A few days ago I picked up Abby to put her in bed for the night. Abby is a 10 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I thought I felt something hard under her belly when I lifted her, so I rolled her over for a belly rub and found this:
It was very hard and immovable, both of which are indicators of an unfriendly tumor. I knew this was a mammary tumor due to location. The fact that it was at the hind end of the mammary chain was cause for even more concern, as those tend to be more aggressive in my experience. Of course, I was then in full panic mode, so the other five girls were immediately treated to complete belly rubs and breast examination. They were thrilled to get the extra attention and I'm pretty sure they've decided this needs to be a new daily ritual (which it does).
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| The hard lump that I felt |
It was very hard and immovable, both of which are indicators of an unfriendly tumor. I knew this was a mammary tumor due to location. The fact that it was at the hind end of the mammary chain was cause for even more concern, as those tend to be more aggressive in my experience. Of course, I was then in full panic mode, so the other five girls were immediately treated to complete belly rubs and breast examination. They were thrilled to get the extra attention and I'm pretty sure they've decided this needs to be a new daily ritual (which it does).
Abby was treated to a trip to the hospital in the morning for chest x-rays, physical exam, and lab work in preparation for surgical removal of the mass. She didn't mind the pokes and prods, since she was the "special child" that got to spend a day at work with Mom. The following day she wasn't quite as thrilled because her breakfast consisted of one tablespoon of food to hold her morning medications. Abby is a "foodaholic" and hates to miss a meal. But the chance to get in the car with Mom, yet again, was enough to take her mind off her growling tummy.
Abby was sedated, prepped for surgery, and had her mass removed without any problems. Thankfully, Abby is a dog without a heart problem, which so many Cavaliers suffer with. She was a champ through surgery and recovery. By the time we headed for home in the evening she was begging for a double dinner to make up for the shortage of breakfast.
We are still awaiting biopsy results, but we will deal with whatever we find. For now, Abby and the other girls are just excited about the prospect of daily belly rubs. So do your pets a favor - give them daily belly and body rubs. Feel for lumps and bumps. If you find something, get it checked as soon as possible. The best protection is early detection. This really applies to any disease, so don't forget those complete examinations twice a year with your veterinarian. Be proactive about your pet's good health.
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| The offending culprit after removal |
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