Last month she began licking and biting her right leg, usually upon returning indoors from her trips to the back yard. Our vet thought she might have an allergy or possibly an obsessive-compulsive disorder, gave her some pills, and asked to see her again in about 10 days.
A small growth appeared.
It grew rapidly and changed from pink to red to brownish in just a couple of weeks.
We took her back to see her favorite vet, Dr. Jeff, who couldn't decide if she had a "lick granuloma" or a "round cell tumor" but he agreed that it needed to be removed.
Yesterday she had the operation and received eight stitches.
The patient is recovering and doing nicely. We dropped her off at 9am and picked her up at 4 pm. She was pretty woozy and whimpery last evening but was willing to pose for a glamour shot today.
I also managed to get a shot of her chest and legs showing that she (a) is pretty in pink, (b) had her right foreleg shaved for the procedure, and (c) also had her left foreleg shaved so that an IV tube could be inserted during the procedure.
The removed mass has been sent to a lab for analysis. We are hoping it wasn't malignant or, in the event it was, that Dr. Jeff was able to get good margins around it and nothing is left to trouble Abby further.
Your dear Abby looks a lot like my handsome Bounce. I hope she is completely fixed by the surgery and has lots of playing in future.
ReplyDeleteTerra in Santa Cruz, thank you. We won't know for several days.
DeletePoor Abby. I hope that it wasn't malignant.
ReplyDeleteOur Jazz was extensively shaved for medical procedures last year (tummy, side, two forelegs. He looked like punk pussy for a while and still (months later) is not back to his full furry glory (which might have been to his benefit this long hot summer).
Elephant's Child (Sue), we are hoping that as well. Abby is a short-haired Chihuahua so will never know "full furry glory" like some other breeds!
DeletePoor dog. She looks young and strong so hopefully will be fine.
ReplyDeleteAdrian, she is three and a half, so yes, should be strong and fine.
DeleteWhat a brave little dog Abby is! And I bet that kind vet Dr Jeff performed the operation for free as vets don't care about money. They just love animals.
ReplyDeleteYorkshire Pudding (Neil), Dr. Jeff is very kind but I still had to pay him a bundle of money -- just under a thousand dollars for everything including the preliminary blood work.
DeleteI guess Dr Jeff donated that money to animal charities.
DeleteIt's a nasty looking growth but you got it quick.
ReplyDeleteI love her crazy name and I hope she's soon abigailing as usual
kylie, we did get it quick. The lab results came back today (Feb. 15th) and it was benign! Hooray!
DeleteWe are hoping for good news for Abby. The hardest part will be to keep her from licking the stitches.
ReplyDeleteEmma, she didn't lick for a few days but then began again. The vet says if it gets red around the stitches it could get infected and she would need one of those Elizabethan collar thingies. We hope not. She is due to have the stitches out on Monday the 24th. P.S. - the lab results are in and the tumor was benign! Great news!
DeletePoor baby! I'm glad the surgery is behind her now and I hope the final lab results are positive. I know she is glad to be home with her Mom and Dad.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, the lab results are back (Saturday, Feb. 15th) and the tumor was benign! We are very happy with the news.
Deletewhat a cutie! Hope little Abby is doing ok, and I hope you hear some good news soon.
ReplyDeleteKathy, she is cute and also cantankerous at times, but we love her anyway. The good news came today (Saturday, Feb. 15th): the tumor was benign!
DeleteWell I'm delighted to have read this when I know that all is well. I've never been a 'pet person' for many reasons but principally because my lifestyle is not compatible with keeping a pet. Despite that I inherited a pet ginger tom. He was around 16 and enjoyed remarkably rude health. A week or so before I was due to go to New Zealand for the first time he became ill. A couple of nights before I went his condition deteriorated (kidney failure) and after a late evening call to the vet he was put to sleep in my arms. Tears still well up when I think of it.
ReplyDeleteGraham, pets have a way of stealing into our hearts. I understand this effect with a cat or a dog or even a horse but am puzzled about it with other animals.
Delete