Mollys Lump

[Gilypoo]

Morning all,

Well yesterday when my OH and I got home from work we gave our 2 girls their usual hug and my OH noticed a rather large lump on Mollys side. It feels like approx a 5c piece of hard area/mass then approx an area just smaller then a tennis ball of liquid/ jelly subsatnce. It is all under the skin.

It is located approx 5cm down from her topline on her left side pretty much in the middle of her ribcage.

We are always patting/ cuddling Molly as she is a smooch and we are 99.99% sure this lump wasnt there on Tuesday night or Wedneday morning. You can clearly see it if she is laying down even through the fur (she is a long hair GSD)

It doesnt seem to be bothering her, ie she doesnt pay it attention, doesnt hurt if touched. We have an appt at the Vet this afternoon to get it sussed out.

My main concern is that it was so quick to grow and seemed to get a fraction larger from when we 1st saw it last night to this morning..

Any ideas what it may be?

Is it possible that it could be a playing injusry from Bella?

or maybe a bite, but I thought that may be more ON the skin rather then under.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Gily

[persephone]

Sounds as if it 'could' be a knock to teh ribs- ours do it often..racing around and then side-swiping a pole or fence...

It could be other things - so good idea to get it checked out

[Gilypoo]

Sounds as if it 'could' be a knock to teh ribs- ours do it often..racing around and then side-swiping a pole or fence...

It could be other things - so good idea to get it checked out

Im kinda hoping it will be a "sports injury" as that would be a lot less sinister reason for the rapid growth. Fingers crossed

[persephone]

'sports injury' Love it!

[~*Shell*~]

It sounds exactly like Zero's lump. It might be a lipoma (don't worry, they're harmless) - Zero's came up over night and I freaked out. If the lump is a bit squishy and you can move it around a little, don't worry too much. If it was something more sinister, it would grow more slowly compared to a lipoma.

The vet will do a fine needle aspirate of the lump and will be able to tell you right away if it is. A lipoma is just a fat deposit beneath the skin and it's completely harmless, just not the best to look at cosmetically.

ETA: I should add that Zero's is painless to the touch (in fact, because his is on his stomach, he likes me to play with it, which i do often!), it's about 3-4 cms across and feels like a gel sack under the skin. Hope this helps!

Edited May 14, 2010 by ~*Shell*~

[poodlefan]

Abcess maybe? They come up very fast.

[Gilypoo]

Thanks for the tips.. If it is a Lipoma do they take them out or give any medication? Just want to know what to expect this afternoon.

What is the protocall for an abcess?

[persephone]

Abscesses are usualy quite painful, and can be quite warm to the touch. if it is that, The vet may use a large needle to aspirate fuid out- or they may put in a drainage hole ,using a scalpel...,and perhaps flush the area out to clean it properly. she will also be put on antibiotics

[Gilypoo]

Abscesses are usualy quite painful, and can be quite warm to the touch. if it is that, The vet may use a large needle to aspirate fuid out- or they may put in a drainage hole ,using a scalpel...,and perhaps flush the area out to clean it properly. she will also be put on antibiotics

She is a "hot" dog anyway. It is only slightly warmer.. but like I mentioned before no pain that she is showing.. Thanks again, REALLY appreciate.

Will let everone know how she goes later.

[Erny]

I'm thinking could be an insect bite. So many "could be's". Hope it's nothing and that it can resolve on its own.

[Gilypoo]

Hey all,

We went to the vet yesterday and the vet wasnt to worried by molys lump. When I got home it had changed heaps, before it was large and jelly like and now it is small and hard. The vet said it is more then likely an injury caused by playing with bella and the jelly bit that I was feeling was a sac of fluid and it has popped. He shaved the area and I have to monior it for the next week and if it doesnt go down then he will reasses from there.

So good news

Gily

[persephone]

Sounds good Hopefully it will all dissolve soon.

[Dagmar]

Hey all,

We went to the vet yesterday and the vet wasnt to worried by molys lump. When I got home it had changed heaps, before it was large and jelly like and now it is small and hard. The vet said it is more then likely an injury caused by playing with bella and the jelly bit that I was feeling was a sac of fluid and it has popped. He shaved the area and I have to monior it for the next week and if it doesnt go down then he will reasses from there.

So good news

Gily

So your vet did not aspirate the lump?

I would just be a bit concerned as it could well be a mast cell tumour, they suddenly pop up, change size and consistency and can even disappear. No one can say by just looking or touching a lump, if it is a benign tumour or a cancerous one.

I do not want to worry you, but if Molly was my dog, I would definitely have it checked out for peace of mind.

All the best!

Dagmar

[Gilypoo]

Hey all,

We went to the vet yesterday and the vet wasnt to worried by molys lump. When I got home it had changed heaps, before it was large and jelly like and now it is small and hard. The vet said it is more then likely an injury caused by playing with bella and the jelly bit that I was feeling was a sac of fluid and it has popped. He shaved the area and I have to monior it for the next week and if it doesnt go down then he will reasses from there.

So good news

Gily

So your vet did not aspirate the lump?

I would just be a bit concerned as it could well be a mast cell tumour, they suddenly pop up, change size and consistency and can even disappear. No one can say by just looking or touching a lump, if it is a benign tumour or a cancerous one.

I do not want to worry you, but if Molly was my dog, I would definitely have it checked out for peace of mind.

All the best!

Dagmar

Hey no the vet didnt test the lump. She was being a little b*%@h and would hold still. I have an appt next week to get it checked out properly regardless. I trust my vet 100% and am not worried by it.

Thanks for your advice thou

[Gilypoo]

UPDATE..

Molly is in surgery now

The lump swelled again double the size within 2 hours so the vet took her straight in to have a proper look.. Will keep you updated. I pick her up at 5.30..

Fingers crossed for my princess

[Dagmar]

Oh no! Good on your vet to react immediately. Sounds a bit like a mast cell tumour, lets hope it is something benign!

Please keep us updated!

Thinking of your little darling.

Dagmar

UPDATE..

Molly is in surgery now

The lump swelled again double the size within 2 hours so the vet took her straight in to have a proper look.. Will keep you updated. I pick her up at 5.30..

Fingers crossed for my princess

[Gilypoo]

UPDATE:

Bad news.

Molly came out of surgery at 5.00pm the vet was amazed at what he found and said he hasnt seen anything like it before. He explained it to me as a very suspicious large cyst/mass.. it was approx 20cm long, 10 cm wide and approx 2cm deep. It reached almost from her topline to all the way under her ribs near her stomach.

He has sent the sample off and we should get results on friday.

He said it was rare for a pup that age to have cancer but he said it didnt look normal. He said it was most of it was cased in its own sac adn then kinda sprouted out abit.

Im a little bit in shock.

Please keep Molly in your thoughts and will let you know what the results say.

Gily

[VJB]

Sorry to hear about this. Will keep Molly in my thoughts. Take care. Keep us updated.

[stormie]

Gily sending healing vibes your way. Sounds classical of a foreign body/trauma reaction so fingers crossed its nothing serious.

[persephone]

for you - and hoping Molly is home again soon