Lumps on Mammary Glands

[Meg]

My old collie bitch has some lumps on her mammary glands. She's booked in to have them removed and analysed on Wednesday. I'm having reservations about having this done as she isn't in the best of health generally. She had a mini stroke a few weeks ago. I'm going to have a chat with the vet about my concerns but any advice and opinions from you good people would be welcome.
She'll be 14 in June and up to 2 weeks ago we also had her litter sister who sadly had a brain tumor and had to be put to sleep.
Thanks, Wendy.

[Schutzengel]

Hello Wendy. I think the only thing you can do is trust the vet, if he considers your dog to be fit enough to withstand the operation, and hope for the best outcome. I believe the main concern would be the strength of her heart to withstand a general anaesthetic, which always has a risk in an animal of any age. I don't think the vet would recommend the operation unless he felt there was a reasonable chance of success. I remember sending you a message of consolation when you lost your other dog a couple of weeks ago. My Jock (labrador/alsation cross) had a massive operation to remove a large cyst from the centre of his back, when he was 14 yrs, which was successful, and he lived until he was 16 and a half. So there is always hope. Discuss your concern with the vet and see what he says. I wonder if it could be done with mild sedation and local anaesthetic? What did vet suggest. I do hope all goes well, and I'll be thinking of you. Love Schutz.

[Meg]

Thanks Schutz, I am concerned about her having a general anaesthetic. I do have total confidence in my vet so the best thing is to discuss my worries with him, thanks, Wendy.

[lankeela]

They do use anaesthetics that are quickly reversed these days, so the recovery time is much less than it used to be.
Also I have had two bitches who had complete mammary strips, one was quite elderly and she lived for another couple of years with no further problems.

I think you need to chat to the vet, and decide how long it would be before they actually caused her any discomfort, and then decide whether her quality of life with them is good enough to warrant leaving them, or whether there really is no option but to remove them now.

[paraffin]

Hi Wendy:

I'm not trying to scaremonger because ultimately you must be guided by what you think is best. However, 7 years ago our elderly collie, 14, had a huge benign lump the size of a bag of sugar on one of his thighs. He'd had them over the years and had had them removed successfully. This time, though, he was much older and we were reluctant to have him operated on.

Anyway, after consultation with a junior vet, and much against our better judgement, we allowed them to operate. I took him in, went home, and less than an hour later got a phone call from the vet saying that he had passed away under anaesthetic.

Needless to say we were devastated, but more than that I had an overwhelming feeling of guilt which has remained with me to this day.

I most sincerely hope that your outcome will be far more successful. Very sorry to hear of the loss of your other doggie.

[Meg]

Thanks Lankeela and Paraffin.
I will do what Lankeela suggests. I don't think they are causing any discomfort. They first came to light when I asked the vet to look at another lump (that appears to just be a fatty deposit).
Paraffin, I am worried about her going into the vets and not coming out again. I don't think I will let her have any surgery unless it is absolutely necessary.
Thanks, Wendyxx