victoriabunny Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 My little old dog Max (12-year-old Westie cross) was pawing at his mouth this afternoon - I thought he had a bit of chew stuck in his teeth or something. I was shocked to see a large growth in his mouth when I had a look. It's more than an inch across on the roof of his mouth and has also grown through two teeth and is dangling from his gum on one side. I haven't noticed it before (although most is on the inside of his mouth) so it must have come up quite quickly. I've made an appointment at the vet for tomorrow morning, but I'm concerned as I've read that oral cancer is quite common in dogs, particularly older boys like Max. We had to have his twin brother put down last month as he had a progressive nerve disorder in his spine and lost the use of his back legs...it would be awful to go from a doggy household of three (we have a younger lurcher too) to one, in the space of a couple of months! Does anyone have any experience of this? Worried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Oh my word, that sounds awful . Poor little chap - and poor you . No experience of anything like that I'm afraid, just wanted to wish you luck with his diagnosis. Do keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Oh, what a worry for you. Poor Max. Sending you lots of positive thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Oh heck. Fingers crossed for him. What a good thing that you spotted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Hope he gets better quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Victoriabunny, I'm so sorry to hear about Max. What did the vet say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoriabunny Posted August 10, 2008 Author Share Posted August 10, 2008 Well...the jury's still out, really. The vet is cautiously optimistic that it's benign, but can't be sure until he has a proper look under anaesthetic. The verdict is that it has to come off - even if benign, it will carry on growing apparently until it inteferes with his eating. The vet's not worried at all about him having an anaesthetic at his age - he said that in an otherwise healthy little crossbreed, 12 is fine for surgery. Apparently if it's benign, it'll be easy to remove, although he will probably have to have the canine tooth out as well that it's growing round. If it's malignant, he said he would probably know just by looking at it as it will be much harder to remove. In that case, he's going to remove what he can and take a biopsy so he can see what we're dealing with. The chances are not great if it's malignant - it will be probably hard to fully remove, and the probable course of action will be for him to live with it until it starts to cause him discomfort, and then that'll be that really. So, fingers firmly crossed that it's benign. He's going in first thing tomorrow morning, so we'll know by the afternoon. Here's hoping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 That sounds quite hopeful . Best of luck for tomorrow - do keep us informed how it goes. Give him a big cuddle from me, poor boy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Good luck for tomorrow - hope it turns out ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Good Luck for tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 It is sounding more hopeful. 12 years is not a problem for an anaesthetic. My Labrador was 13 when he had his cancerous spleen removed which gave him another 2 years of a good life. Good luck for tomorrow. I will be thinking of you because I know what it's like to wait for, what is in effect, a member of your family to come round from an operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoriabunny Posted August 10, 2008 Author Share Posted August 10, 2008 Thanks for your messages everyone. Have been giving Max lots of extra-special cuddles tonight (and even let him on the sofa ). Everything crossed for tomorrow - I'll keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Fingers crossed for Max today Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Hope everthing goes well today and it is good news after the op. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 good luck today xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I hope that everything is ok with the op. cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoriabunny Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 Tentative good news...Max has had his op and came through it fine. Frustrating lack of info when I went to pick him up - only saw a nurse, not the vet, and she didn't know much about what had gone on - said that they've removed the growth, didn't need to remove any teeth in the end and haven't done a biopsy, and that's all she knew. I think that's good as the vet did say he would only do a biopsy if he thought it was malignant. I have a follow-up appointment with the vet on Fri and I'll get full feedback then. Max is remarkably cheerful tonight - a bit groggy, but he's eaten some chicken and rice and even tried to play with his ball, although he was a bit wobbly! So relieved he's come through it OK. Thanks for your messages everyone x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 oh, im so pleased that he is recovering playing with his ball?, sounds like hes not too worried about what has gone on hope he recovers properly soon lots of love (and pussy cat snuggles from piper kit ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 What a relief for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 That's really good news. Max should be feeling much better now without that lump in his mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 That's a huge relief for you & Max. Jasdog sends healing licks for Max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
