The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Tumor on her Ass

[captainsblog]

With all the talk of human doctors and dentists in recent days, I didn't mention the other medical visit of the week: Tasha, our older dog (just about turning 12 this week), had her annual physical and heartworm/blood tests the other day. These visits used to be extremely stressful (and expensive) just from a fear-biting standpoint; we had to have her fully sedated before they could even look at her, and she was dopey for hours afterward. More recently, as she's mellowed (and possibly because she's significantly deafened), we've been able to just give her a dose of "puppy prozac" 45 minutes before the visit, and while we still keep her muzzled, she's basically a stoner through the whole exam and gives the vet and staff very little trouble.

Last year brought a scare, though: they spotted a tumor growing on the outside of her buttocks, right below the anus. It's a hemangioma perisitoma, if you're keeping score at home, and it is generally noninvasive and more of a figurative pain in the ass than a real one- as long as it doesn't herniate or start blocking the, um, primary activity in that area.  We were given a surgical option then, and elected not to as long as it seemed not to be bothering her or getting worse, because the risks of heavy anasthesia and surgery in one her age are comparable to letting the tumor run its course.

A year and half a month passed since then until the other day, and it's all, pretty much, the same.  It's grown, a little, and the growth is headed north, where we don't want it, but (a) it hasn't, much; (b) it's not herniated or infected; and (c) it's still far enough away from "intended purposes" under her tail for us not to have to subject her (or us) to the risks of surgery.

On the brighter side, Dr. R. showered her with compliments about how beautiful she still is, what good shape her joints are in for an old broad, and how much good care's been given to her, both in and out of the examining room.  Her bloodwork just came back all Type AOK, so we're set with her for another of what we hope to be, still, many more good years together.

Comments

[firynze]

What is it with pets and butt-tumours these day? Cody's lipomas are causing him/me no end (har har) of problems, too...

[tilia-tomentosa.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed that she keeps doing as well as is possible under the circumstances!