Remmy's tumor

[Cigar]

About 3 weeks ago I was holding Rem and found a teeny tiny scab on his thigh. Assuming it was a scratch I cleaned it up. During the second week there seemed to be a mass beneath the surface so I started to treat it like an abscess and shared Osiris' Baytril with him. Now the scab has grown and it doesn't seem to be stopping. The mass underneath it is also bigger and if I feel for it he gets uncomfortable. There's no sign of healing; I know that cancerous lesions don't heal.. The mass itself isn't prominent enough to be photographed, you have to feel it. There's no pus.

He's not lame in his leg, but he's got typical beginnings of HED seeing as he's about 30-31 months old. There's been no weight loss, no change in his eating and drinking habits, and he still shuffles his way up to the CN shelf. He still investigates everything in the playpen, on my bed, or the couch. The only thing that's different about him is this scary mass beneath the scary scab. :sad3:

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He's my heart kid and I want to know what's going on - suggestions?

 

[xxchelle]

That's strange... it almost looks like pyoderma or something, but a mass underneath? Hmmm...

 

[jorats]

How long has he been on Baytril? It does seem like pyoderma. Continue with the Baytril for at least another week and see how it looks then.

 

[Cigar]

Today is roughly day 14 of Baytril. D'you think I should continue abs and wait it out until Friday? :/

I was checking out pyo on the ratguide. It doesn't seem the same.. but I can't rule it out. Maybe Shel will mosey over to this thread. Poor Selene had it rough.

 

[jorats]

2 weeks on baytril? Has there been any improvements? If not then I'd say it's time to try something different like clavamox.

 

[Cigar]

I'd say it's improving, but not very quickly. The scab was started to descend down to his ankle but it appears to be at a stand still. At least there's still no pus to be seen - that mass underneath just has me majorly worried. D'you think it could just be an infection pocket?

 

[jorats]

It could be... but at this point, I'd get Clavamox, it's great for dermal issues.

 

[Cigar]

Today the wound seems to have stopped spreading!! It's not weepy either. I didn't bother poking at him to feel if there was still a mass and risk upsetting him, I'm just so thrilled that there's a visible improvement. I could cry.

He's my best friend and I'm not ready for him to leave me. If there's something that can help him, I'm going to do it!

 

[Cigar]

It took some time to gather funds but my mom is an angel.. We're booked at the vet for 5pm today. The wound hasn't spread and we've continued baytril in the meantime to keep that stand-still. The big scab came off during a long soak - my poor little man.

I'm going to ask for Clavamox if he's got it at the clinic.

 

[mamarat]

Good luck! Sending good thoughts for your sweetie.

 

[Cigar]

Nobody likes to be wrong but I would have settled for being wrong today. I looked up at Dr Jason and I said "It feels like there's a mass underneath and it's not healing.." and he was so sad to have to tell me that it's indeed my worst fear: a tumor. It's taking over his thigh and his age makes him a bad candidate for surgery. My best friend, my son, my gift..
I asked for prednisone and baytril, and I have metacam already. I know there's a chance that it might respond to steroids and shrink but I'm not going to lie to myself either.. if it grows much further and puts pressure on his spine I'll have to say goodbye.

 

[mamarat]

I'm sorry, let's hope you have many more months with him.

 

[jorats]

That's terrible... Keeping my fingers crossed that the lump doesn't grow.

 

[Cigar]

You know, the only time Remmy's ever been sick was that time he had a swollen lymph node and it went away in a week. He has a great track record and a spirit that surpasses it.. After our vet appointment I bought some natural deer antler chews from Pet Value and all 3 staff were swooning over him, they even took a picture for their wall. Even the techs at the clinic were passing him around and kissing him and giggling at his goolies.. He just has a way with life itself and I want to have many more months together. We're all crossing our fingers and paws.. When his pred is up [he gets it 2x a day] and I take him back for a follow up, I'll be sure to keep you in the loop.

I texted LJ as soon as I got out and she said that she lost 4 more babies since I petsat for her and Lily passed.. That makes me so sad. I'm gonna go over and distribute kisses as needed on Monday. I sure miss all those faces, it'll be tough not seeing the old fellows.. Pets remind me to count my blessings.

 

[jorats]

Pets remind me to count my blessings.

That is so true.

 

[lj]

:hugs: I hope the pred helps him.

 

[Cigar]

Me too.. He takes it like a champ! I just crumble it into some baby food and he eats it all up. When he get distracted I scratch his back to create the licking behavior, show him the food, and he goes back to work.

 

[Cigar]

My dog sleeps beside my bed on the floor so I thought she was farting something awful, but it was Remmy who had a bit of an upset tummy from his meds. I had increased his metacam yesterday a tiny bit because his leg was incredibly stiff. It was raining so my mom suggested it was probably affecting him. Today it's dry out and he's back to normal being his boggling, bruxxing self and trying to steal my lunch.

Sadly I haven't noticed the tumor shrinking at all.. I believe this is day 4 of pred. When should I see a difference if it's going to help?

Yesterday's shot of the tumor; Dr Jason said that the big black scab I soaked off was necrotic tissue.
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& my son resting beside me while I was on the computer. :heart:

 

[jorats]

The pred might not shrink it but it could very well slow down the progression or even make him feel better, it helps with itching or inflammation.
He's such a sweet looking boy.

 

[Cigar]

Thankyou! Well, I noticed that today he was grooming it less. I wonder if it was itchy + painful? I guess the metacam and pred are helping him. He's still bushy tailed and bright eyed.