Its been a while since I've posted here. I took my Poohbear to the vet on saturday for her biannual bloodwork. And around the beginning of the year, I found a lump on her chest. After the vet suggested doing xrays, we found that the smallish lump on the outside of her chest was the tip of the iceberg.
We found a larger mass on the inside of her ribcage.
The vet is suggesting that we do an ultrasound with a biopsy. I've never had a biopsy done on a dog before, but others have been telling me how painful it can be for the dog. On the better front, it does not look like osteosarcoma, but the vet tells me that the growth is almost always malignant.Further examination of the xrays show Pooh's back vertibrae are starting to be affected by arthritis because of her age (almost 10 now). I'm wondering if its worth the pain to take her to the specialist to get a biopsy done. If the cancer doesn't get her, it looks like a disc rupture may well get her. She's a very active senior as she still does tracking, search and rescue exercises, and we're thinking about rally obedience.
Wish this post was happier but it seems like we have entered into pallitive mode for Poohbear. She will be loved forever. Hopefully we will have enough time left to get a novice rally title anyways. Her hip dysplasia is being managed quite well as she is still a capable hiking companion.
