Ok, I know what your thinking what is this about..kind of an odd title! The check… My fairly new weekly routine with Mason.
Late last year while laying with Mason my hand ran over his chest to pet him and there it was a bump..eek! What was this? How long has it been there? My mind now racing. Knowing my friends experiences to many times with her little baby I decided to watch it for a week. Over the week this bump went from under to skin to above the skin and back under. From small to smaller to enlarged changing sizes daily.
The following week we decided to get it checked out. To my worst fear it was a mast cell tumor, cancer! My vet booked him for an immediate surgery to remove. Now it’s the waiting game.. Tick tock.. Something I hate the most. Five days and results..as they talk and I try to calmly listen I hear stage 2. Stage 1 being the non worry nothing else to do stage and stage 3 being the worst and needing further treatment. Hmm so what did stage 2 mean?!
Stage 2- to watch him closely for the rest of his doggie life for re growth in the same area or more bumps that could possibly develop. However, his margins were so clean and the tumor so small they were confident they got it all, it had not spread and he wouldn’t need further treatment. Phew!
So it begins…the check. A reminder on my calendar to spend 10 minutes or as long or little as it takes weekly combing through masons fur checking for new bumps or re growth where they removed the first one. We all have busy schedules and we all rather not think of doing it but to take this time to potentially find something early may save his life!
Lesson.. Check check check your puppy or cat for changes and/or anything that seems off, it could save their life and give you more time with your loved one!
To this day, Mason is checked weekly and hasn’t shown or developed anymore mast cell tumors(knock on wood)
He did really well with his surgery and recovery. If I didn’t take him or find this he would have never told me as animals don’t show pain, not like this at least. Be your animals physician and take them for yearly check ups as well as be alert attentive and observant to changes!
Xoxo,
Forever playing doctor and ok with it!
Late last year while laying with Mason my hand ran over his chest to pet him and there it was a bump..eek! What was this? How long has it been there? My mind now racing. Knowing my friends experiences to many times with her little baby I decided to watch it for a week. Over the week this bump went from under to skin to above the skin and back under. From small to smaller to enlarged changing sizes daily.
The following week we decided to get it checked out. To my worst fear it was a mast cell tumor, cancer! My vet booked him for an immediate surgery to remove. Now it’s the waiting game.. Tick tock.. Something I hate the most. Five days and results..as they talk and I try to calmly listen I hear stage 2. Stage 1 being the non worry nothing else to do stage and stage 3 being the worst and needing further treatment. Hmm so what did stage 2 mean?!
Stage 2- to watch him closely for the rest of his doggie life for re growth in the same area or more bumps that could possibly develop. However, his margins were so clean and the tumor so small they were confident they got it all, it had not spread and he wouldn’t need further treatment. Phew!
So it begins…the check. A reminder on my calendar to spend 10 minutes or as long or little as it takes weekly combing through masons fur checking for new bumps or re growth where they removed the first one. We all have busy schedules and we all rather not think of doing it but to take this time to potentially find something early may save his life!
Lesson.. Check check check your puppy or cat for changes and/or anything that seems off, it could save their life and give you more time with your loved one!
To this day, Mason is checked weekly and hasn’t shown or developed anymore mast cell tumors(knock on wood)
He did really well with his surgery and recovery. If I didn’t take him or find this he would have never told me as animals don’t show pain, not like this at least. Be your animals physician and take them for yearly check ups as well as be alert attentive and observant to changes!
Xoxo,
Forever playing doctor and ok with it!
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