Orionh4
Posts:1379
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| 26 Jan 2010 01:57 AM |
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I was peting my old veterin he is an 8 year old 98lb black lab (not fat) . I found under his chin a prity good size lump. It seems to be along the jaw bone. Its probly a little smaller than the size of half a golf ball. I just noticed it about 4 days ago. Im hoping he just slipped on some ice and cracked his mouth on something but my luck isnt ususally that good. Im looking for some ideas I geuss. I plan on watching it a couple more days and see what happens before I bring him in to the vet. I know alot of you are going to say bring him in right a way and I would if I could belive me. I have been out of work for about 3 weeks now and money is so tight this couldnt have came up at a worse time. I love him so much I dont know what Ill do if I have to put him down. My hole life i wanted a dog and my mom would never let me get one. I moved out and bought a house he was one of the first things I bought. I am 30 now was 22 then. I had to put down a black lab that some one gave to me last summer due to a freek accident. Long story short $3000 operation or put him down . Would have bank rupted me. I only had that dog for about a year and that was hard enough. Puting down my old boy will probly almost put me down as well.
I hunt there for I am "Metallica" Theres a gun in my truck "Brad Paisly" My neck has always been Red "Lynyrd Skynyrd" And if that ant country ill kiss your ass "David allan Coe" |
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farmer red1
Posts:781
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| 26 Jan 2010 06:35 AM |
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the lump may just be what you said but,it could be a infected tooth that needs taken care of.watch to see if your lab goes off food or has trouble eating.if you have a good vet,you may be able to work out a payment plan with them so it's not so hard on you.another option is see if a local university has vet training center that you can take it to so the up and coming vets get hands on training.some of this is at no cost or very little cost to you.best to safe then having to put another friend down. |
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Shiloh
Posts:8177
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| 26 Jan 2010 11:21 AM |
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Don't panic. Dogs are very prone to cancers and tumors, but not always anything really dangerous. I recently removed a baseball sized mystery tumor from the left jaw of my beagle. She'd had a bump there a long time, but over the course of about a week it suddenly grew at an alarming rate and finally resembled a baseball hanging down wrapped in tightly expanded skin. It was really evil looking and I took her to the vet. They cut it off and stitched the skin and now she is doing fine. They said it was some sort of fat tumor and is not that uncommon. She is obviously much happier without it and so am I because petting her was really sickening that way.
Not a Right-wing extremist -- THE Right-wing extremist! I like my guns towed and crew-served! http://www.9thkyus.com/ http://www.blockaderunner.com/ http://www.nps.gov/stri/ |
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| I like my guns towed & crew-served!
http://www.nps.gov/stri/
http://www.blockaderunner.com/
http://www.9thky.org/
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Central VA
Posts:101
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| 26 Jan 2010 06:42 PM |
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In Sept 2008 i had to put my beagle down, she developed a tumor in and along the jaw bone itself. She was nine at the time, the vet offered to do surgery but that meant cutting a large part of the jaw out and then cancer treatments. At nine years old I decided that my best four legged friend deserved better then months of painful treatments and never to be able to eat regular food again. i put her down. I waited about 6 months and found another beagle pup at a rescue. She has turned into a great hunting dog and the kids love her. You need to go to a vet those tumors can grow very fast, my dogs tumor went from not being visible to the size of a tennis ball in a week. I am sure you care for your dog but remember to keep what in the dogs best interest not yours, besides there are plenty of good bred dogs that need new homes. |
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gutpile
Posts:6211
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| 27 Jan 2010 04:42 AM |
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There are several possibilities. Could be an abcessed tooth but if that were the case the dog would not be eating. Could be a lipoma or fatty tumor these normally move around when manipulated. Another possibility is osteosarcoma or bone cancer. These are just a couple of things off the top of my head. But as others have said you need to get him to the Veterinarian ASAP. This way you find out what's going on and what your options are but most of all what's best for the dog.
gutpile
Kishels Scents and Lures www.kishelscents.com Finest scents and lures for Hunters and Trappers and now Fishermen. "I got mine with Kishels!!"
Liberals Negate Darwinian Theory |
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| Liberals Negate Darwinian Theory
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hauts
Posts:447
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| 27 Jan 2010 07:30 AM |
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Hope your good buddy is Ok. Does the lump move around easily? If so, does it appear to be painful for your dog when you move it around? Or is it stationary and unable to easily move around with your fingers? |
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Orionh4
Posts:1379
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| 27 Jan 2010 11:53 AM |
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No it dosent move around and it dosent seem painful to him. It seems prity hard. I hunt there for I am "Metallica" Theres a gun in my truck "Brad Paisly" My neck has always been Red "Lynyrd Skynyrd" And if that ant country ill kiss your ass "David allan Coe" |
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hauts
Posts:447
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| 27 Jan 2010 01:46 PM |
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Of course the best advice is to get the dog into the vet to check it out, but if you cannot afford it I would watch it since you mention it's hard and attached. Take a piece of thin paper (or something else that would mold to the lump) and cover the lump with it. Take a thin marker or pen and trace the lump around the base in a circle. This will help you to monitor if it grows. If it grows quickly I'd get him in ASAP as that would be a sign of possible malignant cancer. On the other hand, if it doesn't grow rapidly and he is acting healthy (normal energy and appetite), I'd still keep an eye on it, but it probably isn't much to worry about. Hope he's alright! |
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gutpile
Posts:6211
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| 27 Jan 2010 02:56 PM |
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Forget hauts advice! Sorry hauts. But a hard tumor needs to be looked at NOW!!! If its a cancer it could spread quickly to other organs and your dog won't have a prayer then. You need to find out what it is NOW!!! If it was on your jaw what would you do? I'll tell you. First when you first found it it would scare the hell out of you then on the phone to the MD. Just because it doesn't seem painful to him now is meaningless. Animals dogs in particular will appear fine in your presence but when you're not around he could be in pain. I'm a Veterinary Technician. I've seen videos taken in the kennels in clinics of dogs after surgery. When someone is present they appear and act normal. But when no one is around they huddle in a ball in a corner. This was done as a research project at a university. The study subjects were spayed dogs That is why modern Vet clinics give post op pain meds as a matter of course. I give this advice as a eleven year Veterinary Technician. There is a Vet who is a member here I'd bet he'd back me up and have even more to say.
gutpile
Kishels Scents and Lures www.kishelscents.com Finest scents and lures for Hunters and Trappers and now Fishermen. "I got mine with Kishels!!"
Liberals Negate Darwinian Theory |
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| Liberals Negate Darwinian Theory
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Topgun 30-06
Posts:9668
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| 27 Jan 2010 04:44 PM |
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Having had a couple years in Pre-Vet medicine, I definitely agree with gutpile's advice and to get the dog looked at ASAP. I'm sure you can work out a payment plan, put it on plastic, or whatever, but please don't wait any longer!!! NAHC LM (1991), NWTF, NRA, SPC 5 Army Vet Corp 68-71 |
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hauts
Posts:447
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| 28 Jan 2010 03:53 PM |
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I totally agree with you gutpile. And for the record, I am not a vet or vet tech, just learned through experience and reading. I was just suggesting another option if someone really cannot afford it. It's easy to tell someone to work out a payment plan, but if you're laid off and have no money coming in, how can you work out a payment plan? |
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Jeff T
Posts:45
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| 29 Jan 2010 02:47 PM |
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Get The Dog To The Vet! If you cant pay for it now, they would let you pay later. If they see that you care for your pet and you dont want to be negligent, they will treat your dog and worry about the finances later. If you need it, set up a posts for small donations or something. I can chip in and I'm sure there are enough other caring people on here that can do the same. Keep us posted on his situation. Best of luck.
Jeff:> NRA, Mule Deer Foundation, NWTF, NAHC |
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Topgun 30-06
Posts:9668
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| 29 Jan 2010 05:33 PM |
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Jeff T---That is great and I would also be more than willing to help out. I would bet that there are more than the two of us who would do the same! NAHC LM (1991), NWTF, NRA, SPC 5 Army Vet Corp 68-71 |
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Orionh4
Posts:1379
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| 30 Jan 2010 06:13 PM |
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Hey guys I got him to the vet. Not great news as it turns out. He has a tumer on his lower jaw. They gave him some staroids so see if it will slow the progresion but he is 9 years old there really isnt much they can do. They could cut it off but they would have to remove most of his bottom jaw for about $2000 and then even if he dosnt have cancer anyware els which is unlikely and would probly only live another year or 2 anyway. Im just going to keep an eye on him and try to keep him comfort able for as long as I can then Ill have to put him down or have him put down. Hopefully the steroids will keep the cancer from growing so fast. They also gave him some antibiotics just incase there is any infection. So I geuss Ill just have to see what happens. Thank you for all your conserns and opinions.
I hunt there for I am "Metallica" Theres a gun in my truck "Brad Paisly" My neck has always been Red "Lynyrd Skynyrd" And if that ant country ill kiss your ass "David allan Coe" |
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Topgun 30-06
Posts:9668
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| 30 Jan 2010 06:38 PM |
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I was really praying that it wasn't that! Sorry to hear of the prognosis, but I hope you can keep him with you for quite awhile before the time comes where the inevitable decision has to be made. I dread when that day comes for my 6 year old DD because it's going to be like losing a part of me! Let's hope that the medicine will slow the growth and allow him to have a decent length of time for the two of you to enjoy each other! NAHC LM (1991), NWTF, NRA, SPC 5 Army Vet Corp 68-71 |
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Orionh4
Posts:1379
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| 31 Jan 2010 12:03 AM |
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With all the tecnology of today it is tobad someone cant come up with a dog that lives longer. Buddy is my first dog. As i said I got him when I was 22 and am now 30. When I was a kid I always pryed for a dog every night. Now I am beging to wander if it is a curse. Not only am I going to suffer his loss. My wife childeren have to as well. I already want to get another dog on one hand but not on the other. It is hard to come to a conclusion. Are all the good times I have had with him worth feeling this bad right now?
I hunt there for I am "Metallica" Theres a gun in my truck "Brad Paisly" My neck has always been Red "Lynyrd Skynyrd" And if that ant country ill kiss your ass "David allan Coe" |
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Jeff T
Posts:45
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| 31 Jan 2010 01:47 AM |
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Hang in there! Enjoy the time that is left. I think you made the right choice. He will probably die of old age before you have to worry about the ailment. Stinks that those types of things come with aging. Sorry to here about the prognosis. Best of luck to both of you.
Jeff:> NRA, Mule Deer Foundation, NWTF, NAHC |
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gutpile
Posts:6211
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| 31 Jan 2010 06:00 AM |
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Sorry to hear that. As to technology to come up with a dog that lives longer. There are a couple of geneology research projects trying to identify certain lines in breeds that are prone to problems. The theory is that along the way some lines of pure breds were bred to closely and this caused certain health problems to come to the forefront. Finding those lines and halting the breeding of them is what needs to be done. Mixer breeds tend to live longer and have fewer health problems. And there are mixed breeds out there that are excellent hunters.
gutpile
Kishels Scents and Lures www.kishelscents.com Finest scents and lures for Hunters and Trappers and now Fishermen. "I got mine with Kishels!!"
Liberals Negate Darwinian Theory |
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| Liberals Negate Darwinian Theory
Kishel's Scent and Lures www.kishelscents.com |
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hauts
Posts:447
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| 01 Feb 2010 02:39 PM |
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I am really sorry to hear about your dog. I dread the day I have this happen and most of us who own dogs will deal with it as well so you and your family are not alone. The way I've been trying to look at it is if I didn't get my dogs then someone else would have. I try and give my dogs the best life I can. I think they're in good hands and it sounds like yours is, too. The dog was born anyway and will die anyway, it's what you did to give him the best life he could've had. It may be a little shorter than you'd expected, but it sounds like he's had a good life. Maybe a good life he wouldn't have had with another owner. Best wishes to you, your family and your buddy. |
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Topgun 30-06
Posts:9668
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| 01 Feb 2010 05:33 PM |
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hauts---That's an excellent way to look at things that I had not really thought of. Thanks for that post!!! I think that will make it a little easier for me when the time comes!!! NAHC LM (1991), NWTF, NRA, SPC 5 Army Vet Corp 68-71 |
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