Retriever Rescue

Hi there,
I've just joined your site and would welcome any advice from anybody if they have experienced mast cell tumours with their Goldies.
It came as a shock to us when we found out this pea size lump was a grade 2 mast cell tumour with our handsome boy,Max. He's only two years old!.
He's had two operations,the second hopefully to remove all cancerous tissue.
I've been told the prognosis is 50/50..he's such a lovely boy,it's a real shame..
It would be great to talk to anyone out there who knows anything about this.

Hello Juliesmax

Our Gordon had a few lumps removed last year. All of them, except a very small lump on the back of his neck, were clear. The one on his neck turned out to be a mast cell tumour. I completely went into meltdown panic. Our vet is really good though, and said the only real treatment is to completely remove the lump, and as much of the tissue around it as possible, so that the cancer will not spread. The op was done and Gordon recovered well. So far we have not noticed any more lumps, although it's not easy to look for in such a fluffy dog. The only thing you can really do is keep checking for lumps, and if you do find any just get them checked out with your vet asap. Since Gordy has had his lump removed, he seems far happier, and even more laid back than usual, so we wondered whether it had been bothering him without us knowing. Sorry not much more I can tell you, but just be vigilant, and try not to worry too much. Carole x

That sounds like good advice Carole. It is no good worrying what might be. Just enjoy your Golden & let him enjoy his life.

Thanks for your reply,Carole.
Fingers crossed it has turned out well for you..same as you were, I am worried sick about this and hope Max will recover.
Unfortunately the incision hasn't healed very well,going in tomorrow to have some more stitches put in, bless him , he's been through a lot lately, but, as most Goldies, he's coped well with it and been an angel..
And, it's true, I will enjoy the time we, as a family, have with him.
The vet said, once he's recovered from this operation, if no more lumps appear within 6 - 12 months, his prognosis will be good...time will tell..
Once,again,thankyou for your replies.

Hope all goes well with Max tomorrow, we're all keeping everything crossed here for him! Everyday is a special day with a goldie, enjoy them all. Carole x

Thankyou, Carole..
Update with Max, he had a local anesthetic to put a few stitches in to hopefully 'seal' the open wound.
If it doesn't heal by next Friday, unfortunately he'll have to go under 'general' to go in and rectify the problem, so it's fingers crossed and hope it will heal.
Keep you posted !!

Hope Max is ok , he seems to have been having it a bit rough lately.Keeping our fingers crossed as well. Lenny Celia, Snowy and emily.

Thankyou for your kind words x

Hi juliesmax, and welcome,

I have just read your post.
I do hope everything goes well for Max. They are so special to us aren't they?

Jean

Hi Juliesmax just wondering how things are going with Max and his wound? Really do hope things are improving. Carole x

Hi Julie,

Hope all gone well for Max. You must be wondering what it's all about. I'm afraid I don't know anything about the condition, so can't help you in anyway. Have you tried the Internet Search, it may give you the info' you need ? It certainly helped me to understand when I needed to.
Fingers crossed.
Lynn

Thankyou all for your messages, you've been very kind.
Update on Max: He has just a few stitches in that will be taken out this Friday.The 'hole' in the incision that wouldn't heal looks very good now. Sounds gross, but there's no more leaks, yuck!.
He's very much himself now, very perky when out for his walks.
Just hope and pray he will get through this..
As mentioned before, I will have to check him thoroughly for any lumps and bumps,and hope nothing returns within 6 - 12 months. If nothing comes back,prognosis is promising.
I have 'surfed' the net thoroughly, spending hours finding out about mastcell tumours..
Some information is good and some quite negative, so I will just think positive and enjoy him.
Would love to download a 'pic' of him but having problems.Will do one as soon as poss.
Keep you all posted!!!

Good news Juliesmax!!! That's all we do with our Gordon. When he has his brush I feel through his fur (not easy to do!) for anything unusual, if I find anything I immediately get it checked out with the vet, and it is usually nothing to worry about. Enjoy Max, keep positive, tomorrow is another day, and no point spoiling today worrying about it. Keep us posted. Love Carole x

Hi there,
Just to let you know I've found another lump on Max
It's on the base of his tail, nowhere near where the first lump was. Noticed it yesterday,so another trip to the vets this week. It's about the same size as the last one and feels the same, so fingers crossed it's just a cyst, but I've got a horrible feeling it won't be,
Keep you posted....

We are thinking of you today. Hope all is well