not inside it. It is not infected. He suggested I put antibiotic cream on it (Polysporin) a couple of times per day. I've also increased her vit C from 25 to 50mg per day.
Because it is not fluid it is complex to take a piece and send for testing. We can't do it in advance of surgery because she would have to be put to sleep, and then sewn back up, and then we wait a week or so for results... which would likely not be as accurate as removing the mass and sending the whole thing for analysis. Plus she would end up having 2 surgeries instead of one - so we are better to take it all out, then sew her up. Prognosis in that case is very good. It is obviously bothering her because she is biting it. But her eyes are bright, her nose is clear, she is eating well... she just spends a bit more time sleeping than usual.
I have three questions -
For those who have dealt with lumps (cancerous or not) what is your best guess on this one? I know we can't tell for sure without testing it.
I have confidence in the vet who will do the surgery (scheduled for Jan 9) but less in the one who did the assessment. They are colleagues at the same practice. Should I pay another $100 for the surgeon to do an exam and give me her opinion?
Given the odd way that things are priced here, it is actually less expensive to have her spayed & remove the lump than it is to just remove the lump. I understand spaying is risky, but it also has benefits as she will be less likely to develop uterine cysts as they age. So - would you add the spay?
This is a growth on the hind leg of one of my 3 1/2 year old sows. I discovered it on Sun, when the blackened center was 1/2 the size. It is about 1" (2.5cm) in diameter. Her hair had been covering it until then - we noticed only when the pressure built to the point where the skin began to die and turn black on top. We handle her daily so I don't know how we missed it!
The vet saw her Dec 31 and said it is a growth of a sebaceous gland. But unlike pictures I see online, this one is solid-ish (not fluid) so can't be drained. It is mobile, so he says it is simple to remove surgically. But in Canada even a 'simple' surgery costs $1000 so if this is malignant we would be considering euthanasia instead
In the 4 days since we discovered it, she has chewed the dead skin away plus some of the lump, so it looks nasty now. It is certainly growing, but I can't tell how quickly. He says it is pressure from the oil. When he squeezed it there was only blood and to me it looked like it came from beside the lump, not inside it. It is not infected. He suggested I put antibiotic cream on it (Polysporin) a couple of times per day. I've also increased her vit C from 25 to 50mg per day.
Because it is not fluid it is complex to take a piece and send for testing. We can't do it in advance of surgery because she would have to be put to sleep, and then sewn back up, and then we wait a week or so for results... which would likely not be as accurate as removing the mass and sending the whole thing for analysis. Plus she would end up having 2 surgeries instead of one - so we are better to take it all out, then sew her up. Prognosis in that case is very good. It is obviously bothering her because she is biting it. But her eyes are bright, her nose is clear, she is eating well... she just spends a bit more time sleeping than usual.
I have three questions -
For those who have dealt with lumps (cancerous or not) what is your best guess on this one? I know we can't tell for sure without testing it.
I have confidence in the vet who will do the surgery (scheduled for Jan 9) but less in the one who did the assessment. They are colleagues at the same practice. Should I pay another $100 for the surgeon to do an exam and give me her opinion?
Given the odd way that things are priced here, it is actually less expensive to have her spayed & remove the lump than it is to just remove the lump. I understand spaying is risky, but it also has benefits as she will be less likely to develop uterine cysts as they age. So - would you add the spay?