suzwh Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 I am new to forum but looking for some advice My 8 year old girl (Heeler X) was in boarding for a week due to a family emergency she is vaccinated against kennel cough but seems to have still got it I took her down to vet and when they checked her mouth they have discovered a visable lump/mass on roof of mouth. I cant get it biopsied until she is better from the kennel cough so it will be a long 10 day wait. The look the vet gave me says that it is not likely to be good. Has anyone had any experiences with this I am quite devastated Suz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 (edited) Hi Suz. I can imagine how worried you are about it. But I think the best thing you can do is wait until the Vet has run the tests on it, before you start hypothesising about what it could be and the worst case scenarios. Not long after I adopted her, my avatar girl Kal (over the bridge now, but long after this incident, bless her cotton socks) had a lump on or very close to her mammory gland. The Vet was very suspicious of it and even when they surgically removed it and sent it off to pathology for testing, they said it looked nasty and to expect the worst. It turned out to be benign, which (pleasantly) surprised all of us. So hang in there. It's horrible waiting but I think you can only deal with the known once you know it. Edited April 25, 2010 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted April 27, 2010 Author Share Posted April 27, 2010 Thanks for those kind words. I have booked her in for a biopsy next Tuesday. Its funny she looks great and is eating ok but last month when we were at vet for annual vaccinations I told him that there was something that I was worried about with her but couldnt work out what it was. I thought it might be joint pain. Well I am crossing everything now and waiting for Tuesday. Like everyone on this forum Jenna is my heart dog, I have had her since she is 8 weeks old and she will be 8 on the 15th of May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 (edited) Hey Suz - waiting is awful, but at least you have him booked in and should know whether there is anything to be concerned about soon. Sending good luck wishes from this end and hoping to hear back from you in a week's time with some happy news. Take one step at a time. And happy birthday wishes to your dog in advance. There are so many of us (myself included) who understand about heart dogs, but to everyone of us, our own heart dog is more special than anyone else's could possibly be. So I do understand your feelings of attachment for your girl. Stay confident, positive and strong. Edited April 27, 2010 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kelpies Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Best wishes to you and Jenna. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted May 4, 2010 Author Share Posted May 4, 2010 (edited) Well I dropped Jenna off at vet this morning for Biopsy of lump on her palate I am crossing everything that it is benign although it may still need to be attended to due to location. I can pick her up this afternoon but I think it may take 4 or 5 days to get some results. Oh well at least I will know soon Edited May 4, 2010 by suzwh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 Hey Suz. I was thinking of your girl over the weekend just gone, knowing she was coming up to her appointment for the biopsy. from here, hoping for good news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted May 4, 2010 Author Share Posted May 4, 2010 Well in usual form my gorgeous girl breezed through the biopsy and was waiting eagerly to be busted out of the vets this afternoon. The Jury is now in deliberation Results will be back next monday The vet said it is a solid mass and probably extends in nasal cavity. I know even if benign it is likely to be a problem because it is in such a rotton place (back of mouth on palate) but I am going to think very positively !!!! My big concern today is that in 6 weeks since she had her vaccinations she has dropped 2kg and I have not noticed any loss of apetite but the good news is that the x-rays do not show any visable impact on bones. Thank you so much for having her in your thoughts. If you read this post and you are having an annual check for your furkid please get them to have a good look in your dogs mouth. Suz Mum to Jenna the Heeler kelpie X (just a good old farmdog who would be hopeless on a farm) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 Oh I am sorry to hearof the weight loss- and will be thinking of you waiting for biopsy results . *fingers crossed* for good news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 sending positive thoughts Jennas way. this is the worst waiting! dont cross any bridges before you have too... as we usually try to cross the wrong ones. helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 (edited) Ok the verdict is in and it both good and bad The Biopsy results are that it is a very uncommon tumor. It is reasonably slow growing but it has the potential to turn very nasty How and when this could trigger is anyones guess Any other place and they would try and remove it and get the margins but....where it is in her palate makes this a complex, nasty and dangerous exercise which would unlikely result in complete removal. At 8 years old the possibility of radical surgery which would be absolutely horrible for her doesnt seem worth considering especially if they are not confident that they could get margins. So...it seems that we are going to have to live with a time bomb of sorts and hope that at 8 she gets lots of good years in before it becomes an issue :-) It could be alot worse I think...slow growing sounds a lot better than fast growing xxx Thanks so much for all your thoughts directed towards Jenna... Suz Mum to Jenna the Heeler kelpie X (just a good old farmdog who would be hopeless on a farm) Edited May 11, 2010 by suzwh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 what exactly did the vet say it is? acanthomatous epulis perhaps?? helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 She didnt tell me the name but said that the tumor is made up of bone and lobules It is a very solid mass It is growing but not at a fast rate Apparently it is not seen much (good one Jenna) Situated on roof of mouth at back near tonsils She said that it was not painful but it has the potential to change and become aggressive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 I rang and asked and it is Ossifying Epulis - fibrous tissue and bone in tumor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harley Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 No advice sorry but just wanted to send you a :D I hope Jenna can live a long and pain free life with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 Thank you for that. I will now be lurking forum for diet advice...given where it is I think we need to look at really good nutrition options to make sure she has every chance of making it to a ripe old age We love her so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I rang and asked and it is Ossifying Epulis - fibrous tissue and bone in tumor ha! thought it would have been one of teh epulis types. might be an idea to boost Jennas immune system etc, maybe a consult with a reputable holistic vet. I know that my dogs do really well with holistic support along with conventional treatment. Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kelpies Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I'm sorry to hear your news and I hope Jenna can live a happy life for some time yet. While epulis is technically not considered a cancer because it doesn't metastasize to other areas of the body, it has much in common with cancerous tumours and can be locally as invasive into the bone as cancer. You may find this list helpful. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineC...?yguid=69740366 Although it is a group about cancer, I'm sure you would be eligible to join. You will get heaps of support and information about caring for a dog with health problems. I also like this site for help with nutrition. http://www.b-naturals.com/index.php?main_page=newsletters to you both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyd Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Sorry to hear about Jenna A friend of mine's dog Benny has a lump under his tongue. His vet gave a referral to Perth Veterinary Specialists, they tried a treatment on him that has only been used on 5 other dogs with varying success. It did shrink Benny's lump but unfortunately it didnt kill it. My friend had really good experiences taking Benny to these guys, not only did they recognise and welcome Benny every time he went there but they did a lot of research to find something that might help Benny. Perth Veterinary Specialists are in Osborne Park Good luck with Jenna, I will be thinking of you both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzwh Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 Thanks so much everyone. Jenna had her 8th birthday on weekend and I am so hoping for many more. I worry that we cant remove the tumor but remain hopeful that it is something that she can live with :-) She is such a gorgeous girl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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