Meadow and More

Meadow's results came back today, and for the most part, we received very good news. The weird lump on her belly was indeed a cyst, and the second suspect lump on her leg turned out to be a plain old fatty tumor - both of which are benign. (Yay!) Additionally, the singular mast cell tumor was a Grade Two - but between a 0 and 1 in the PSS Field and Low on the Mitotic Index. Of course, I'm no scientist, so don't ask me for a detailed explanation of what those terms mean, but essentially the tumor is less likely to spread. (Yay again!)

However, a big part of removing tumors includes removing the surrounding tissue to make sure there are no remaining cancer cells so it doesn't grow back. In Meadow's case, the margins around the tumor were 2 centimeters of clean tissue - which is very good. However, the margins beneath the tumor came back as "questionable," which is not as ideal as I had hoped. Our vet said he removed everything he could right down to the muscle, but being a thin skinned breed like a Vizsla, it just wasn't enough. He informed Nick today that we have three options:

(1) Just observe the area to see if the tumor comes back.

(2) Do a second surgery to re-excise the area.

(3) Go to an oncologist for possible radiation treatments.

Our vet also went on to stress that he felt choice number 2 was a very poor option, as he already removed all that he could without cutting into muscle. He then used the word "excessive" when talking about option number 3, because going to an oncologist would entail having a special stain test done before they would even consider treatment, and that alone would cost another substantial sum. However, he also said that it was our decision to make, and that there was no rush to make it. He is going to talk to us in further detail when Meadow goes in the end of next week to have her stitches removed. (At which time Toby will also have his newest lump checked.)

So, again, promising news...but not as perfect as I had hoped.

And in other news, Leah and Toby had an "incident" yesterday while my back was turned to them. A moment earlier, the two of them were ferreting for dry kibble which I had thrown on the ground in two separate directions for them to search for, a fun game they play from time to time in the yard. Meadow had grown bored of the game for some odd reason, (maybe because she was leashed?), so I started walking her across the yard and had gotten only a few steps away when I heard my poor Toby scream. Spinning around, I saw Leah on top of him, biting him, and I screamed for her to "Leave-it!" Shockingly, she completely ignored me, only letting go a moment later when Nick appeared from the front yard and yelled at her too.

I'm guessing the food somehow sparked the attack, but I'm not one hundred percent sure. This is not the first time in their 7 years together that they have had an "incident," but its certainly not a common occurrence either. Leah bit him about six years ago and left a minute puncture in his ear, and about three years ago she bit him badly enough that he needed staples, but nothing has happened since. Both times, my back was turned, and at least one of those times, there was food involved. This time she tore a wicked slice in his ear, which bled everywhere, and luckily Nick was on hand to help stop the bleeding as I might have passed out. So he tended to Toby while I ushered Meadow inside, slipped on her comfy cone, and got her into her crate.

Thankfully, the bleeding stopped without the need of stitches, (or another vet bill), and we treated it with a good cleaning and some triple antibiotic - but the incident was upsetting all the same. Toby doesn't fight back, and to hear him scream like that and see blood pouring down his neck and over Nick's hands really freaked me out. At first, I thought she'd torn open his throat. I know dogs are dogs, and these things do happen. And again, it's not a regular occurrence, (or we'd be at a behaviorist), but I was pissed off at her all the same and gave her the cold shoulder for most of last night.

Needless to say, between finding another lump on Toby, being aggravated with Leah, and learning that Meadow might need further treatment, (even if its down the road a bit), I'm glad I kept hesitating about contacting Labs4rescue about Pearl. She may be "Perfect," but she's going to have to be perfect for someone else. Somebody's obviously trying to tell me that now is not the time for another dog, because every time I start to consider her again, something stands in my way.

However, I do still feel haunted by Pearl's photo...

...and I hope my blog post about her catches someone's eye and she finds a home of her own for the holidays. So please spread the word about Pearl, keep Meadow in your thoughts, cross your fingers that Toby has another harmless cyst, and hope that Leah was merely having a really bad day....I don't need more behavioral problems added to the mix.

UPDATE: As of 12/9/11 - Pearl no longer shows up if you search Labs4rescue for female yellow Labs (don't ask why I checked) - which means - she has most likely found a home of her own (and can finally stop haunting me)! Hooray for Pearl!

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