Boy Dog Goes For Surgery Next Wednesday

Naturally

Naturally

Well-known Member
Location
Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
Mason has a growth on his paw that impacts his mobility and quality of life. I had our local vet take a look at the growth and our local vet refused to even consider surgical removal. Even with decades of experience, our vet felt that the location of the growth and possible tissue compromises it could encompass, was beyond his skill set.

SOooo, our local vet gave us a referral to a regional vet's vet ... a board certified veterinary surgeon. People from parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida get referrals to the veterinary specialist when their local vets can't handle a situation.

Mason was seen Monday morning and surgery has been scheduled for next Wednesday. The vet specialist commented that the growth looked possibly cancerous and might involve bone tissue as well. They will keep Mason overnight and I will pick him up some time after 5 pm on next Thursday afternoon.

With the price already paid for Monday's exam and the estimate for treatment presented, the cost COULD come to just under 4 grand. The boy dog will be 13yrs old this September. So not only is this a risky surgery for an older dog, but many would have had the old dog simply put down when quoted such a price for treatment. Mason is family though. I'm doing all I can for him and hoping for the best.

Guess I won't be taking that trip to France this summer ... I hadn't planned on anyway :ROFLMAO:

- The estimate
- Picture of the growth this morning
- Picture of myself and the boy dog a few nights ago

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PMfaI84.jpeg


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Best thoughts and wishes for a positive surgery and outcome for Mason.
Our pets are worth it all, every penny. Great pic by the way, of you and
the boy dog, a keeper for sure ;)

The growth on paw, looks concerning, I know you will keep us all updated
as this unfolds further..
 

While the outcome is yet to be determined, I'm just blessed I can afford to do the boy dog right with the best care veterinary medicine has to offer throughout our whole region. Even though it means a trip out of town. And thankful our highly experienced local vet swallowed his pride and realized we needed a referral to a vet's vet for the best possible treatment. Southern Regional Veterinary Specialists (SRVS) accepts patients by referral only. Well, I think local to them, they also provide after hours emergency services.
 
Poor Mason. That thing does look painful. I don't blame him for kissing Naturally though, he is handsome.

There are things I wouldn't put my 14 year-old dog through, Like the eye surgery she could probably use, but in Mason's case it looks like he must surely be in pain and no one wants that for him even if he is only meant to live a short while longer. Best of luck to dear boy dog.
 
This isn't mine or Mason's first rodeo with the vet specialists. Mason had a mass removed at SRVS several years ago and completely recovered ... although they also had to neuter him to get good margins.

And I've used Southern Regional Veterinary Specialists (SRVS) in years past with two previous dogs. One they couldn't help because mast cell cancer had spread too far and the other was to remove a growth from a leg that had reoccurred AFTER our local vet removed it but didn't get good margins. Gone now, but she recovered and was with me another 5yrs. Rest in Peace Rowdy and Sugar.

I knew going into this with Mason that it would be quite expensive but I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do ALL that I could ... no matter how much time he has left. That growth on his paw is quite painful for him and greatly impacts his quality of life ... however long that may be.
 
Naturally said:
Mason has a growth on his paw that impacts his mobility and quality of life. I had our local vet take a look at the growth and our local vet refused to even consider surgical removal. Even with decades of experience, our vet felt that the location of the growth and possible tissue compromises it could encompass, was beyond his skill set.

SOooo, our local vet gave us a referral to a regional vet's vet ... a board certified veterinary surgeon. People from parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida get referrals to the veterinary specialist when their local vets can't handle a situation.

Mason was seen Monday morning and surgery has been scheduled for next Wednesday. The vet specialist commented that the growth looked possibly cancerous and might involve bone tissue as well. They will keep Mason overnight and I will pick him up some time after 5 pm on next Thursday afternoon.

With the price already paid for Monday's exam and the estimate for treatment presented, the cost COULD come to just under 4 grand. The boy dog will be 13yrs old this September. So not only is this a risky surgery for an older dog, but many would have had the old dog simply put down when quoted such a price for treatment. Mason is family though. I'm doing all I can for him and hoping for the best.

Guess I won't be taking that trip to France this summer ... I hadn't planned on anyway :ROFLMAO:

- The estimate
- Picture of the growth this morning
- Picture of myself and the boy dog a few nights ago

fVrNL3r.jpeg


RL1oZx7.jpeg


PMfaI84.jpeg


8sfx5v9.jpeg
Click to expand...
Oooh that looks very painful. I wish the best for Mason, that surgery sounds very involved, glad you went to the specialist..

Wonderful picture of you two, he's lucky to have you taking care of him and loving him. Hugs for you both, good luck!
 
VintageBetter said:
Can't the vet just do a biopsy on the growth before he commits to full surgery? If it's cancer, doesn't he have to amputate one leg?
Click to expand...

A biopsy would only determine cancerous or benign, not the extent of the growth.

Regardless if it is cancerous or benign, the surgeon must get good margins, otherwise the growth is likely to return. The surgeon can determine the extent of the tissue compromise once he goes in there for removal of the growth. He did mention that he hoped he wouldn't have to take a toe during the procedure. Honestly I'm not sure what the determining factor is to indicate removal of the entire leg, except that a biopsy isn't it.
 
Naturally said:
Mason has a growth on his paw that impacts his mobility and quality of life. I had our local vet take a look at the growth and our local vet refused to even consider surgical removal. Even with decades of experience, our vet felt that the location of the growth and possible tissue compromises it could encompass, was beyond his skill set.

SOooo, our local vet gave us a referral to a regional vet's vet ... a board certified veterinary surgeon. People from parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida get referrals to the veterinary specialist when their local vets can't handle a situation.

Mason was seen Monday morning and surgery has been scheduled for next Wednesday. The vet specialist commented that the growth looked possibly cancerous and might involve bone tissue as well. They will keep Mason overnight and I will pick him up some time after 5 pm on next Thursday afternoon.

With the price already paid for Monday's exam and the estimate for treatment presented, the cost COULD come to just under 4 grand. The boy dog will be 13yrs old this September. So not only is this a risky surgery for an older dog, but many would have had the old dog simply put down when quoted such a price for treatment. Mason is family though. I'm doing all I can for him and hoping for the best.

Guess I won't be taking that trip to France this summer ... I hadn't planned on anyway :ROFLMAO:

- The estimate
- Picture of the growth this morning
- Picture of myself and the boy dog a few nights ago

fVrNL3r.jpeg


RL1oZx7.jpeg


PMfaI84.jpeg


8sfx5v9.jpeg
Click to expand...

Naturally said:
Oh, so sorry @Naturally .😕
Click to expand...
 
My cat Buffy had virtually the same growth on her paw. It was cancerous, it was a symptom of the main cancer, which was lung. Vet said usually seen in dogs. We had growth removed, and no way did we pay such a fee. It was a few hundred, not a few thousand.

I'm so sorry Mason is having such a hard time, and I hope for the best for him. Love his name, and he is beautiful.
 
Thanks guys !!! We're just spending quality time together today, with lots of time off the computer and outside. It's a nice day and Mason is enjoying it as he roams the sanctuary.

He's limping badly though and moves cautiously and slowly. It's time for that growth to be removed. No two ways about it. Regardless of the outcome, it has to be done. Mason's mobility and quality of life is greatly impacted. I think he knows he is extremely limited in his movements and maybe he's a bit sad and in some pain too of course.

Tomorrow is the surgery day ~~~
 
Turns out that Mason was scheduled for the third surgery of the day Wednesday ... however comma, they ran into some difficulties with surgery number one and Mason's surgery got pushed back to Thursday. He was the second surgery patient on Thursday.

I had dropped Mason off at the vet on Wednesday morning. He spent the night there Wednesday AND Thursday night following his surgery. He was kept in a crate. I NEVER use a crate here at home. I'm sure that caused him some anxiety.

I picked Mason up today (Friday) @5:30 in the afternoon. He was basically gone from home for 3 days. Don't think he ate much if anything while there and the meds have ruined his appetite this evening ... except for a couple of favorite treats.

First thing Mason did was lie in the floor just inside the door when we got home. I think he probably said a few silent WOOFS in thanks to be home. The time apart was the longest we've been apart in his almost 13yrs.

He sleep soundly on Fort Sofa for about 4hrs. Maybe the first truly good, comforting rest he's had in 3 days. He's a little needy and annoyed with things, understandably. Will be 12-14 days before the stitches come out of his paw. I'm ready for those 12-14 days to be over with NOW !!!

The vet said, "The tumor appeared to be excised completely although wide margins surrounding the tumor were not achievable based on its location and the the attempt to salvage the toe involved." I asked Dr Martin if Mason's mobility would improve now that the growth is removed from his paw and Dr Martin said, "I certainly hope so." Only time will tell I guess.

When I dropped Mason off Wednesday morning, they required full payment up front for the low number given in the estimate. Good news was that when I picked Mason up today, they said I'd overpaid and refunded $71.39 to my debit card. Total was slightly lower than their low estimate. The facility is where all vets in the region send patients when conditions are felt to be beyond their skill set ... so I knew going in that cost of care there would be well, rather high. These are vet specialist, board certified surgeons with much more credentials than the average vet. In the past with two other dogs and years ago, I had to pay more when I picked the dogs up, so today was a nice surprise for a small refund.

The poor pitiful boy dog ... home at last :) :cool: ... Good boy buddy !!! ❤️ ... sorry we have to go through this Mason


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