GreyAcresMom Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I have a friend that has an 11 year old poodle mix, and she has "growths" in the mammary area. Vet wants to take all and then send for biopsy. Why would they not just do the needle biopsy first given the age of this little girl? The growths are not painful. Any thoughts here? WHat would you do given the age of the dog? Thanks Quote Sheila and COwww.greyacres.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I have a friend that has an 11 year old poodle mix, and she has "growths" in the mammary area. Vet wants to take all and then send for biopsy. Why would they not just do the needle biopsy first given the age of this little girl? The growths are not painful. Any thoughts here? WHat would you do given the age of the dog? Thanks Mammary tumours are often aggressively malignant. They can get big quickly and ulcerate, or they can spread. Personally, I'd take mammary tumours out completely as soon as I noticed them. Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemandvm Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Even if they are benign... mammary tumors can undergo a malignant transformation and become more aggressive. Our recent senior rescue had mammary tumors removed that were undergoing a "pre-malignant change". The best thign would be to remove them and have them biopsied. Is this an intact female? If not... when was she spayed? Quote Bill Lady Bella and Sky at the bridge "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." -Anabele France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyAcresMom Posted November 3, 2007 Author Share Posted November 3, 2007 Yes she is intact. I appreciate your time. Thank you both. I just thought that it was weird that the vet would go so aggressive so quickly. That is the answer then. I guess that they have been small growths and have just started to grow. Quote Sheila and COwww.greyacres.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Just from an owner perspective, I usually don't do the needle biopsy unless there is a reason I would prefer not to remove a growth (bad location, dog frailty, etc.). I just have the vet remove the whole growth and then biopsy if desired. There are times I might choose *not* to have a biopsy of removed tissue. For example, if growth was bothering the dog but if there is no further treatment that I would give (again, dog frailty, etc.). I think you would want to do the biopsies in this case, tho -- you want to know if those tumors are malignant and, if so, did the doc get clean margins. Unless the dog has other ailments, 11 is young for a small poodle mix. She could have many good, happy years with her family. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I'd have them removed. I'd consider spaying at the same time. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyAcresMom Posted November 3, 2007 Author Share Posted November 3, 2007 (edited) Thank you all again,. I guess that the aggressive treatment is because of the malignant transformation. It all makes sense now. And yes she will be getting spayed at this time. Edited November 3, 2007 by GreyAcresMom Quote Sheila and COwww.greyacres.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sighthounds4me Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Our boys' breeder is dealing with that with their dam. She is now 11, and was 9 or 10 when spayed, so it's assumed tthat the tumors are malignant. Doc (owner and vet) is not planning to biopsy or remove the tumors, as he's afraid they will become much more aggressive. I don't think I'd do it, honestly, knowing that these things often get worse if messed with... Quote Sarah, the human, Henley, and Armani the Borzoi boys, and Brubeck the Deerhound.Always in our hearts, Gunnar, Naples the Greyhounds, Cooper and Manero, the Borzoi, and King-kitty, at the Rainbow Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LynnM Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 If the dog is otherwise healthy, it would be best to just strip them out and be done with it (spay her while they're at it). Depending on how healthy the dog is and how quick the vet is, a dental might be in order, too. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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