ahicks51 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 When in for the annual inspection, I showed the vet some dots in Coco's groinular region [sic] of which I was suspicious. Turns out it's dermal hemiangiosarcoma, or whatever the proper name is for the normally-benign growths that can sometimes form mets and be very bad. Price estimate for removal: $550-650, including gas anesthesia, lab analysis, etc. So, I figure I'll take him to the "go-to" greyhound vet in Phoenix on Monday (two days later), and I'm glad I did. Over the weekend, someone posted to the greyhound mailing list they had had a hound with recurring dermal hemis, and they treated in a different manner- local anesthesia and removal. I take him in to Dr. Yocham- who is about as no-nonsense as they come- who agrees with the diagnosis, but disagreed with the general anesthesia. When I asked him to pen me in, he said, "We can do it right now." Out-the-door cost? $90, including $38 for the office visit. Admittedly, I don't have a biopsy- but the way I figure it, benign or not, it's not as though I'm going to stop looking for new ones. And if for some reason it has formed mets, there's nothing I could do anyway- except stay on the lookout. The big difference, I suppose, is that the second doctor has been doing this probably since greyhounds were invented. The first doctor works at a hospital building a nice, big, fancy new wing. This is the same hospital, BTW, that wanted $800 worth of work to figure out Coco's tongue growth- but I was able to talk them down to a much lower cost for antifungals (and some antibiotics, which he clearly didn't need), which did the trick. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoomDoggy Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Even with a local anesthetic and un-sedated removal, they should still be able to send off a biopsy if you want it done. I have had several suspicious growths removed from Marla wit a local and laser removal. MUCH preferable to general anesthesia. Quote ~Aimee, with Flower, Alan, Queenie, & Spodee Odee! And forever in my heart: Tipper, Sissy, Chancy, Marla, Dazzle, Alimony, and Boo. This list is too damned long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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