The night before surgery. Note the tiny nodule (bare spot) on edge of right ear, near the tip.
Yesterday was a long day for me and my BFF (best furry friend) Annie. The tiny nodule on the edge of her right ear might be more than an innocuous bump, said the vet. So 24 hours later, yesterday morning, Annie was checked in at the vet hospital to have the nodule excised. If it was benign (a histiocytoma), just a small snip; if malignant (a mast cell tumor), a significant chunk of her ear, a 2-cm radius around the lump.
We girls always worry about our looks, and ears are a very prominent part of of golden lab’s appearance. So I fretted terribly the night before and took what might be the last pictures of her with “full flaps,” kicking myself for not having taken more all along.
The vet felt reasonably sure the tissue, under the microscope, looked benign, so she only took a tiny snip. But we are awaiting the pathology report from CSU for confirmation. That will take about two weeks. If it turns out to be malignant, we’ll have to repeat the entire procedure and the “cookie monster” will have his way with Annie’s ear.
Canine conehead
So far, so good. I had a very unhappy pooch on my hands last night. She was groggy, and had had nothing to eat or drink for about 24 hours. Her ear had been partially shaved and had three tiny stitches in its ragged-looking edge. A band on her leg had been shaved for the anesthesia IV. Her teeth had been cleaned, so her mouth might have been a little sore. And her throat might have been sore from the ventilation tube. But worst of all, she had a huge plastic abomination fastened around her head.
She was inconsolable. Every exhalation was a moan, a whimper, a grumble of supreme exasperation. I was beside myself at first, not sure if she was in pain or just wanting attention. A pain pill didn’t seem to make any difference. By bedtime, exhausted, I’d concluded all the vocalizing was just her expressing extreme discontent with the situation. If I was petting her or talking to her, she was quiet. But she made her displeasure with the management very apparent. I felt like a worm.
Today there have been no complaints. She’s eaten a tiny bit and had some water. And she’s learning to get around with that damnable cone. I still don’t know how she manages to get into her crate with it, but she does, and seems content that she can retire to her “den” at will.
The stitches come out in 10-14 days, and the cone is supposed to stay on for the duration, unless I am absolutely confident that she won’t scratch at the ear. And after all I’ve read and been told about how badly a dog’s ear bleeds, the cone will probably have become a permanent part of her anatomy by the time I try taking it off.
Cross your fingers that we don’t have to do this all over again in two weeks, because if we do, Annie is sure to report me to the ASPCA.
_____________________
March 2: The vet called today with the path report. The lump was a benign histiocytoma. The stitches come out Monday and there will be no more carving on Annie’s ear.
Poor Annie! Winston and I are pulling for her!
Posted by Anonymous | February 21, 2013, 2:47 pm MDTThank you! I’ll be sure to tell her.
Posted by PiedType | February 21, 2013, 2:53 pm MDTOh, hope Annie feels better soon, PT! I do hate it when our pets are off colour…
Posted by kateshrewsday | February 21, 2013, 2:48 pm MDTI was about to say, “If only they could talk,” but I’m not sure I’d have wanted to hear what she was calling me last night.
Posted by PiedType | February 21, 2013, 2:55 pm MDT
Posted by kateshrewsday | February 21, 2013, 2:58 pm MDTFingers crossed. And Annie most likey knows the, “for your on good drill.” She just pouting. Can’t really blame her.
Posted by Doug | February 21, 2013, 2:55 pm MDTPouting doesn’t begin to describe it! It would have been funny if I hadn’t been so worried.
Posted by PiedType | February 21, 2013, 6:57 pm MDTAw, she looks so sad in that cone PT! Here’s hoping that all goes well for you and your BFF!
Posted by IzaakMak | February 21, 2013, 3:06 pm MDTShe’s made a fine art of “pitiful,” like most dogs who’ve owned me.
(She’s feeling much better this evening. Had a full meal and has figured out how to jump up on my bed, despite the cone.)
Posted by PiedType | February 21, 2013, 7:05 pm MDTYou are such a good mommy! I wish all dog owners were like you. I’m sure she will be just fine.
One of my dogs had mats forming behind his ears, so I took some scissors to them one day. My grooming friend (now roommate) was supposed to groom him but didn’t. They were driving me crazy so decided to just get rid of the beasts. As I was cutting, he winced a little bit. I thought, “what a wimp. All I’m doing is pulling the hair out a bit.” Then something just didn’t seem right with the way and feel of the cutting so I took a closer look. I had pulled too hard on the mats thus pulling his skin out and was cutting his skin! The cut was about 3 inches long and gaped wide open. Then I realized he trusts me so much that all he did was wince rather than jump and howl when I started cutting away his skin. I felt horrible! And I mean absolutely bottom-of-the-sewer awful. It wasn’t a scratch. It looked like I had taken a scalpel to him so I could do some sort of surgery. …and all he did was wince….. It bled a lot. I took him to Lyn’s and she shaved the fur away from the wound. I kept antibiotics on it, but his mother kept licking it off when cleaning his would. I tried to keep her from doing that, but it’s impossible. Eventually it healed, thankfully.
Posted by Michelle | February 22, 2013, 11:34 pm MDTOMG, I’d have been hysterical if I did that. I caught the quick on one of her nails one time and she yelped and it bled and I felt so horrible I’m afraid to even try that again. (Nor does she want to let me try!) I just have the vet do it now.
She’s perfectly happy now, except for that stupid cone. But the vets talked so much about how badly ears bleed, I’m scared to take it off for fear she’ll scratch at it and pull a stitch. Seems the only thing she can’t manage with the cone on is her rawhide chews. She holds them with her paws while she gnaws on them, and with the cone in the way, she can’t bring her paws to bear. I took it off last night so she could enjoy her midnight chew, but it’s a 5-minute struggle to get it back in place. I wimped out tonight and just gave her a Milkbone.
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 12:32 am MDTYes, ears bleed horribly! You’d think that their ears were completely cut off! Glad she’s well. Try to enjoy the humor of the situation. If you laugh at her silliness, it will help pick up her mood. I’ve seen some moves that made me nearly bust a gut.
Posted by Michelle | February 23, 2013, 12:38 am MDTShe’s managing everything with the cone. Eating, drinking, the back stairs, getting on and off my bed and in and out of her crate. The rawhide has been the only no-go so far. She sure makes a lot of noise turning in her crate at night (it’s in my bedroom). Wakes me up. But it’s not her fault. Oh, and she does seem to keep getting stuck behind the recliner. She gets back there so she can look out the front window, but then she can’t seem to get out without my help. Or maybe its just another attention-getting device …
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 12:46 am MDTYes, cones in crates are very noisy. It’s all worth it. She’ll have that off before you know it and will be running laps as soon as she can.
Posted by Michelle | February 23, 2013, 12:51 am MDTShe’s already chasing balls down the hall. I’m afraid she’ll catch the cone on something and wrench her neck, but glad she feels well enough to instigate it.
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 1:00 am MDTShe’s a Lab, right?
Posted by Michelle | February 23, 2013, 1:03 am MDTGolden/lab mix. Or “glab” according to my son.
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 1:11 am MDTLOL.. I like that. She definitely is. At first I thought a Golden, Then when I looked at her longer, her head is more Lab as is her coat. But she has that golden color of a golden (now that was redundant)
Posted by Michelle | February 23, 2013, 1:13 am MDTA soft, feminine, almost puppyish head and face and a definite lab otter tail. But the golden makes the coat longer than on a lab. Sort of a scruffy, shaggy lab, with all the shading of a golden. Heart of gold, smart, but very shy.
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 1:20 am MDTAwww! Poor little dear, having to wear the Cone of Shame. She’s lucky to have you to milk for sympa–er, take care of her.
Posted by Pandionna | February 22, 2013, 11:39 pm MDTI’m carrying on like I have a sick child in the house. She’s been mostly sleeping and I realized tonight that’s probably because of the pain med, which she probably doesn’t need anymore now. Meanwhile, the cat has started sneezing a lot more than usual …
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 12:37 am MDTHey Girl!
I hope Annie is feeling better. It’s not surprising that she had little appetite – the amnesia can make them feel nauseous and sluggish for a couple of days. Try putting some ice cubes in her water dish – dogs often like to chew on ice and the coolness might soothe her sore throat.
LOL – the collar is an abomination to be sure but also quite effective. I’m sure she’ll forgive you soon since dogs aren’t like elephants and humans in their grudge keeping.
Take care.
Annie
Posted by writerchick | February 23, 2013, 12:57 pm MDTOh, she’s taking full advantage of the situation. Last night I even let her sleep on the bed because she was making so much noise with the cone in and around her crate, the walls, etc. Perfectly quiet on the bed. Yeah, I know, now I’ve gone and done it …
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 1:04 pm MDTYes, but she is your best bud and companion – so what’s a little fur on the comforter? My dog Maggie went through the same thing when I had her spayed and all her vaccinations at the same time (probably a bit much for her 20 lb body). I thought she’d never forgive me. But a week later, all was forgiven.
Posted by writerchick | February 23, 2013, 1:21 pm MDTOh, it’s no biggie. I always buy washable comforters that will fit in my machine. Pet fur is the norm at my house. Always has been. Small price to pay for their companionship.
Posted by PiedType | February 23, 2013, 7:06 pm MDT