Lumps On Staffs Stomach

[Chaddly]

Hey all,

Just after a bit fo advice on the current situation with my poor little 8 and half year old Staffy (chad)

Recently, i noticed 2 lumps appear on the belly of chad, one of the lump is about the size of a pea and is closer too his chest the other lump is probably the size of half a pea and is close to one of his nipples.

After a week of monitoring these lumps, and with no changes i decided i had better bring him to the vet. Due to his vet of 8 years changing hands and the service of that vet being strictly about money and not caring for the patient i had decided to take him to another local vet.

During the consultation, the vet asked about the dogs history, and inspected the lumps, now im not sure what i was expecting but at the very least i thought a sample of the lump would be taken and put under the the microscope like a needle aspiration or something, but in all the confusion and all the talk that the vet was doing i found myself forgeting to mention anything about if a sample was required.

Basically the vet told me that the lumps appear like Mast Cell Tumors (not sure how he could tell by just looking at them) and that i should have them removed asap at a approx. cost of $1400 - $1600.

I have no issue what so ever having these lumps removed asap to save the life of my beloved companion, however i do feel that i shouldnt have to put my dog under any unnecessary trauma unless absolutely required. And to throw a spanner in the works a lot of my friends who are also pet owners have told me that at the very least the vet should have done a needle aspiration and looked at the cells under a microscope.

Now, im not sure what i should do, and im second guessing myself, asking how could the vet know what they are and is he only just out there to make a quick buck by telling me its the worst case scenario.

Can anyone advice me on what to do next? Chad is currently booked for the op not this Fri, but the following one. Should i ring the vet back and ask why a needle aspiration was never taken, or should i get a second opinion from another vet. or should i just trust what the vet has said and allow him to preform the surgery, after all vets know best (at least i would like to think so).

Any other suggestions or opinions that you might have would be great

thanks in advance

Chaddly

[Nekhbet]

appear like and are, are two different things. If you are concerned ask for a fine needle aspirate to see what it is exactly and make a decision from there. Fast growing lumps with little other outward appearance of something else are a bit of a concern though 8 years is not too old to be under anaesthetic just ask for blood work to be done previously and a thorough health check. If you do decide to have them removed ask for specialist pathology to be done to see exactly what they are.

I had a lump on my dogue de bordeaux and although I did have a fine needle aspirate done I chose to have it removed and sent of for pathology due to mast cell tumours being prevalent in his lines. $1000 later turns out he didnt have it but for my own piece of mind it was a good decision.