Bree has a lump!!

[BreesMom]

A couple of weeks ago we found a small lump on Bree's chest, we kept feeling it to see if it was changing and one day it was gone. Then yesterday from across the room it looked like she had a roll of fat around her neck!! I felt her and found a big lump more to the side from where the smaller one had been. Called the vet this morning and he is not in this week, and Monday being a holiday Tuesday was the soonest I could get an appointment although they did give me the E-vets number if I wanted to have her looked at sooner. It dosen't seem to be bothering her even when I mess with it. I tried to take a picture of it .....http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz150/goss_bucket/rsz_1img_0183.jpg

[Chad]

My previous Dobe had one close to his right shoulder that was a melanoma and it turned out to be non-cancerous and the vet tested it yearly to make sure there was no cancer. It never disappeared or shifted, though so this could be something else.

[TrinityDobes]

Breesmom,

Are you sure its not a reaction to a spider or insect bite?

have you had any vaccinations within the last 30 days?

is the lump hard? like muscle? can you depress it? and it leave a dent? or softer like a water bubble.

is it warm to the touch?

It looks more like soft tissue swelling in the photo.

[BreesMom]

Gail I don't know about the insect bite...could be
No vaccinations in the last 30 days
lump is firm, not rock solid I can depress it but it dosen't keep a dent
not warm to the touch

She really seems fine, not acting as if it is bothering her, if it dosen't get any bigger or cause her any problems I would really like to take her to her own vet. To me it looks so much like my RIP girls fatty tumor but it came up so fast.

[arwclubhouse]

It's hard to tell from the picture and just one angle but it does look rather large and you did say it came up quickly.

I would at a minimum call the E vet and explain what is going on and go from there but they will probably want to see her.

Good luck with her and please keep us posted.

[BreesMom]

The vet thought it was a bruise that had clotted. She wants to test for vWD because of the size of the clot. I also want to have a complete thyroid panel done as she just hasn't quite seemed herself and I had thought maybe it was because of us getting another dog but when they weighed her she was 99 pounds, she is a big girl but geeez 99 is a lot for a bitch to weigh!!

[von Cosack Dobermann]

I'm very confussed!!!!! How did the vet come to that conclusion? Didn't she aserbate the mass???? As to Brees weight thats alot of weight for most males!! She is not a large bone dog but she does have height and I think that the winter always adds a few pounds on them. Check your dry fed and look at the calories and fat content and go from there. Use your hands and grab a bunch of skin in places that should be fairly tight like on top of her hips and see if shes a PORKER!!!, Give lil Homer 10 and start working on Bree getting down to 85 then 80. I'm very concerned over the mass and you need to TELL the vet you want her analysis explained. I'm not trying to panic you Sharon but that explanation just doesn't cut it. Start out asking her WHY she thinks its a bruise that clotted. The Thyroid is a good thing to do at her age but I've never but alot of stock in Dobermanns having thyroid problems. atleats mine and the clients I've had through the years have never experienced that problem. For less than a 100 bucks go for it T4, T3 and 3T4 will tell you want you want to know. Just did Pudgie's because all this paranoia is rubbing off on me too hahahaha!!! No problems with him we're testing for brain cells seems to be 8 of them!!!! Let me know what the vet says ok, a mass like that needs to be investigated alot more than a bruise guess. I hope shes right but you need more info!!!!! Say hi to poor Ray! Von

[BreesMom]

Von she took some fluid from the mass and it just came out blood, she then put that under the midroscope and said there weren't many red cells telling her it was old blood, and there weren't a lot of white cells to point at an abcess. She also said the mass was completely separate that she could move it around. This is how she came to the conclusion that is was clotting from a bruise. And Von Ray is down in your neck of the woods right now LOL!!

[von Cosack Dobermann]

Thanks Brezz, after talking to you in usa chat I do think that the mass needs to be attended to to asap!!!! If an accident should occur and the mass burts it could be a very volatile situation. Von

[BreesMom]

We have been applying warm compresses to Bree's lump and it seems to be coming down :)

[TrinityDobes]

I agree forum advise should always be double checked with a vet- but I also KNOW that forums have helped when the vet has been lazy or inattentive - for instance, the vet did not advise Breesmom to apply hot compresses to help reduce that hematoma nor did the vet recommend her to get bloodwork done to check Brees thyroid status - it was forum members with years of breed experience.

[BreesMom]

That lump looks bad. I am glad that it is coming down and she has seen a vet. Forums can give you ideas, but they aren't vets. It does look bad. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Thanks for the good wishes and you are right forums are not vets....but at the same time we do have members that are breeders of the doberman and while vets know a little about all dogs I have found doberman breeders know an awful lot about the doberman. I really like to check with my breeder friends on the forum before and after a vet visit as their expert advice is a great help......very different from just an owner opinion. I am sure if you ever need help you will find this also :) I am not saying they take the place of the vet....but they help in telling us what the vet should be doing or what we should be asking the vet .

[BreesMom]

Bites thanks so much for your concern but Bree has never been in pain at all at any time-even upon palpatation she never evidenced any pain response or discomfort at all. I will post a new photo as soon as my Hubby brings my camera home from Florida :)

[BreesMom]

Thanks guys, we have appointments twice a week to have her lump checked and we are also doing a few tests, I will share your concerns with my vet the next appointment :)

[TrinityDobes]

Good point about the vWD and earlier Breesmom shared that Bree is vWD Clear by parentage, thank goodness for that, one less thing to worry about.

[BreesMom]

Just got back from the vets, she was pleased at how much the lump has come down, going back in a few days for another check and going to do a thyroid panel.

[BreesMom]

At last I got my camera back from Florida just in time for our next winter storm....took some pics hoping you can see that Bree's neck is looking good, lump has gone from soft ball size to marble size. But her blood work did show her thyroid levels are off. Starting thyroid meds and will do blood work in a months time to recheck her levels.
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz150/goss_bucket/IMG_0193.jpg