Mast cell tumors in dogs are masters of disguise and can sometimes have serious consequences for a dog’s health. To teach you more about these tricky tumors, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby shares the the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for mast cell tumors.
You may have found a small mass on your dog that seems to have appeared overnight. Or maybe the mass had been there for years. But suddenly it looks red and swollen and now your dog won’t stop licking it. Or perhaps you didn’t even know your dog had a mass until your veterinarian found it during a routine physical exam.
All of these scenarios could have the same troubling diagnosis—a mast cell tumor. This is the most common skin mass in dogs, and a mast cell tumor diagnosis opens a can of worms.
- What is a mast cell tumor in dogs?
- What does a mast cell tumor in dogs look like?
- Which dogs are more likely to develop mast cell tumors?
- How is a mast cell tumor diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for a mast cell tumor in dogs?
- What is the prognosis for mast cell tumors?
- When do you stop fighting mast cell tumors in dogs?
- Don't Wait—Aspirate!
- Do you have personal experience with mast cell tumors in dogs?
What is a mast cell tumor in dogs?
Mast cells are white blood cells that are part of the immune system. They are specifically designed to attack foreign invaders—usually parasites, but also allergens such as dust or pollen.
Mast cells are full of granules that contain bioactive substances such as histamine and heparin. They can degranulate (i.e. dump the contents of their granules into the surrounding area) in response to stimuli such as a parasite or allergen. When this happens, the chemicals in the granules cause itching, redness, and swelling.
If mast cells become cancerous and divide rapidly in one location, they can form a mast cell tumor. Unlike normal mast cells, the tumor cells are unstable and can degranulate easily.
When mast cell tumors degranulate, you may see mild symptoms like itching and swelling in the area around the tumor. Sometimes this can result in the dog scratching or licking the mast cell tumor. The area may puff up and get red, especially when the mass is handled or bumped, and then go back to normal.
It is also possible for the dog to have more severe systemic effects such as gastrointestinal ulceration or bruising and bleeding in the surrounding tissues. Affected dogs may also have a decreased blood pressure and even sudden death from anaphylaxis (i.e. a severe allergic reaction).
What does a mast cell tumor in dogs look like?
As you can imagine, the potential for severe symptoms make mast cell tumors in dogs concerning. And these tumors are made more dangerous by the fact they can look like any other skin or subcutaneous (i.e. under the skin) mass. They can also be anywhere on a dog’s body— trunk, head, legs, tail, ears, nose, paws, eyelids, etc. Canine mast cell tumors can be:
- Big or small
- Firm or squishy
- Raised above the skin or located under the skin
- Smooth or ulcerated (i.e. having an open surface or looking like the mast cell tumor burst)
- Pink or tan
- Hairless or haired
The pictures of mast cell tumors in dogs below show two of the many, many different presentations. The picture on the left shows a mast cell tumor under the skin near the dog’s anus. It looks very different from the dog’s mast cell tumor in the picture on the right, which was a raised, pink, hairless area on the side of the leg.
It is no surprise then that many vets call mast cell tumors “the great pretenders.”
I was reminded of this when my receptionist brought her Boxer, Charlie, in for a dental cleaning. She asked me to take a look at a new lump on Charlie’s side while he was there. Although the lump looked like a simple skin tag, we decided to aspirate it to be on the safe side. I’m so glad we did because it turned out this “skin tag” was actually a cutaneous mast cell tumor.
I was able to remove the tumor at the same time we did the dental. Thankfully, histopathology results indicated the mast cell tumor was low grade and completely excised so Charlie didn’t need any follow-up treatment.
I tell you this story to demonstrate how easy it can be to mistake mast cell tumors for a skin tag or lipoma in dogs. Plus, mast cell tumors may grow and shrink in size, fooling everyone into thinking they are an insect bite. For these reasons, pet owners (and sometimes veterinarians) may accidentally dismiss a mast cell tumor as being harmless. This is especially the case with well-differentiated mast cell tumors.
Poorly differentiated vs well-differentiated mast cell tumors in dogs
When I use the term “differentiated,” what I am referring to is how much the tumor cells resemble and act like the original cells. All tumors are composed of neoplastic (i.e cancerous) cells which originated from normal healthy cells. The more a neoplastic cell has changed from its cell of origin, the less well differentiated it is. Poorly-differentiated tumors tend to have cells that are harder to recognize, divide faster, and act more aggressively.
When it comes to mast cell tumors, well-differentiated tumors are slow growing. They may be present for months to years before they cause irritation to the surrounding tissue. As mentioned, without diagnostic testing it is easy to mistake them for a benign skin mass.
On the other hand, poorly-differentiated mast cell tumors usually grow much more rapidly than well-differentiated ones. The poorly-differentiated tumors also tend to degranulate more frequently, so the area around the tumor may be bruised or swollen. Aggressive tumors are also more likely to burst and start bleeding.
Mast cell tumors are usually solitary tumors. But it is possible for a dog to have more than one mast cell tumor at any given time. For example, a dog can have a well-differentiated mast cell tumor and a poorly-differentiated mast cell tumor on different areas of the body. Although they are there at the same time, these tumors are unrelated to one another.
In rare cases, mast cell tumors may disseminate, spreading rapidly and growing throughout the body. The most common locations for spread include the dog’s lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.
Which dogs are more likely to develop mast cell tumors?
As we have established, mast cell tumors can look like anything. They can also occur in any dog of any age. While they are more common in middle-aged to older dogs, I have diagnosed several mast cell tumors in puppies under a year of age. There is no sex predilection. This means mast cell tumors occur equally in male and female dogs and spayed/neutered or intact dogs.
However, there is thought to be a genetic predisposition to developing mast cell tumors. This is because they are much more likely to occur in brachycephalic dogs of bulldog descent such as:
- Boxers
- English Bulldogs
- Pugs
- Boston Terriers
The picture below shows a mast cell tumor on the upper lip of a Boston Terrier. In this case, the dog’s mast cell tumor presented as a pink, hairless area that really didn’t look that much like a tumor at all.
Mast cell tumors are also more common in:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Shar-peis
- Staffordshire Bull Terriers
- Jack Russell Terriers
How is a mast cell tumor diagnosed?
Whether your dog is on the above list of predisposed breeds or not, you need to be aware of mast cell tumors. And if you only take one thing away from this article, I hope it is this—if you find a mass on your dog, don’t ignore it. One of my friends, who happens to be a well-known veterinary oncologist, has a saying, “Don’t wait—aspirate!”
Fine needle aspiration
What does the “Don’t wait—aspirate!” message mean? If you or your vet find a new mass on your dog or if an existing skin mass is changing in size, color, or consistency, the best course of action is usually to start with having your vet perform a fine needle aspiration (FNA).
During an FNA procedure, the vet will insert a 22-gauge needle into the tumor and redirect it multiple times. This fills the shaft of the needle with tumor cells. Then the vet will transfer the cells to a slide and spread them out. After letting the slide dry and staining the material, the vet will examine it under the microscope.
The video below shows a veterinarian performing a fine needle aspiration on a lump that turned out to be a lipoma in dogs and not a mast cell tumor.
Your veterinarian may be able to diagnose a mast cell tumor in the clinic, especially if the cells have a typical appearance. Mast cells are normally round with dark-staining granules.
In some cases, the granules may not be visible with Diff-Quick (the typical stain the veterinary team would use). If your veterinarian suspects a mast cell tumor but doesn’t see the typical granules, he or she may recommend submitting the slides to a pathology lab. These labs have special stains to better identify mast cells.
Also, sometimes the veterinarian may not suspect a mast cell tumor initially. The FNA may look like an innocent skin mass, or a pocket of infection, especially if the granules don’t stain. In those cases, histopathology of the mass after surgical removal will reveal that the mass was actually a mast cell tumor.
The image below shows how mast cells in dogs may look under a microscope.
Histopathology
If the results of the fine needle aspiration show mast cells, your veterinarian will likely recommend removal of the tumor. After surgery to remove the tumor (which we will discuss later in this article), your veterinarian will probably suggest submitting the tumor to the laboratory for histopathology. Histopathology (i.e. biopsy) is the microscopic examination of all or part of the tumor tissue.
Clients often ask me why it is important to do histopathology if the FNA already indicated this was a mast cell tumor. I understand their concern because histopathology is an added expense. However, histopathology is the next step in the diagnostic process, and a very important one.
Histopathology, but not cytology (i.e. fine needle aspiration or FNA) can provide information to help determine the prognosis and next steps for your dog.
To help dog parents understand the distinction between cytology and histopathology, I like to use the analogy of a brick wall. Cytology is an examination of the bricks alone. Based on the FNA, the vet can often identify the “bricks” as mast cells.
At this point, the vet knows he or she is dealing with some sort of mast cell tumor. Since this is a type of cancer, the vet will need to take wide margins around the tumor to maximize the chances of removing all the tumor cells. If the “bricks” were something benign, the vet wouldn’t need to remove as much tissue around the tumor.
What the vet doesn’t know by looking at the bricks is what sort of structure they are part of. This is where histopathology comes in. It is the examination of the entire structure—the bricks, the mortar, and how they are arranged relative to one another to create a wall.
In other words, histopathology gives the information about the structure and appearance of the tumor as a whole. This is necessary for determining the grade (and therefore prognosis) of the mast cell tumor.
Grading systems for mast cell tumors
Veterinary pathologists grade mast cell tumors using two different systems.
The older system, the Patnaik grading system, evaluates mast cell tumors on a scale of one to three.
- Grade I—well differentiated and surgical removal is often curative.
- Grade II—intermediately differentiated tumors. Some tumors behave somewhat aggressively while others can be cured by surgery alone.
- Grade III—poorly differentiated tumors that tend to be more aggressive.
There have been a lot of inconsistencies with this grading system, with most tumors fitting into a Grade II category. As a result, many pathologists now use the two-tier system. They will classify the tumors as either high-grade or low-grade. High grade tumors carry a worse prognosis because they have a higher rate of metastasis and a shorter survival time.
To reach a final consensus about grade, sometimes it is necessary for the veterinary pathologist to use additional stains and conduct further testing on the tissue samples. These special tests are most frequently used on Grade II tumors or tumors that have some characteristics of high grade and some of low grade.
What is the treatment for a mast cell tumor in dogs?
In order to use histopathology to confirm the tumor is a mast cell tumor and grade the tumor, the veterinary pathologist needs part or all of the tumor. Plus, the end goal is to get rid of the tumor completely. So it is no surprise that surgery is often the treatment of choice for a mast cell tumor.
Surgical removal for a mast cell tumor in dogs
Prior to surgery, the veterinarian may recommend you give your dog medications to help decrease the risk of the mast cell tumor degranulating and causing adverse effects. These may include Pepcid (i.e. famotidine) and Benadryl for dogs.
The surgeon will most likely want to take wide margins around the tumor to try to ensure that he or she removes all cancerous cells in the region. One recent study in The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science investigated using margins proportional to the tumor diameter. This is in contrast to the other approach of using a standard number of centimeters for a tumor of any size. Since there currently is not a consensus on the best approach, your veterinarian will do what he or she thinks is best for your dog’s situation.
Additional surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy
In cases of low-grade tumors, surgery is often curative as long as the margins are “clean.” The term “clean” means that histopathology indicates there are no microscopic traces of the tumor extending to the edges of the incision.
If the margins are “dirty,” the excision was incomplete and tumor cells remain. In those cases, the vet may recommend a second surgery. If there isn’t enough tissue for the veterinarian to feel comfortable performing a second surgery, he or she may recommend seeing a board certified surgeon or surgical oncologist. Alternatively, the vet may suggest radiation therapy, which is the treatment of choice to kill the remaining tumor cells.
With high-grade mast cell tumors, or if there is evidence of metastasis, your veterinarian may also recommend a post-surgical consultation with a veterinary oncologist. The oncologist can help you determine if follow-up chemotherapy or other treatment options are best for your dog and you.
Treatment for non-surgical mast cell tumors
Consulting with a veterinary oncologist is also beneficial when surgery isn’t an option. Some mast cell tumors are too big to be able to be completely removed. Or the tumor location may be such that surgery isn’t possible. In those situations, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy may be good alternative options.
Palladia®
Some mast cell tumors will respond to the medication Palladia, which is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. This is an oral medication which blocks signaling through the KIT receptor, a receptor which may be mutated and more active in mast cell tumors. While it is a good option for some dogs, not all mast cell tumors respond to Palladia. Also, some dogs experience GI side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea.
Stelfonta®
Recently, Stelfonta, a new and exciting treatment for mast cell tumors has become available. Unlike other treatment options, the veterinarian will inject this medication directly into the mast cell tumor. Stelfonta works by activating a protein that causes the tumor cells to die.
This is an innovative (if not miraculous) treatment that appears to be an effective alternative to surgery for masses that meet certain criteria (size, location, and absence of metastasis, etc). Talk with your veterinarian to determine if your dog may be a candidate for Stelfonta.
Prednisone
The steroid prednisone for dogs may be part of some chemotherapy protocols. It also has the ability to shrink mast cell tumors temporarily in some cases. However, prednisone alone is inferior to other true treatment protocols as results tend to be short-lived.
What is the prognosis for mast cell tumors?
The goal of any of these treatments is to give a dog the best possible chances of survival and a good quality of life. A dog’s overall prognosis and life expectancy are based on a variety of factors.
As mentioned, histological grade plays a large role in long-term outcomes. Dogs with low-grade mast cell tumors that are completely excised have less than a 5% chance of recurrence or metastasis. On the other hand, dogs with high-grade mast cell tumors have a higher risk of metastasis, poorer local control, and shorter survival times.
In addition to histologic grade, location can also be prognostic. Tumors on the prepuce or inguinal area, nail bed, mouth, and perineal area are often more aggressive. Additionally, mast cell tumors that occur internally, such as in the GI tract, liver, spleen, or bone marrow, carry a very poor prognosis.
Finally, the breed of the dog can also affect the prognosis. Remember I said that dogs of bulldog descent are more likely to develop mast cell tumors? Well, the good news is that tumors in these dogs often tend to behave more benignly and are less likely to cause serious disease than in other breeds.
When do you stop fighting mast cell tumors in dogs?
As you can see, the prognosis and life expectancy can vary significantly. For some dogs, a mast cell tumor is just a one-time problem that surgery can quickly and completely resolve. But other dogs aren’t so lucky. Maybe they have an aggressive tumor which is causing local or systemic effects. Or they have one that is difficult to remove surgically or requires additional therapies. In those situations it can be hard to know when you should stop fighting the mast cell tumor.
I can’t answer the question of when to stop fighting mast cell tumors for your dog. But I can help direct you to some people who might be able to give you support and a bit of clarity. First of all, your veterinarian or veterinary oncologist are great resources. Like you, they are committed to helping provide your dog a good quality of life. They can help you evaluate your dog and discuss options (if there are some) for improving quality of life. Or they can help you know when it is time to say goodbye to your dog and prepare for your dog’s euthanasia.
You could also consider consulting with a veterinarian who specializes in dog hospice care. These wonderful individuals can help fill your dog’s last days with dignity and comfort. And they too can help you decide when to stop fighting mast cell tumors.
Don’t Wait—Aspirate!
Mast cell tumors are very common in dogs. But they can also be very challenging because they can look like almost any other tumor. If you find a new mass on your dog or one of your dog’s existing masses is growing or changing, ask your veterinarian to take an aspirate. That way you can breathe a sigh of relief that the mass is benign. Or you can start addressing the mast cell tumor while it is potentially still small and easier to treat.
If your dog does end up having a mast cell tumor, talk to your veterinarian about which treatments would be best. Thankfully, veterinarians and veterinary oncologists have an array of options at their disposal. They can discuss the pros and cons of each option with you so that together you can figure out how to get rid of the mast cell tumor while keeping your dog as comfortable and happy as possible.
Do you have personal experience with mast cell tumors in dogs?
Please share your dog’s story or some words of encouragement below.
This is such an informative article! Thank you!
Our 1 year old Soft Coat Wheaten Terrier was just diagnosed with a small mast tumor. Surgery is in a week. Needless to say we’re floored with this news and want the very best outcome for our sweet Oona.
Hi Leslie,
I am glad to hear the article was helpful. Thank you for the positive feedback. Hoping the surgery goes smoothly and your sweet Oona will make a speedy recovery. Best wishes to you both!
My 5 year old boxer has a subcutaneous mast cell on the side of his face below and behind his eye on the jaw area. It was aspirated and we were told it was mast cell. The vet said we can do surgery, it is about half the size of a golf ball. The vet recommended prednisone (30mg) for a week before surgery to hopefully shrink it somewhat and the lump has completely disappeared in 4 days. There is no evidence by feeling anything exists now. Is it possible for prednisone to completely shrink a tumor in 4 days to disappear like that or maybe it was some other issue causing the lump?
Hi Todd,
Wow, that is surprising! Prednisone can definitely shrink tumors quite a bit, but I wouldn’t think it would completely disappear. I guess it is possible that even though there were mast cells present in the sample that this growth was just “reactive”. Take this as a blessing but make sure you stay vigilant for the possibility it could return. Hoping your sweet boy is in the clear and you can focus on the good times ahead.
I have a 6 year old pug that was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor. I was reading through all of these comments last week when my dog was in surgery to get her tumor removed and I was so worried it would be high grade. We just got the results back from the vet yesterday and she said it was a low grade tumor and the blood vessels and margins were cancer free. She said it was the best outcome we could hope for. We’re getting an oncologist appointment to discuss the findings in more detail and to have her check my dog to make sure there’s no other spots that look concerning but as of right now, she’s cancer free and I couldn’t be happier!
I’m going to be super thorough in checking her out for the rest of her life and i’m looking into diet affects on the immune system and everything so that i can do everything I can to help slow down the chances of another one occurring, but she’s an at risk breed and there’s no definite way to prevent them so i’m sure she’ll probably get another one. I’m just glad she’s okay for now and I’ll have another few years (I hope) with her.
I’m leaving this comment for everyone going through what I did and read all the comments about dogs getting higher grade tumors and making my anxiety sky high, My best advice is hope for the best but expect the worst. I was ready to take the next steps if she had a high grade tumor, i had looked up radiation and chemo and other treatments. I was aware that was a real possibility, but I was very hopeful that I wouldn’t need to use those. And it looks like right now, I won’t need to use those yet.
Hi Mel,
This is such wonderful news! Thank you for sharing your story with us. You are right that our readers need to hear the positive outcomes and happy endings too. I am elated for you and your sweet girl and wishing you both many happy years ahead. Bless you!
Such a wonderfully written article . My beautiful 12 yr old red fox lab has had multiple surgeries thanks to these pesky MCT. One was low grade and two aggressive . He has had a tailectomy so now has a wonderful little nubbin . Now we aptly name his nubbins McGee. He has a sizeable scar on his right leg and smaller one on his left . This all happened over a very intense few months . I work in a clinic and my amazing boss got great margins .. however tonight I have found another . I know exactly what it is . After the last surgery me and my family decieded we will not put him through anymore surgery . He has acute arthritis in one joint and it’s moving and a massive mass on his left leg around his muscle that cannot be removed . This is lovingly named his turkey leg . We’ve seen his birthday , he is on piriton twice a day , zitac, gabapentin and omeprazole . I’m just going to have to enjoy every day with him . I think the time will be soon my devoted loving boy . Thankyou again for an amazingly written article .
Dear Nikki,
My heart goes out to you as you face this emotional path ahead. It sounds like your boy has had an amazing life and is loved beyond measure. I wish you both comfort and peace and hope his last days are filled with happiness. Bless you and your senior pup. ♥
My boy Max was diagnosed july 2022 with a mct on his lip. We were told it would take surgery, 16 rounds of radiation under an anesthesia and chemo and that it might buy him 8 more months, but he would not be cured. Because of the location there would not be clean margins, and it had spread to the lymph nodes.. We opted for palliative care and he was doing great until the past few weeks. It has been 15 months and the tumor has become bigger than it’s ever been (the size of 2 grapes).. Max still enjoys doing things and has a good appetite, but now the tumor bleeds. Tonight, it ulcerated and a chunk came off. I was able to stop and slow the bleed with Yunnan Baiyao and will be calling the vet tomorrow but don’t know that there is much they can do. Anyone have experience with mct on / in the dogs mouth area?
Dear Nancy,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with Max. I hope your vet was able to offer some help and guidance on the best way to proceed. Sometimes bleeding tissue can be cauterized but with a mast cell tumor in play I am not sure that is a viable option. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying you were able to get things under control and give your sweet boy some more time. Bless you both.
Our sweet boy Bobo was diagnosed with Mast Cell cancer 4 years ago and underwent surgery to remove a large fast growing tumor on his ribcage area. The surgeon got complete margins and the tumor was low grade. We went 3 years with only small tumors popping up and sometimes disappearing on their own. Over the past year we have been dealing with aggressive and agitated tumors on his left shoulder and armpit. He underwent another surgery and sadly the surgeon did not get complete margins and it was a slightly higher grade tumor. His entire shoulder and armpit area are covered in different size tumors. They are bleeding very badly, we have tried Yunnan Baiyao and it hasn’t seemed to work. He has had 4 rounds of Vinblastine IV chemo and is on daily prednisone. We feel so defeated. He is eating, drinking, going to the bathroom normal. He loves cuddling with his dad and I and his little sister, Gem. We are scheduled to have 4 more chemo treatments over the next 2 months but with how badly these tumors are bleeding we are not sure what to do at this point. I’ve also had him on the Honest Kitchen limited ingredient fish recipe diet and taking a high quality Turkey Tail mushroom supplement. I feel like we’ve done everything right and this cancer is just acting so aggressive. I wish there was something I could do to better stop the bleeding and shrink the tumors so he could have at least one last run around the field with his sister. He is only 8 years old. We love him so much.
Hi Rachel,
What a challenging road you have been on with Bobo. It sounds like you and his veterinary team have been trying all the right things to manage his MCTs, and he just isn’t responding as hoped or expected anymore. It would certainly be discouraging and upsetting to see all these tumors pop up and start bleeding significantly. I too wish that I had some sort of magical solution for you that could make things better, and I bet your vet and veterinary oncologist feel the same way. Maybe at his next chemo appointment (or before) you could reach out to the oncologist and ask to discuss the options moving forward. If nothing else, perhaps the oncologist would have ideas for some palliative care measures that could help him get that one last run around the field with his sister.
My heart goes out to you as you treasure the time with him and seek the best path forward. ❤️
Hi Dr Buzby – thank you so much for this Q&A that you have been responding to. It is so full of information that can be hard for people to find . One question I’m not sure I have seen answered well anywhere is what exactly is degranulation? On one hand, it sounds like disintegration/as if the tumor disintegrates and spreads (?) but that’s not quite what the literature says. If you could share any more light on the importance/ significance of that event and what it looks like/how an owner can tell if it has happened with any particular tumor, that would be very very helpful. Is it more about the way it causes the dog to be uncomfortable/itchy at site of the tumor? Or what is the “before”/“after” of degranulation? Thank you! .(8yo lab, spot/bump on groin; path came back as MCT, waiting to get biopsy/surgery for staging. His tumor is almost “flat” now from the small raised pea it was… so does that mean it “degranulized”? .) Again, thank you!
Hi Sarah,
This is a GREAT question! So, each different type of cell in the body has different parts and pieces that allow it to do its specific function. This is how pathologist are able to look at cells under a microscope and identify where they came from (liver vs. spleen, etc.). Mast cells are unique because they contain granules. These granules hold many different nasty/destructive substances, of which the most commonly mentioned is histamine. When a mast cell tumor becomes irritated it will cause its cells to release the substances they are holding inside (degranulate). Histamine is what causes a mosquito bite to become very red, swollen, and itchy. This is also why we usually apply some sort of cortisone or antihistamine cream to an itchy spot. A mild degranulation of an MCT will cause it to become slightly enlarged, red, and possibly itchy. A massive degranulation episode can lead to an anaphylactic reaction and some of these are fatal. It all just depends on what substances are released and what amount makes it into the bloodstream and surrounding tissues. I hope that clears things up a bit. Wishing you and your Lab the best!
11 year old pit/ lab is having surgery this Wednesday for her MCT. I am praying for low grade so we don’t have to deal with it anymore. If it doesn’t work we are looking at hospice.
Dear Megan,
I am sorry your dog is facing an uncertain future. Was the surgery successful? Hoping all is well and you received good news.
Asking for prayers for my husband and I’d daughter, Bella. She’s a 6 year old french bulldog whose histo came back confirming grade III mct and a 4 month prognosis. No words can express how devastated we are. We would give absolutely anything to save her.
Dear Mina,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with Bella. I hope she can maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible. Praying for your strength and comfort. Please give your sweet girl a hug for me. ♥
We recently adopted a 3 y.o. Labrador, Dobermann mix (+ 7 other breeds per DNA testing). She had a growth on her chest, near a nipple. When we brought it to the attention of our Vet, they recommended surgery to remove, but they never recommended a needle aspiration biopsy first. The biopsy results surprised the Vet when it came back as Mast cell. The biopsy results did indicate it was fully excised — but with margins around 4-5 mm. She also experienced redness, swelling and itchiness after surgery. Is her prognosis worse as a result of how it was handled? Could the tumor possibly degranulated during this process?
Hi Kim,
I am sorry your pup had to go through surgery but glad it was completely removed. It does sound like the mass degranulated a bit during/after surgery, but this should not change the prognosis or have caused the cancerous cells to spread. As long as the tumor had not spread before surgery then a complete excision should be curative even if a needle aspiration was not performed. Hoping your sweet girl is doing well and she is living her best life. Wishing you both many happy years together!
Our 8 year old Labrador has just been diagnosed with a Mast Cell Tumour on her left hand side behind her fore leg. In fact, the tumour was only the size of a pea and I had ignored it for some time, believing it to be a wart.
She has had surgery now to remove it and is recovering well. We are still waiting for the results of the biopsy. The wait is agonising but at least she is oblivious to the worry and is enjoying being spoiled by all of us. I’m just praying that this MCT is low grade.
What I’d like to say is that these tumours don’t always look suspicious and are known as “the great pretenders”. If there’s any doubt about a new growth on your dog, get it checked by your vet. I only wish I’d acted sooner.
Hi Gail,
Thank you for bringing up this important point! I definitely agree with your advice to have every lump checked as soon as possible. I like the quote “Why wait? Aspirate!”. How is your pup doing today? Hoping the results were favorable and you received good news. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Wishing you both the best.
Unless I missed it, I did not see any mention of the important role that lifestyle, diet & nutrition play in cancer prevention and treatment. I highly recommend purchasing & watching The Dog Cancer Series https://www.dogcancerseries.com/ (at least watch their free 16 minute video https://www.dcscommunity.com/) and reviewing the website for The Keto Pet Sanctuary – https://www.ketopetsanctuary.com/. They have done incredible work, and have some free resources. No, I am not affiliated with them, but I came across these resources while dealing with my own dog’s cancer two years ago and found them hugely helpful.
Hi Jean,
You are right that nutrition can play a vital role in health and healing! Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
We have Horace our 5 year old Collie Retriever just get diagnosed this week an MCT on his hind paw. It’s about half the size of an egg and seemingly came out of nowhere. We took him in within 12 hours of noticing it. Unfortunately with the location our options are limited with what we can do. We’ve been told chemo pre surgery has a good chance of shrinking the tumor to give the surgeon enough space to operate with margins. However this would still require a digit or two from his paw being removed. It would also require 3 full weeks of everyday radiation post surgery and.or chemo to eradicate any leftover cells.. This seems like an awful lot for our buddy to go through.. If we don’t go this route, the other option is full leg amputation after we do a full body scan to check for spreading…
We want to give him a long lasting happy quality of life, but we’re stuck with the tough options. Do we move forward with one of these or risk his tumor spreading quickly? Right now they can’t tell us what stage it is, because they need to remove it to do so.. The oncologist let us know it has a 10-30% chance of spreading. But it also has the same percentage chance if we remove it anyways!
We just feel stuck with bad decisions all around.
Dear Ryan,
This is such a hard situation you are facing, and I understand why you are conflicted. I wish I had some great advice or could tell you what was best. I am not sure there is really a right or wrong answer here. How have things been going these last couple of months? Hoping you found the answers and advice you needed to make the best choice for everyone involved. Praying for a positive outcome for Horace. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Thank you for this informative and down to earth article. This is immensely helpful.!!
So glad I found this article. I have a ginger colored pit bull estimated at 10yrs old. He was rescued from an apartment balcony almost 4 yrs ago. The rescue had a veterinarian remove some lumps and bumps and several vascular tumors. The pathology came back as mast cell tumors and I can’t remember what the vascular blood blister looking tumors were called. He was adopted shortly thereafter and had another surgery of tumor removals about a year after the first. Long story short, I have him now with me for good and in February he again had 17 more small mast cell tumors removed! All his tumors are on the skin in all areas of his body and are grade II. Starting with his most recent surgery in February I had been giving him Benadryl twice a day, a circumin phytosome Turmeric supplement and Turkey tail mushroom powder mixed with a little wet food. I did this for 3 months and then stopped. All of a sudden he grew a new tumor near where his scrotum used to be and his vascular tumors on the belly came back with a vengeance. My new veterinarian used the term “mast cell disease,” which I had never heard of before…this is how I found your article. I am resuming all the supplements and benedryl and will see if any more mct grow and how long it takes. Otto is a pit bull breed that looks like he has a lot of English bulldog in him. Hoping for the best, we are in this for the long haul.
Hi April,
Thanks for sharing Otto’s story and for your kind words about the blog. He is a lucky guy to have found someone as wonderful and dedicated as you! I hope that his supplements and medication keep his mast cell tumors under control. Please feel free to keep us updated on how Otto is doing!
My dog has just been diagnosed with mast cell and I was very interested to read about the circumin phytosome Turmeric supplement and Turkey tail mushroom powder. May I please ask what dosage you gave to your dog.
Thank you so much for your response.
Lynn
I want to comment on my dogs health situation after seeing someone mention Turkey tail mushroom powder. My 10 lb. coton de tulear was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma about 2 years ago. Her age is 10 and 1/2 years. She has lived much longer than expected. Only 10% of dogs live one year after this diagnosis. She developed a MCT on the side of her rib cage about a year ago.. It’s probably 3/4 inch in size. Soon after being diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma—2 years ago—I started her on 1/4 tsp of Turkey tail mushroom powder mixed with water and added to 1/4 cup boiled chicken once per day.. Most days she is very energetic and puppy like. Now and then she is very lethargic for a day or two which we were told means her body is processing an internal tumour from the hemangiosarcoma.. I think she has benefited tremendously from Turkey tail mushroom powder, despite the exterior MCT. We are uncertain whether or not to have it removed.
(I watched “Fantastic Fungi” on Netflix and was convinced it was worth taking for both my dog and myself)
Hi Judy,
Thanks so much for sharing your pup’s story! I’m so thankful that she defied the odds and is still feeling great most days! I hope she continues to do well for a long time yet and you get to make many more memories together.
Our 4-year old golden retriever has just been diagnosed with a mast cell tumor on her backside (about the size of a quarter). We are opting for surgery, but the office is so booked and/or short-staffed that the surgery can’t happen until August (about 2 1/2 months from now). Should we search for a different vet?
Hi Linda,
This is such a difficult situation. You are right to be concerned about waiting so long to have the tumor removed, but this may be the only option. I don’t think it would be wrong to call around and see what the availability would be at other clinics. Praying the tumor will stay small and surgery will be curative. Wishing you both the best and feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Our 2.5 year old french bulldog had a pimple on his chest the size of a small pea. He had it for a period of 6 months and for the longest time we thought it was a pimple and nothing more, yet it would sometimes look bigger and then appear smaller. We took him to the vet for a regular check up and the doctor saw it and immediately wanted to remove it. Strange b/c our vet didn’t even do a fine aspirate needle test. She ended up removing another one which ended up being nothing. However, we went back a separate time a week later and she removed two more other pimples–one did end up being a mast cell so he had two in total (both low grade). Our vet recommended that we remove instead of test with a needle to prevent it from spreading in case it was MCT. Reading these comments, I wonder if that is true or if surgery was an attractive route for them to recommend it so quickly.
Nevertheless, we’re glad we caught it but are now extremely paranoid any time he has any small bump on his body. We will overreact when we feel the slightest irregularity and it’s hard to tell what we should do. We even asked the vet if we should shave him–how else are we supposed to check? Do you have any recommendations or best practices?
We would also appreciate any best in class oncologists that specialize in mast cells located in New York. We were referred to one and we did not have a great experience. Please help, we know we need to monitor him for the rest of his life and just want to make sure we do everything humanly possible.
Hi Lisa,
I am sorry your Frenchie is having issues with mast cell tumors at such a young age. My best advice is to stay vigilant and feel all over his body daily to see if you notice any new growths. This can be his daily “massage” session! Also, you could plan to have more frequent exams at your vet such as every 3 to 6 months instead of yearly. I am not familiar with specific veterinary oncologists in New York but there should be plenty of options for you to find one that seems to be a good fit. I am hopeful you will find the best way to keep your sweet boy happy and healthy for many years to come. Wishing you both the best.
Hello,
My Walker Coonhound, Flash, had a MCT pop up on his back flank around the beginning of March and it was roughly the size of a golf ball. We opted for surgery to have it removed after it was graded a III, the vet was adamant that she got all of the tumor but his stitches and bruising was oh so awful and made me almost regret having the procedure. After 14 days he looked much better and felt much better but it was a rough go with his cone and trying to walk comfortably. Our vet said the signs to look for from here would be regrowth in the same spot, lack of food intake and lethargy. He had been acting fine, his usual self. While getting some daily loving two weeks ago I noticed a new lump on his neck where it meets his shoulder, today it was aspirated and found what appeared to be granulated mast cells and of course removal was recommended. My husband and I are struggling with what to do next. It seems to us that removing the first one didn’t help anything if there’s now a new tumor not even three months later. And as much as I don’t want it to be about money, $800 after just 3 months and potentially could be again recurring is hard to fathom. My pup acts like his normal self so that is also hard…he is more miserable when he is post surgery than when he has a tumor he doesn’t even seem to notice. sigh. I’m at a loss. I wish they could tell us what they would want.
Hi Ashlee,
I am sorry you are in this difficult situation with Flash. I understand why you are conflicted and not sure how to proceed. How are things today? Has the tumor continued to grow quickly? It may be time to schedule a consultation with a specialist to make sure you understand all the options. I pray you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your boy. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Wishing you both the best.
I am in the same boat. My dog had five removed in March, one of them was pea sized and we were told it was probably nothing for 5 years!! Then it grew to a golf ball size in 6 months. We found some more small lumps which were all removed at the same time. The dr said the large one was grade 3 and same as you, watch the are for regrowth etc. Yesterday the vet aspirated two new bumps in new areas and guess what, more mast cells, with recommendation for removal. Not sure what to do. Surgery multiple times a year is not fair to her and not reasonable for us but she is otherwise happy and healthy so I am struggling.
Hi LeeAnne,
What a difficult situation. Deciding what to do when several new MCTs pop up is always challenging because as you said, getting them off would be ideal, but it does get to be a lot of surgery (and money) when more and more keep showing up. Perhaps you could schedule a consultation with a veterinary oncologist or your veterinarian to further explore the options and pros and cons of each option? That might be a way to feel more confident in whatever decision you end up making. Thinking of you as you wrestle with how to proceed!
I’m so sorry. We are in the same situation, we had surgery on our dog about a month ago when she first got diagnosed. As of today, it’s grown back almost three times the original size with no sign of slowing down. It’s not feasible to keep doing surgeries, our dog is 10 and this would be her 5th surgery (with recovery seeming to be significantly worse for her each time) and also financially. She acts completely normal, so it’s hard to have any actual understanding of what is the best path forward.
Dear Noel,
My heart goes out to you as you face this uncertain future with your pup. Don’t hesitate to ask your vet the hard questions and they can help you find a way forward. Praying you can find the answers and advice you need to make the best decision for you and your senior girl. ♥
My 14 year old lab Nestle just got diagnosed with a mast cell tumor. One of his rear legs has almost tripled in size in just two weeks. My wife and I are unsure what to do. He still seems happy and is eating and drinking fine. Our vet told us with the location surgery probably isn’t an option. Also he’s over 14 and we don’t want to do any major treatments that would just make him feel sick. Is palliative care really our only option at this point?
Hi Warren,
I am sorry your senior guy is dealing with this fast-growing tumor. Without examining him myself, I am not sure what options are available for his specific situation. Palliative care can be the most loving choice once other treatments are ineffective or too risky. It might be worth discussing Nestle’s case with a veterinary oncologist just to see what they recommend. They may have access to treatments or therapies that are not readily available in general practice. Hoping you can find the answers you need to navigate this tricky path. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Hi Warden,
The exact same thing just happened to our 9 year old black lab. He also seems fine and is still eating but he has developed a slight limp in his back leg. He is not on pain medication yet but we were given Gabapentin at 100mg and 300 mg to manage pain if/when he gets to that stage. We have made the decision not to amputate his back leg and are providing palliative care as there wasn’t any other option due to size and location. I have been reading about a new treatment called Stelfonta which consists of 2 injections to the site. I plan to call the vet tomorrow to find out more about it. All the best as we know how difficult this process is.
Hi Karen,
I am sorry you are in this difficult situation with your Lab. I am glad you are planning to talk to your vet about Stelfonta. There are some restrictions to using this medication and tumors must be under a certain size. Your vet can let you know if your boy is a candidate for this treatment and where it is available in your area. Wishing you the best and praying for a positive outcome. ♥
We adopted Cici, a sweet ShihTzu who came from a background of hoarding and abuse as well as severe head trauma from another dog attacking her. She had seizures also. We had her about a year when she developed a fast growing lump on her back. It was removed and found to be a high grade mct but had clean margins. Surgery went well and although she was leash reactive and afraid of strangers, she was the perfect house pet. The tumor recurred and was removed again with clean margins. A few months later, it was back and was resected with very aggressive surgery. Recovery was rough and she had a lot of pain with this one. Between surgeries, she more or less was ok but slept more and seemed to have less interest in life. Her appetite was picky and she lost a little weight. Three months from last surgery, her belly swelled and her back legs were weak. Took her to vet who discovered wide spread metastasis and euthanasia was recommended. It nearly killed us. One month later we got the chance to adopt another little ShihTzu , Scarlet, about five years old. When we went to see herI never saw anything so pitiful. She was a breed dog from a Kansas puppy mill and was filthy dirty. Her coat was at least eight inches long and her eyes were covered up. Her fur was matted with dried urine and feces and she was crammed in a tiny cage. She was scared to death of everything and everyone. The rescue had her spayed and vaccinated and handed her over. As afraid of me as she was I could tell there was a wonderful little girl in there trying to get out. She was so skinny and starving. She let me cut off the filthy matted fur and give her a good bath. We put her on some good food and fed her three times a day plus vitamins. She is so smart we were able to housetrain her in less than two weeks. You can tell she likes being clean and is beginning to come out of her shell. She has learned her name, to come when called, and to walk on a leash. She will come to me for affection and loves to be praised. She loves our screened patio and fenced yard. She is learning to play with toys. She has a small lump on her back that is in the same place as the mct on Cici and I feel like my heart is in a vise. I will take her to the vet for a needle biopsy right away but I am so scared. Cici’s illness cost over $20,000 and we are retired folks and money is tight. We love little Scarlet already but we are very scared. She has been thru hell backwards, like Cici had and this just seems so unfair.
Dear Carol,
I am so sorry for all the difficulties Cici endured in her final years of life. Thank you for being willing to take in another pitiful pup in desperate need of love and care. I can only imagine how worried you must be but try not to let the “what ifs” weigh you down with grief and anxiety. Have you been able to get the aspirate done? I am very curious to know the results! Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying all is well and you received good news. Bless you all.
My English Bulldog, Olive will be 11 yrs old this coming November, On March 23, 2023 she had surgery to remove a grade 2 MCT from her side. It was a little smaller than a golf ball. The vet said he got good clean edges on the sides but was concerned about the edges going in deep. To go any deeper he would have had to cut into her abdominal cavity and he was not comfortable doing that. Anyway, she has had a great recovery so far. Her incision healed up nicely. She acts fine other than drinking a lot of water. But she has always done that. Last night she had some loose stools with red blood in the stool. I am curious to know if this is a sign the cancer has already spread? If so, would she be in pain? The vet & I already discussed further treatment for her. Due to her age, I am not going to put her through any further surgery and the vet agreed with that decision.. This past surgery was a big one and being a Bulldog with compromised breathing, and her age, I was worried she might not make it through the surgery. But she did and came through with flying colors. Like I said, I don’t plan to put her through any more surgeries. I don’t want her to suffer. Since Bulldogs are known for being “tough” I just don’t know if she is hurting. She does not pant or act like she is in pain, but honestly I wish I knew how she really feels? Thank you for any insights.
Hi Pat,
I understand your concern with seeing blood in your dog’s feces. While this could be a sign of MCT complications, it is also a symptom of so many other things it would be impossible to make specific conclusions without examining your dog myself. This could be as simple as intestinal parasites. Your best bet is to call your vet and have them evaluate Olive. How are things today? Praying all is well and wishing you both the best.
Our dog just had surgery for a mast cell tumor on her abdomen. We are still waiting for pathology results. We are concerned about what we can do to reduce the possibility of another tumor forming rather than a wait-and-see approach. What do you think about dietary changes? Do you recommend a type of diet or a brand? Also, would you recommend food allergy testing?
Hi Pam,
Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to prevent future Mast Cell Tumors. There are medications that can help to prevent the tumors from causing nasty side effects, but I am not sure they are great at preventing the tumors themselves. Some say that a long-term regimen of Benadryl or Pepcid helps, but I have not seen this in my own patents. Since MCTs are not caused by food allergies, I wouldn’t think food allergy testing would be helpful unless your pup is also suffering from food allergy symptoms as a separate issue. I am sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Wishing you both the best.
My 6 year old field golden had a pimple like bump for about 3 months that would shrink and come back, I had no idea it was a MCT.
I brought him to the vet, the vet laughed and said it’s an ingrown hair or cyst because it’s so small (0.5 cm) but they could look at it when my pup had a dental done. Day of the dental procedure, another vet looks at it and says oh I’m confident it’s an ingrown hair- I said ok but can they remove it anyway in surgery because it is painful to the touch.
It came back as a grade II MCT with Immunohistochemistry Report/Results;
KIT Pattern: 2 ; Ki67: 33.4 ; AgNORs/cell: 2.10 ; AgNOR x Ki67: 70.14
I am devastated, everything I am reading says my guy has a poor prognosis given the high Ki67 and high AgNOR x Ki67 ratio. I consult with an oncologist tomorrow but I am just hoping it’s not too far gone to treat. I have incredible pet insurance that reimburses 90% of every bill, so I am willing to spend as much as I need to to fight this!
Dear Dana,
I am so sorry your Golden has received such a difficult diagnosis. I am glad the mass was removed and think you have made a good choice to see an oncologist. How did the visit with the specialist turn out? Praying you received some hopeful news and there is a clear path forward with treatment. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Hi Dana,
I would be grateful if you could let me know how your dog got on as I am in the exact same boat but my oncology appointment is not until next week. My boy had a tiny one removed and it came back grade 2 with a higher ki-67 and we’ve been told that suggests it’s likely to act more aggressive so I’m absolutely terrifed.
Is there any information on this dog and his prognosis? It seems to be the only picture I can find that looks similar to our situation, other MCT tumors I see on muzzles are huge and inflamed.
Hi Karly,
Are you referring to the picture of the Boston Terrier? If so, that picture was submitted by another veterinarian and there were no specific case details to accompany it. I am sorry I don’t have more information to share. I hope your pup is doing ok. Praying for a positive outcome.
Our wonderful Staffordshire bull terrier has had multiple surgeries to remove mast cell lumps, taking Prednisone for maintenance, however, lumps are appearing over several areas of her body, a couple appear red, we are agonising how long do we continue to treat with steroids as we just want to do the best for her, and don’t want to be selfish
Hi Jeannette,
I am sorry you are dealing with these recurring Mast Cell Tumors in your sweet girl. Please make sure your vet is aware of your concerns. There may be other medications you could try. Also, it might be a good time to schedule a consultation with a specialist. How are things today? Praying you can find the answers you need to make the best decisions for you and your pup. Bless you both.
My dog had her first MCT 5/22 on her ventral abdomenn. It was removed, grade 2, high. She had an abdominal U.S. which showed a splenic mass, so she had a splenectomy/liver biopsy 7/22 both were benign. She had another MCT on her abdomen which was removed 9/22 grade 3, high. She started chemo (compounded Palladia) 10/22. It shrunk one MCT near her left ear, but then had Palladia failure 2/23. as a new MCT appeared near her left ear again. This was removed 3/23 and came back grade 2, high. She was switched to Imatinib, but failed this drug, She has had another MCT appear on her abdomen, also she has a new MCT on her left jawline, and several small lumps along her spine. She also has a new enlarged lymph node in her capsular lymph. This had a FNA done on this lymph and sent to the lab. I’m awaiting results. She has now been switched back to brand Palladia. I have a worst feeling it is now systemic as her red cells are low on her most recent labs. I’ve down everything I can medically. for her.. I wish the MCT would just go away, this is the worst.
Dear Megan,
My heart aches for you as you face this difficult situation with your girl. She is a lucky dog to have someone like you advocating so strongly for her health and well-being. Hoping the lab results for the lymph node FNA are negative and your pup can keep fighting. How is she feeling today? Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying for peace and strength.
my Boston terrier has Mass Cell grade 3 tumor removed. halfway in chemo treatment. I am not a vet so don’t take anything I say until you ask a professional. my dog had tumor removed from his chest. there were no margins cleared they only removed it and it came back grade 3. chemo is working so far no cells and cancer never spread beyond his chest area. we are giving benadryl nightly at bedtime 25 mg same dose for adult human. the last thing we do and have is give him more love and affection than many human beings. I swear the chemo benadryl and love killed it. last scan still shows it never spread beyond chest area of tumor site. doctor is amazed can’t believe it. I say the drugs help but I think the love I give is also fighting it. I am not a nut job believing in crazy stuff but the live I think is doing the job mostly. he had the tumor nearly 6 months before it was removed yet cells never moved around. he should have died but didn’t. it was as if no big deal results came back highest grade. so love number one and chemo benadryl. they alternate the chemo drugs with two types.one injectable then tablet. 3 months in and clean 3 months left on treTments
Hi James,
I’m so happy to hear that your Boston is doing so well! Lots of love plus Benadryl and chemo sound like a winning combination to me. I hope he continues to amaze his veterinarians and you have many more love-filled years together!
My dog Shadow is 11-12. He is a border collie lab. And he has an external MCT on his chin or jaw. He has had it for months but in the last 3 months it has gotten huge. Now a bit larger than a golf ball. I lost my job 1/20 just before I had him scheduled for surgery. I did not have the money to pay for surgery so he has had to suffer all this time with it. I also have a severe disability and I am just now getting back to work. I have to wait another 11 days till I have him scheduled to see a doctor. And then get his appointment for the surgery. He seems to have gone downhill. His tumor stinks really bad and I am scared to death because I have no money to get him help for another 11 days. He still goes to potty and has slowed down a little on eating. But I’ve encouraged him to eat. I keep his bed right by my bed. And I watch him day and night. I’m worried about necrosis now. And I don’t know what to do. I’ve reached out to many organizations to seek assistance. We do have one organization that’s will to pay $300. But the surgery is so expensive. I don’t know what do.
Dear Alice,
My heart aches for you and this difficult situation you are facing with Shadow. I wish I had some great advice or knew of another organization that could help. How was the recheck appointment? I am praying you will find the resources you need to do what is best for your sweet boy. He is very lucky to have you by his side and loving him so fiercely through these trials. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
My 7 year old pitbull mix Clydesdale (Clyde for short) was diagnosed with a MCT at the beginning of March. We noticed a small wound/bump on his side in January, we thought he got bit by something or the cat got him when they were playing. It started to get better and scab up, then ooze again, then get better again, and back and forth for a while. It started to get bigger and bigger and we finally decided it was time to take him to the vet. We had to wait 2 weeks to bee seen. By then he was getting snappy with the Vets assistants and they wouldn’t see him and rescheduled us for another week out. We were told that we should have been given sedatives to give him at the previous appt. and they rescheduled us AGAIN. By then it had grown to the size of a softball so we took him to an emergency clinic. They told us he would need surgery to remove it, they scheduled us with their regular clinic a few days later and then he had surgery shortly after that. They were able to remove the entire tumor and it was graded at a 4. His x-rays didn’t show any tumors anywhere else. His lungs were clear, etc. It’s been a month since his surgery and he has a very swollen lymph node, has some moments of rapid breathing, is lethargic, has some diarrhea and a tiny bit of vomiting but still eats, drinks and does everything else normally. We are now at the point of trying to decide if it’s time to euthanize or not. I just don’t want to cut his life shorter than we have to.
Dear Lynn,
I am so sorry you are facing this difficult decision for Clyde. Sometimes it is very hard to determine the quality of life for a beloved pup. I do think it is better to say goodbye one day too early rather than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. It is a blessing and a curse to be able to allow our own hearts to break so they can be free from their struggles and pain. I will attach links to other articles with more information on end-of-life choices. I hope you can find the advice you need to make the best decision for everyone involved. Praying for clarity and strength to face this unknown path. Bless you both.
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
3. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
Hi, our 1 year old Labrador had a mast cell tumor removed on her tail last month and got clean margins. And the tumor was diagnosed as low grade, Two weeks later a spot popped up on her hip and another spot on the back of the head. The Dr. aspirated and both areas have mast cells. We’ve been referred to a vet oncologist. My question is “Because of the vast location differences, does that indicate her mast cell cancer is much more pervasive than we thought? “
Hi Cathy,
I am so sorry your young dog is having issues with multiple MCTs. I am glad you are pursuing referral to an oncologist, and I am certain you will get the answers to all of your lingering questions. There is a chance the tumors could be related to each other but not necessarily. It is more likely that your pup is genetically prone to these types of tumors, and they are just forming around the same time. I am praying these new tumors can be easily treated. Wishing you both the best for a positive outcome.
Our lab developed a MCT around her inguinal area when she was 8. Before we noticed the tumor, her entire head would swell. We didn’t know it was anaphylaxis at the time. The tumor was surgically removed and was characterized as low grade. Then another appeared on her right hock. It was surgically removed. Then 2 more., both removed. The oncologist then prescribed Palladia, but she didn’t tolerate it well, so we discontinued it. At this point they just prescribed low dose prednisone to manage her symptoms with liver panels every 6 months. She had several more MCTs develop and sometimes the vet would increase the dosage temporarily, the tumors would shrink, and then we’d return to the low dose protocol. The only apparent side effects from the prednisone were increased thirst, hunger, and urination. We also didn’t expect her to be o. It for so long because of the potential for long term harm. She passed away in her sleep last Christmas at the age of 16. I realize that each case is different, but when Jersey was first diagnosed, it felt like she was given a death sentence. Unfortunately, we had to go through many different protocols before we got to the point of “managing” her condition. I hope your pup is able to live a long and healthy life. Good Luck.
Dear Mark,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I am glad you were able to find a way to give Jersey some relief during her last months of life. It sounds like she was well loved and what a blessing her passing was peaceful. May her memory live on and be a source of joy in your life. Bless you.
Hello, thanks to everyone who has offered stories. My daughters dog is new to this issue. He’s 12 years old, social
Butterfly pittie, sheltie mix. It seems like overnight a lump the size of your palm popped up on his neck area. We made appointment with oncologist and by the time of appointment, the mast had decreased in size. They did FNA and determined it was grade low mast. Next we had X-ray of heart, chest and showed no signs of spread. Between the two of us, the cost of these test are an issue. We thought we do one test and if it was bad, we weren’t going to have it removed. Now that the first test came back good we still need to some more, probably another $4000 for test and removal surgery. My daughter looks at her dog, Reese, and sees a happy, ball chasing, eating well dog and reluctant to do anymore test or surgery. I understand that, but don’t know if that’s the best course. It’s her decision but still I try to help out. Thank you.
Hi Janet,
I understand your concern for Reese and think it is wonderful you are reaching out on your daughter’s behalf. They are lucky to have you supporting them and playing such an active role in their lives. I know how difficult it can be when you want to do what is best for your pup but are limited by financial constraints. I recommend you discuss this with your vet/oncologist. Just because your vet recommends plan A doesn’t mean there isn’t a plan B or Plan C option. You could probably forgo some of the other testing they would like to preform and just focus on surgery should that be something you are interested in. I know your daughter sees a “healthy” dog and doesn’t want to put Reese through a lot of stress, but the goal is to keep Reese a healthy dog for as long as possible. I hope you can find the answers you need to help guide your daughter through this difficult process. Wishing you all the best. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
My beautiful 5 year old dog had surgery to remove insulinoma tumor from the pancreas. They were not able to get it all and I struggle every moment to stay calm in front of her
The oncologist gave the option of Palladia. I haven’t started yet. My Zoe is a HUGE kisser. Nothing brings more joy than giving kisses. If she is on the medication for the rest of her days do I have to stop her from coming in contact with anyone and everyone she likes to kiss hello? If so, I am not sure I can give her the medication. It will be cruel to not let her get the endorphins and joy of kisses.
Hi Scott,
I am sorry Zoe has received such a difficult diagnosis. I understand your concern with the Palladia. Honestly, I am not sure if there are risks with contact to saliva alone. I did not see that mentioned in any of the information I read while researching. This would be a great question for your vet, or the oncologist Zoe is currently seeing. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your sweet girl. Praying for a positive outcome and many happy years ahead for you both.
My lab/dobi was diagnosed with grade 2 mast cell in May 2017. My vet said he’d have a good 2-3 years after diagnosis. We’re almost at 7 years since diagnosis. Since then I’ve done 2 tumor removal surgeries, but the 2nd one was really hard on him and he has some fear aggression issues so he requires really heavy sedation for vet appointments. So, after surgery #2 I decided there would be no more.
While he’s been mostly thriving with otc medication and sensitive stomach friendly food I knew his days were going to be limited. In early February one of his tumors ruptured. I was able to get it to stop and heal up, but he won’t leave it alone. (Licking) Knowing that constant licking is a sign of pain I made the decision today to schedule his appointment with vet to put him down.
We are going to enjoy the next 4 weeks with him. He’s approximately 12 years old.
Dear Melissa,
I am so sorry your sweet boy is nearing the end of his days. What a blessing you gained 7 extra years to love on him and make memories. I hope these last weeks will be joyful and you can spoil him daily. Praying his passing will be smooth. Best wishes to you and your beloved senior pup.
My mixed-breed dog Jack (14) had a mast cell tumour excised on 17 November. He came through surgery well, and the pathology report was encouraging: clean margins and low grade. He developed a small lump on the incision site just five weeks later. I had the lump examined and aspirated. I was told it was a seroma. We did another aspirate a week later in early January, and this time the aspirate showed that it was another MCT.
We have tried prednisone, Vinblastine, Lomustine — to no avail. This mass seems hellbent on destruction. It is about 15 cm long, ulcerated and impossible to remove. He is now on Palladia, and a host of other medications. He can barely walk anymore, and my heart is aching. I had a complete breakdown at the oncologist’s surgery last Thursday, and ended up in a crumpled heap on the floor in the waiting room. Jack is on strong pain medication, but is restless at night. I have not slept through a night in seven weeks. I am not ready to say goodbye, but worry about being selfish. I am not looking for answers or sympathy, although a miracle would be nice, but simply sharing my story.
Dear K.,
I am sorry you are in such difficult situation with your senior pup. I appreciate you being willing to share your experience with us as it helps others to know they are not alone. Praying for your strength and comfort. Bless you and your sweet boy, Jack.
I have a 14 and a half year old jack russel who’s tumour has ulcerated 2 weeks antibiotics and no improvement in herself she is fine still eating drinking etc she also has chronic bronchitis which she has had for about 18 months surgery is not an option and so yet again she is pallative (I was told 13 months ago she was pallative) I am just going to enjoy her for whatever time remains I feel for you I really do.
Dear Tracey,
I am sorry your senior girl’s health is declining and she is nearing the end of her days. I am glad you are able to provide palliative care to keep her feeling her best for the time she has left. Make the most of each day you are gifted. Give your sweet girl a hug for me. ♥
I found a small lump – about the size of half a pea – on my 15-month-old golden retriever when checking him for grass seeds. The following morning, it was smaller than a grain of rice. I thought he must have been bitten by an ant. A couple of days later, though, it was larger again. Our vet is very thorough and decided to check it since it was so rapidly changeable, despite Pilgrim not fitting the usual older dog profile. It was a mast cell tumour and the vet removed it the following day.
The biopsy found it was an upper-end stage II, but had clear margins. It required no further treatment and never returned. My dog lived for another 11 years.
PS. This was 20 years ago now when chemo was not so available. Perhaps it would have been offered nowadays.
Hi Margaret,
I am so glad your Golden had a positive outcome! This is exactly why I feel it is so important for owners to check their dogs regularly and thoroughly. Early detection is key in achieving a favorable prognosis. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Best wishes!
thank you for sharing. i am struggling with deciding if surgery is my best option. my dog’s is the size of a pea. i lost a dog due to anesthetic and am petrified to risk my dog for something so small.
Hi Tracy,
I understand why you would be worried about choosing anesthesia for your pup. I know there is no way to know the outcome, but I also don’t want your options to be limited or you to feel trapped due to fear. I think it would be a good idea to discuss your concerns with your vet and let them know how you feel. They can check some lab work and any other necessary tests to determine if your dog has risk factors for anesthesia. I am certain your vet will give their honest opinion. Hoping you can find the best way forward. Wishing you both the best.
Out 12 yr old Pittie unfortunately got diagnosed with stage III MCT. The surgery went well with clear margins , ultrasound looks good , spleen is normal size with slightly enlarged glance .
Next step is oncologist consult .
Would carb free , home cooked diet help ? What about turkey tail , CoQ10, turmeric , coconut oil , fish oil , and other Chinese holistic medicine ? Or does it help only for hemangio sarcoma type of cancer ?
Is really the life expectancy less then 4 month with clean margins with stage III ?
Thank you so much for your time in advance
Hi Viktoriya,
I am so sorry your senior dog has received this difficult diagnosis. I am glad you have an appointment scheduled with an oncologist. I am not sure that any of the supplements you mentioned will help with this particular type of cancer, but I am always a fan of fish oil and other anti-inflammatory products. As far as the prognosis with stage III MCT, I would wait to see what the oncologist has to say. It is likely they will have some recommendations on treatments or therapies that offer an increased survival time. Your sweet pup is lucky to have you advocating for their health and well-being. Keep up the good work!
In late November 2022, I saw a sub cut lump on rear of front left leg of my 3 year old female French Bulldog.. Lump was a little larger than a walnut. It seems like the lump appeared over night because I grinded her nails while I was off for the Thanksgiving holiday, and I did not notice the lump. I feel certain I would’ve noticed the lump b/c of its size and she didn’t like the grinding and had to be juggled frequently to complete nail trims.
The local vet did a needle aspirate and said it showed mast cells and prescribed an antibiotic and Benadryl for a week and an appointment to return in a week. The local vet ruled out Stelfonta b/c of tumor size. The local vet did another needle aspirate after a week. Again, it showed mast cells and the vet referred me to a larger clinic in a larger city.
In December 2022, the vet at the larger clinic did a biopsy and, after a week, recommended surgery. All I remember him saying about the grade of the tumor was that it was not high grade. The tumor had gotten a tad bigger at this point. We did surgery. Because I work a lot and have another dog, the vet wanted to keep the dog overnight for at least two weeks to clean the wound each day. So after 16 nights at the vet since the surgery, the vet said the wound had not healed like it should and that he didn’t think he got all the cancer. Basically, we could do additional surgery or amputate. I chose to amputate because she was a young dog, and it was starting to get very expensive, and amputation was, I thought, a way to completely get rid of MCT, By the end of December, I brought her home
In January 2023, after recovering for a week from the leg amputation, she did great and was really starting to build up some speed and stamina as a tripod.
After the first week in February 2023 and over the course of 10 days, I noticed that her energy started to gradually disappear, along with her appetite, to the point to where she wouldn’t eat at all. She passed away last week, Feb. 17th.
I have no regrets or complaints. I am just sharing my story.
Dear Blake,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your sweet girl. It sounds like you went above and beyond to try and restore her quality of life. Even though she only lived a few short years, I am certain her life with you was happy and full of love. I appreciate you taking the time to share your story. It will be comforting to others to know they are not alone when facing these difficult situations. I hope the memories of the good times you shared with your pup will be a blessing in your life. Wishing you the best for brighter days ahead.
My miniature schnauzer, Remi, had a MCT show up seemingly overnight on Christmas Eve. Since it was the holidays and we were visiting family far away, it was difficult to get answers quickly. We saw my parents’ vet and they removed the tumor 10 days after I first saw it. They weren’t able to get good margins and pathology showed all the risk factors for it coming back sooner rather than later. They never said grade 3, but the literature included in the report cited an average 60 days for the type of tumor she had to return. Well, it was less than 2 weeks. It’s not quite 5 weeks since surgery and the new tumor has grown bigger than the last (now larger than ping pong ball), there’s several smaller tumors above and below the new one possibly including her abdomen, and imaging this week showed lesions in her liver and spleen but we don’t know if they’re metz or something benign and age related. Veterinary care is understaffed in my region and many of those who remain lack empathy or sense of urgency. The earliest an oncologist can see her to even test if the internal lesions are cancerous is in 3 weeks. I’ve never seen anything this aggressive. She went from a perfectly healthy and happy 10 year old who had all of the fight in her to live another 4 years. I don’t know how to make her more comfortable beyond what I am already down mm
Hi Michaella,
My heart goes out to you with this difficult situation with Remi. I am sorry this cancer seems to be spreading and is progressing so rapidly. Were you able to see the oncologist? What did you find out? If there are no good treatments options, you may want to consider palliative care or reach out to a hospice vet. Praying Remi is comfortable, and you have the answers you need to make these hard choices. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Our 4 year old greyhound developed a subcutaneous lump low in her neck. CT scan showed what they thought to be a vascular type benign tumour. However, a lymph nodes sampled at the time showed metastatic mast cell tumour. Her liver and spleen looked normal on ultrasound and aspirates taken were clear. The vet has recommended surgery but because of the vascular nature and position of the tumour it is unlikely they will be able to take the usually required margins of normal tissue and have said that she will likely need radiotherapy because of this. At the moment there is no grading on the tumour itself as they were unable to biopsy it. Indeed, although it is likely this is the primary tumour, there is also a possibility that this is a completely separate tumour and the primary lies elsewhere. I assume because there is a metastatic lymph node that the tumour is not low grade. I am extremely reluctant for her to undergo any chemo or radiotherapy and would rather just try to keep her comfortable and happy for as long as possible. If the tumour continues to grow it will probably affect her breathing/swallowing but I’m reluctant to but her through a fairly tricky surgery if she’s going to die within a few months. Has anyone else been in a similar position, any thoughts, advice?
Dear Sally,
My heart goes out to you with this difficult situation you are facing. I am sorry your young dog has received this diagnosis. It sounds like you have a great veterinary team working hard to give your sweet girl the best chance at life. I wish I had more specific advice or could tell you how to proceed. If you know you don’t want to pursue radiation after surgery, then it might be best to forgo surgery and focus on palliative care. I truly don’t think there is a right or wrong choice in this instance. Go with your gut and do what will bring you peace of mind. Wishing you the best and give your girl a hug for me.
Hi Sally. 🙁 I have a four year old Italian greyhound that was just diagnosed with a very small mast cell tumor today. Not sure what is going to happen. He has underlying autoimmune vasculitis. What ended up happening with your greyhound? 🙁
I wanted to share this wonderful news!
Our Golden Retriever Bodie was diagnosed with nasal (inside his nose) mast cell cancer two years ago, with spread to one lymph node (he was four). Without treatment they gave us 3-4 months.
We chose not to do surgery because of location. We did one SRT radiation treatment to nasal tumor and lymph node, followed by a year of chemo – both Vinblastin and Palladia. We did Benadryl/Pepcid throughout. Chemo did not ever make him sick, and he was happy the entire year of treatment.
We finished chemo last June and have continued the Benadryl/Tagamet protocol for the last year (and will continue for his lifetime).
Yesterday we went in for his regular check-up and scans, and his oncologist pronounced him CURED of mast cell cancer.
We know that Bodie’s chances of having cancer later in his life are good because 1) he’s had it once already and 2) he’s a Golden. But for now we are celebrating and giving thanks for early detection, excellent vets and oncologists, and state of the art treatment made possible by Trupanion pet insurance.
We also give thanks for everyone who lifted prayers during these two years for our sweet boy, and we will continue to pray for everyone battling this cancer with their fur babies.
We just wanted to share that there ARE good outcomes!!
Hi Brenda,
YAY!!! This is the best news!!! I am so excited for you that your sweet boy has been able to win his battle with cancer. What a blessing to have him healthy and thriving again. Thank you for sharing this update with our readers. This is the exact thing that may offer hope to someone else in a similar situation. We will all go through tough times and difficult seasons in life, but there is always hope. ♥ Bless you and sweet Bodie!
Thank you for the encouragement. Are boy GUS has a Tumor on his left under paw. It shows its cancer. We feel it was caught early enough and are taking him for surgery soon. We are hoping it is stage 1 low grade and his chance are good. He is only five years old and we hope with prayers that he has more life ahead of him.
Dear John,
I understand your concern for Gus and this tumor on his paw. Was the surgery successful? How is Gus today? Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying for good news from the pathology report. Wishing your sweet boy a happy future.
He was checked on the 8th of March. Pre surgery blood work show nothing and X-Rays nothing. It seem to be just local in the skin tissue with no metastasis. That seems like good news. He is having surgery on the 20th of March. Thank you for reaching out. Pray it is removed with surgery and is a one and done deal. I am going to retire and would like for him to be my buddy during the day. He is MY PAL. I will let you know the outcome. Thanks Again
Hi John,
Praying for your boy today!!! Hoping the surgery goes smoothly and all of the mass can be removed. Keeping you both in my thoughts and looking forward to your next update.
What was the cost for everything?
My 3 year old Shih-Poo Milo was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor on his belly which was removed. The Vet suggested Torigen and as soon as we learned that it was a MCT ge advised we give Milo Benadryl and Pepcid. Our frustration right now is that we were not given the grade of the tumor. Apparently, it was not examined for grading. Is this normal? Milo is doing great so far and nothing has changed in his behavior. He’s had two of the three shots of Torigen. Should we pursue in order to get the grading or just let it go? Thank you!
Hi Sandra,
I understand your concern with the lack of information from the pathology report. I will admit, I was not familiar with Torigen’s treatment options prior to reading your comment. I did some research and have a better understanding of the concept. Since I have not been personally involved with your dog’s medical care, I can’t make specific conclusions. After reading about how the Torigen immunotherapy injections are made, I think the mass that was removed from your dog was sent to them instead of a traditional pathology lab. Torigen has to have the original mass to incorporate it into the injections. This way the body’s immune system can be triggered to fight the specific type of cancer your dog has. The Torigen lab probably identified the type of mass and used what they needed to formulate your dog’s specific treatment protocol. I feel like this may be why staging was not done but cannot say for sure. I hope Milo is still feeling good and is living his best life. How are things today?
We are a year out from diagnosis of a very aggressive grade III MCT on our golden retriever after we found what appeared to be a scab on her teat. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but ultimately, with such an aggressive form of cancer we feel fortunate to have gotten one more year with her.
We started with removal of the small lump/scab, not knowing exactly what it was, but I think our vet had a good idea what to expect before the pathology report even came back. It took about 3 months for the lump to reappear, quickly spreading into 3 lumps growing very rapidly. We decided to undergo another surgery after a few months, once the lumps were huge and the smell became unbearable. She came through surgery well, but the lumps started reappearing 2-3 weeks post surgery. We then decided to try Palladia. The lumps reacted immediately to the medication, shrinking and even a couple disappearing within 4-5 doses. However, after 2 weeks it was apparent that the medication was not working as the tumors suddenly started growing rapidly again, and spreading throughout her body. Now we are, 3-4 months post-surgery and have kept our golden on Palladia to hopefully at least slow the spread of the tumors. We are giving her a maximum dose of benedryl to help with the itching, however, she has multiple open tumor sores on her body from scratching and occasional degranulation where she is obviously very uncomfortable. It is difficult to know when euthanize as she is a golden retriever so generally a very cheerful dog and still perks up happily when she hears the words “treat” and “walksies,” or if there is any mention or sight of a tennis ball. But she is not herself so we know the end will be soon.
3 weeks ago we celebrated her 10th birthday with all the family at home. When it is soon time to say goodbye, we will have so many fond memories, and I’m working on a picture book for each of my children to remember out 10 happy years with our sweet golden.
Dear Lisa,
I am sorry your Golden girl has struggled so much with this terrible cancer. It sounds like you have a great veterinary team on your side working hard to give her the best quality of life possible. What a blessing to have gained an extra year with her! My heart goes out to you as you face some difficult choices in the near future. I think the picture books are a wonderful idea. Here is a link to more memorial ideas you may want to think about: Dog Memorial Ideas: 10 Ways to Honor Your Dog’s Legacy
My thoughts are with you and your family as you face this uncertain future together. Blessings to you all and give your sweet girl a hug for me. ♥
I have a soon to be seven year old French Bulldog. He had a growth the end of October. He went to the vet a week later in November, and she found another lump a couple inches away. The needle biopsy results came back as one mct and one inconclusive. Vets are busy here, and I made an appt in Dec for him to see a vet who operates. She looked at him and found a third lump on another part of the leg. He just had all three masses removed and I’m waiting for the grading. She believes the third one is also a mct from what she saw. I’m hoping they are grade 1 and done. I was online seeing what I could find on the topic. It sounds like if all three are low grade, surgery may have solved the issue. It’s just seems odd they popped up so fast and on the same leg. .
Hi Jennifer,
I am sorry your pup has had so many issues with MCTs. I am glad you were able to have them all removed at the same time and the surgery went well. It seems as though your dog may have a genetic predisposition to these tumors. If that is in fact the case, it is likely you could see more pop up later in life. Stay vigilant about checking him for lumps and get them evaluated by your vet as quickly as possible. You are doing a great job with your sweet boy. He is lucky to have someone like you advocating for his health and wellbeing. Have you received the pathology report yet? Praying for good news!
Hi There,
Rupert is in the clear! The tumour was cancerous, but low grade & did not spread at all. So blessed to have caught it in time!! His cone is off and he is 100% back to himself <3
Hi Eadie,
This makes me so happy! Thank you for the update! I will continue to keep you and Rupert in my thoughts. Best wishes to you both!
Hello,
My dog Coconut has had 3 mast cells in the last 12 month. The first one was on her tail, the 2nd on her booty by the rectum and the most recent on her thigh/knee area. The first 2 we had surgically removed. She was on antihistamines and prednisone and the 2nd still popped up.. The oncologist started her on chemotherapy (chlorambucil 4mg) 5 days a week then reduced to 3mg 3 times a week along with the antihistamines. Despite this she got a new lump, the 3rd one on her knee/thigh area. We had cryo treatment done on it yesterday.
I just wonder how long will we be fighting this? Is it traveling, because it seems to be traveling up her body each time.? Why are they still popping up?
If we stop the chemo and other meds is she likely to die, and what will her life prior to her death be and look like?
She is a healthy beautiful German Shepard mix, but I don’t think it’s fair to her to keep popping pills and aspirating every bump that pops up. I need someone just to be real and tell be the truth no matter how ugly it is. Her oncologist is great but I need someone to be frank no matter how bad it may be.
Hi,
I understand your concern for Coconut and her quality of life. Since she has had so many MCTs, it seems likely that this could be a genetic issue. With that being said, there is no way to know for sure what the future will hold for Coconut. She may continue to get these tumors, or this could be the last one. Cancer like this just cannot be adequately predicted. Your oncologist will be the best source of information for what to expect if you decide to discontinue treatment. I wish I could offer more advice or help you with this difficult decision you are facing. Praying for your beautiful girl and hoping she has many happy years ahead.
My 6 year old boxer mix was just treated for his 3rd MCT (6th tumor overall; the others were histiocytoma and a fibrous epulis). All of his MCTs have been on his ears and low grade, but never in the same location. This most recent one was particularly tricky to surgically excise. He had a punch biopsy, so now it looks like his right ear is pierced (final path still pending). I keep getting told that if I allow him to have his pinnae resected, that may prevent further MCTs. But I don’t want to crop his ears unnecessarily and it feels like at this point he is bound to get more. Genetics are not in his side.
I don’t know what else I should be doing for him, since I check him near daily for any new skins changes and am super diligent about getting him seen immediately. Is there anything else that might help to prevent this from continuing to occur? Daily Benadryl?.
Thank you for your article!
Hi Jasmine,
I am sorry you are dealing with recurring MCTs on your dog. I understand your hesitation to have his ears cropped, but if this is the site where the tumors keep occurring, removing the pinnae could be the best way to prevent them in the future. Benadryl is used to help prevent the tumors from degranulating, but it does not prevent them from forming in the first place. I hope you can find the advice you need to make the best choice for you and your sweet boy. Best wishes to you both and hoping the pathology results were favorable!
My 12 year old Husky/Shepard mix was diagnosed with a MCT back in August 2022. it started as a small lump but then quickly grew larger. It was on her side so we went ahead with the surgery to remove it. The surgeon said they got clean margins and the tumor came back as “low-grade”. However, in October 2022 (just 2 months later) I noticed a lump growing at the incision site and it turns out the MCT had recurred in the same spot. We did an ultrasound and found that it had spread to a lymph node in her armpit. We are absolutely devastated and are currently working with her vet to keep her comfortable. Because of her age I’m very hesitant to put her through another surgery. The oncologist also said that because of the size of the tumor, chemotherapy won’t completely shrink it and in 3 months it will most likely start growing again. I’m so grateful that the article addresses when to stop fighting MCTs. It was really hard for us to decide not to do the surgery and chemo but at her age we don’t think another surgery is a good option. I just wish I had brought her to the vet earlier when I first noticed the tumor and it was still small.
Dear Kat,
My heart goes out to you as you face these last days with your senior girl. I am glad your vet is working with you to keep her comfortable and give her the best quality of life possible. Please don’t beat yourself up over the “what ifs”. It is clear you have taken good care of your pup and she is well loved. I hope you can make the most of the time you are gifted, and your sweet girl can be peaceful and happy. Bless you.
Hi, thanks for lots of helpful real life examples of dealing with MCT. My beautiful boy Charlie, 11.5 years old labradoodle has just had a biopsy done, after noticing a growth which popped up over-night, and I’m waiting for the results, but feel pretty sure we will be dealing with a tumour, its more a formality. Obviously I’m feeling pretty devastated, he means the world to me, but before we embark on the various options available I wanted to find ask some advice on a few things. Firstly, is the trauma of having the tumour removed going to cause Charlie a lot of pain? The tumour is on his tummy, so easy to remove locationally, but I understand there’s a sizeable chunk that will be taken? Do you recommend a diet which can support him through this process? He currently has dry dog food with glucosamine, as he’s a big boy and his joints are stiffening up with age. Clearly I want him to live forever, but also want his senior years to be filled with happiness and comfort, and don’t want to put him through more than is fair on him. I’m aware its a decision I need to make on how best to deal with this, but just trying to understand the impact of an operation, recovery time and how best to support his immune system.
Hi Penny,
I understand your concern with this possible upcoming mass removal for Charlie. You are correct that the surgeon will probably take wide margins when removing the mass, but the recovery process should be smooth and quick as long as the mass is small. Of course, there is always a possibility for unwanted complications, but in most cases, this type of surgery is fairly routine. Your dog’s current diet is probably just fine, but without examining him myself, I can’t make specific recommendations. You can always talk to your vet about a probiotic or other supplements that help reduce inflammation. I feel like moving forward with this surgery is your best option to give Charlie a good quality of life and a happy future. Praying for a positive outcome!
My dog is a 7 year old rescue. I was working at a vet hospital when she was brought in by the Humane Society. She was found on the side of the road in winter. She was snuggled into her mom and sibling to try to stay warm, they were not alive. I took her home that day she came, she needed to be care for overnight. She has been with us since. She was only 2 weeks old. I noticed a few months ago that she had a lump that would come and go, which made me think it was a bug bite. But then just within a few weeks she developed another which grew fairly quickly and got bloody overnight. I took her to the vet immediately last week. Both are MCT. One is quite small the other about the sized of a quarter. She has her surgery this Wednesday. I’m praying they will get clean margins and it won’t be a grade 3. I can’t bare the thought of losing her. Our bond is like no other.
Dear Mary,
I understand your concern with these MCTs and the worry that comes with waiting for pathology results. How did the surgery go? Is your girl recovering smoothly? I am hoping you receive good news, and your pup will have many happy years ahead. What a blessing it was for you to find each other after such a rough beginning for your sweet girl. ♥ Thank you for sharing your story with us and please keep us updated!
Im praying for you Mary and i am praying for your pup. I have a 9 year old lab boxer mix; Sadie. She is the love of my life as far as a dog is concerned. We battled a MCT last November. December she was in surgery. March finished chemotherapy…I literally just looked today at her arm pit area and noticed a ball. Tomorrow I make that dreaded call again to take her in and test to see if it is indeed another MCT. So I know your pain and the dread of losing an innocent life.
Dear Heavenly Father
Please watch over our dogs in this trying time. Please guide us and enable us to endure whatever comes our way. Please keep a watchful eye over us and protect our dogs from this insidious disease. In your name. Amen.
Hi Anthony,
Thank you for this encouraging comment and prayer. ♥ I am sorry you are facing this uncertain future with Sadie. Praying you receive good news, and all is well. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
amen!!
Hello,
My 9 year old yellow lab was diagnosed with mast cell cancer December 2021. The spot was large and in a place that he could do so we had it removed. They said it was advanced and gave us a 2-4 month prognosis. If it weren’t for that spot you wouldn’t know he’s sick. He plays like a pup, eats, drinks and has tons of energy. Il this month he has developed about 10 additional quarter sized spots. We are starting a dose of prednisone and then plan to taper to a maintenance dose. My question is what does the end usually look like? I’m trying to mentally prepare. Is it a slow ‘decreased eating, lethargy, weak’ process or is he going to pass away suddenly? I know there might not be an absolute answer. I am just desperate to give them the best end of life that I can and I feel that being prepared will help me do that.
Thank you
Hi Katie,
I am sorry your senior guy is living with cancer but glad you have been blessed with so much extra time with him since the diagnosis. I think it is great you are looking for information to help prepare you for what lies ahead. The more choices you can make in advance the easier it will be when things get difficult and emotional. With this type of cancer, there is usually a gradual decline. But like you mentioned, there is no way to know for sure and each dog is different. I will attach some links to other articles that may offer guidance when dealing with end-of-life care and preparations. There are also great comments from other readers at the bottom of the articles. My heart goes out to you as you navigate this tough road. Enjoy every moment and give your sweet boy a hug for me.
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
3. Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
My 6 year old Labradoodle has been diagnosed with a MCT on his upper right lip. I caught this two weeks ago and immediately go into our Vet. We recommended to the University of Illinois Veterinarian school to meet with Oncologist. Tumor on his lip will be removed and his right lymph node under his neck will be removed Spleen came back clean. Surgery is in the morning so please pray for us and the surgical team. I am a disable Veteran and he is my service dog. We have been a team now for 6 years. will let you all know more tomorrow after surgery
Hi Michael,
I can only imagine how worried you must have been for your sweet boy. How did the surgery go? Have you received the pathology report? Hoping all is well and the surgery was successful. Praying for a complete recovery and a long life ahead for your pup. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Praying for you as well in this trying time.
Thank you so much for such an informative article. My 5yr old lab pointer was recently diagnosed with a low grade sub-cutaneous MCT. My vet advised that sub-cut was at the lower end of low grade which I’m thankful for but the location is too tricky surgically on upper front limb. I’ve been advised to have a watch and wait policy but I’m worried since it’s sub-cut that I may not spot spreading/growth as easily. While I’ve been advised that chemo may be an option later, told it would be too much just now. I’m feeling a bit helpless to be honest. Is it possible or would you suggest chemo or radio therapy to get rid of it and , in your experience, can you have a (currently) non spreading low grade MCT and have a dog still lead a long life? Thank you.
Hi Tash,
These are all great questions, and I am glad you are taking such an active role in advocating for your dog’s health. Unfortunately, since I haven’t examined your dog myself, I can’t make specific recommendations about how to proceed with treatment. This might be the time to schedule a consult with an oncologist. They can let you know if surgery is the best option or if other treatments should be explored. I like to get advice from specialists since they have so much experience with cases like this. Make sure your vet is aware of your concerns and be honest with your wishes and goals for your dog. I am hopeful your pup will have many happy years ahead. Wishing you both the best of luck.
My 11 year old Siberian Husky was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor back in June. Toward the end of the month she had surgery to remove it. The vet got good margins but her tumor was a grade 3. We followed up surgery with chemo. We thought the Palladia was working but she developed more tumors. We then tried a different oral medication and it didn’t work either. Chemo took a toll on my girl so we decided to focus on her quality of life. Some of the tumors she has have ulcerated. I flush them daily with saline solution and apply neosporin. She just went to the vet yesterday and aside from the tumors, she’s doing ok. Then this morning she had a lot of blood in her stool which I’m guessing is from tumor-related ulcers. I’m waiting to hear back from our vet if this is a “normal” progression of the disease or if it could be something more. I’m terrified that we are going to lose her sooner than we thought. As a fellow dog lover, my heart goes out to everyone on here and their dogs who have had to go through this.
Dear Caroline,
I am so sorry you are dealing with such a difficult diagnosis in your senior girl. How are things today? I hope your pup can continue to find joy in her days and retain a good quality of life. Praying you can make the most of the time you have together. Bless you both.
Hi There,
Thank you for this post, it’s the most informative post I’ve read on this topic. I found a tiny pimple like lump on my 3 year old Golden Retrievers upper hip (To the left of the tail, closer to his back then his rear). It kept disappearing & reappearing so I took him to the vet for a biopsy in early November. It was a mast cell tumour & were currently waiting to hear if its high grade of low grade. He has surgery 5 days ago & his wound is so large, it was such a shock to see what came from a tiny pimple sized bump. We’re praying age is on side & hoping we caught it early enough. Losing him would be too much to take. Fingers crossed 🙁
Thanks again.
Hi Eadie,
I am sorry your Golden was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor. What a blessing you were able to catch it early and have it removed. Have you received any results from the pathologist yet? I am hopeful that you will get some good news and that the margins were clear from the surgery. Praying for a positive outcome. Feel free to leave an update when you have more details. ♥
Hi, I read your article, very informative. my baby had 1 Mast cell tu.mor on her lower right leg in Januaryof 2022. she is 13 and we had it removed to save her. The vet said he got it all and good margins.. The tumor appeared in the same spot in July and now there is several all over the area of her incision. Dr. had her on Prednisone for awhile but the side effects were not good so we have her on a very low dose. we also have been using Essiac tea for dogs. I have heard it has shrunk alot of tumors. it has been 3 months on Essiac with no change. This last week they have been growing aggressively and I think another 1 has s tdd started and her lower leg looks swollen. she is very healthy otherwise, so alive still and we are devastated thinking we will have to say goodbye soon. 2 have lost the hair and are getting red and I’m afraid they will burst. The vet just keeps telling me there is nothing to do at this point. there has to be something. she does not lick or bother them. she does tuck it under her chest. I dont want to lose our Lanigirl, she is still.to alive. breaking our hearts. please any help or guidance would be appreciated.
thank you
cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
I am so sorry your pup is suffering from multiple mast cell tumors. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is hard to know if there are other treatments that could be of benefit for her specific situation. Did your vet mention if she was a candidate for Stelfonta or Palladia? If you are seeing signs of pain in your sweet girl, it may be time to ask your vet about palliative care or hospice services. I hope you can find the best way to keep Lani comfortable. Make the most of this time you have together. Bless you both.
Hi!
My 14-year-old Irish setter has mass cell tumors. First found one in April as a little lump however, it grew rapidly and I took him the first week of June. The biopsy revealed it was cancer however, he also has one in between his legs. My vet recommended I take him to a neurologist to make sure there’s nothing neurologically wrong with him before they would consider treatment. However, my vet said due to his age and the areas that they are at there isn’t enough skin to really be able to take the tumor and margin of skin around and be able to close the wound. So she said we should think about his quality of life. So I talked with my family and we decided if you’re not going to do surgery what is the point of going to a neurologist? We wanted him to have the surgery to remove the tumors, and if that didn’t seem to be an option we weren’t going to seek a neurologist opinion. So here we are in November and the tumors have grown tremendously. He takes two pain pills in the morning and at night as well as Benadryl. I’m noticing now a distinct odor and I’m scared it’s going to rupture because he’s constantly licking at it. I feel that it’s bothering him. I don’t know if it hurts him or if he just knows that it’s there because he’s constantly at it. Otherwise he seems himself. He eats. How will I know when the time is that I need to do some thing?
Dear Michelle,
I am sorry your boy is struggling with these mast cell tumors. I agree if you are pursuing palliative care then I would not think a visit to the neurologist would be worth the expense. I am concerned that with the smell you are noticing it is probably due to tissue that is necrotic and deteriorating due to the nasty substances these tumors excrete. If the tissue is looking unhealthy and your dog is licking constantly, I am almost positive your boy is painful despite his daily medications. I know I haven’t examined your dog myself and can’t make specific conclusions, but I am worried his quality of life is suffering and it may be time to make some difficult decisions. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great comments from other readers. I hope you can find the advice you need to make the best choice for you and your senior boy. Praying for strength and clarity.
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
3. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
My first black lab had a mast cell tumor that was surgically removed and came back a month later. We had to put him down a few months later. He was 13. That was 2009. We bought another black lab about a year later. He’s 12 and has many mast cell tumors. One today under his hear burst and bled profusely, with a flap of skin hanging down that reminded me of the JFK assassination film. It’s a nasty business. With this black lab, the tumors are soooo much more aggressive. Surgical removal was needed to stop the bleeding. My 12 year old daughter doesn’t get it. Denial I suppose. I would take all of their pain and grief. No more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain.
Dear Isin,
I am sorry you are dealing with these frustrating and worrisome tumors on your senior guy. It sounds like you are doing what you can to ensure he has the best quality of life possible. I hope the surgery will keep these issues at bay, at least for a while. Bless you and your family.
My 9 year old rescue Chihuahua was just diagnosed with grade 3 mast cell tumor. The doctor said they got clear margins but because it’s a grade 3, the chance of recurrence and or metastasis is likely inevitable. He just told me over the phone. She got her surgery (we went right into surgery, no needle aspiration or biopsy because he was pretty sure of what it was) 1 1/2wks ago & we go back in just a few days for stitch removal so I’m thinking he’ll tell me more then maybe & he told me he’s going to show me how to check her lymph nodes & they may have to be removed. I’m just confused. He mentioned the lymph nodes originally& said he’d take it out if needed but didn’t, Why not do that when you already had her opened up right by them? & If he thought she had an incurable cancer, & getting clean margins wouldn’t matter because it’ll always come back (& my research says they usually die 4-6 months after surgery with grade 3) why did we even put her through the surgery? He said chemo isn’t an option, though I couldn’t put her through that anyways. My baby acts completely normal & it’s so heartbreaking. Can you maybe help me understand more? What’s the difference in prognosis of a grade 3 mast cell tumor if it’s completely excised & shows clean margins, versus getting dirty margins? Why not take the lymph node? She hasn’t had any digestive or eating issues before or after her surgery. I know I’m all over the place but I’m hoping you can read through and answer some of my questions 💗🙏
Hi Jessica,
I understand your concern for your senior girl with this scary diagnosis. Since I haven’t evaluated your dog myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions about why certain choices have been made thus far. The difference in clean verses dirty margins is all about the cells left behind. With clean margins, all the cancerous cells are contained within the tissue that was removed. With dirty margins, the cancerous cells extend to the edges of the removed tissue. If cancerous cells are found on the edges of the tissue, then it is suspected some were also left behind and would be able to continue to grow and cause the cancer to spread. I highly recommend you make a list of your questions and concerns to take with you to the follow up visit. Also, whenever discussing emotional issues like this it can help to bring a friend along as another set of ears. Sometimes we don’t hear everything when we are worried and scared. If your current surgeon is your general practitioner veterinarian, you can always request a consult with an oncologist. It is never wrong to gather as much expert information as possible. I am hopeful you will find the answers you need to make the best choices for you and your sweet girl. Praying for a positive outcome and many happy days ahead.
Thank you for this article. It is very informative. I have a 12-ish Labrador who was diagnosed with a MCT on his neck in March of 2021. It was inoperable, so we started him on 75MG benadryl three times a day and famotidine 20MG twice a day. The vet spoke to us about prednisone, but I resisted due to the side effects. The tumor was under the skin and would vary in size between the size of a grape up to a walnut. It stayed like this for almost 18 months. Then, all of a sudden about 3 weeks ago, it became as large as a fist, and ulcerated. So we started him on prednisone 30mg daily for 2 weeks, tapering down to 10mg every other day, which my vet has described as his maintenance dose. Within 2 days of starting the prednisone, the tumor dried up and started shrinking. At this point, it is essentially gone. While I am super-pleased, everything I read says that the effects of prednisone are short-lived. Any idea what “short-lived” may mean?
Hi Jennifer,
Wow! I am impressed the tumor responded so well to the prednisone. What a blessing! We can never be sure exactly what “short-lived” means, but generally it is weeks to months. I am curious to know if now that the size of the tumor has been so dramatically decreased if that makes your pup a better candidate for surgery? It might be worth scheduling a consult with a veterinary oncologist just to find out all the options. I hope you will gain many extra quality days with your sweet boy. Enjoy every minute and feel free to leave an update as things progress.
my 11 yo pit bull was also just diagnosed with mct on her stomach in october 2022. took her to a surgeon (not regular vet) who of course wants to operate bc they slice to cure. hoewever, she is a big girl, a bit overweight and deals with heavy breathing in sleep and although surgeon said nothing about adverse risks of general anesthesia, i do worry about that. mainly though i am wondering if this is even the right course to take considering she is 11, life span for her size is 12, and she has a great life now and i think that taking into consideration the fact that she is not seemingly in pain (on rimadyl now for knee issues) and reading so much about these tumors, also not knowing if it is the more serious kind, my gut says to allow her to live without the stress and recovery of the surgery and subsequent medication; for what, a few more months? i know this is a personal decision but is there any way to know how bad it is before removing the tumor? (i don’t think so). it is a hard decision to make, i’m used to end of life for animals having had 3-5 dogs since age 19 and i’m now 52 but i’ve never had a dog with cancer. any advice appreciated although of course i know you can’t say what to do. thank you
Hi Ro,
I am sorry you are facing these difficult decisions about your girl’s health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, there is no way to know what stage the cancer is without removing the mass and having it evaluated by a pathologist. I understand you want your dog to have quality of life over quantity and I think that is a loving and noble choice. I have had several patients that had MCTs removed, and it was curative, and they went on to live long lives. The trouble is there is no way to know what the outcome will be without taking a chance on surgery. Is your senior girl healthy otherwise? I truly feel that you can’t go wrong with either choice you make. I hope you can find the advice you need to make a decision you can be comfortable with. Your girl is lucky to have you advocating for her and loving her every step of the way. Bless you both. ♥
My 8ish yr old Spaniel/Chow? mix was a pregnant rescue from a high kill shelter. She was a foster fail who stayed with me after her puppies were raised and adopted. In May, the groomer noticed an ulcerated mass in her ventral area (she has long shaggy hair). She does not enjoy her belly rubbed, so I missed the mass hidden in her hair which I feel very guilty for. The vet did a FNA, which showed inflammatory cells. She put her on an anti inflammatory, and antibiotics for 2 wks then her tumor was removed following completion of meds. It came back grade 2, high, MI 13. As a follow up, the vet did a chest X-ray, and abdominal U.S. The U. S. A showed a splenic mass. In July she had a splenectomy/liver biopsy. Both came out benign. We went to a oncology consult, but did not start Chemo. She was taking Benadryl/Pepcid daily. In September I noticed a small mass near her incision site. It was removed with aggressive margins & turned out to be a grade 3, high MI 8. This past week I noticed a small marble sized lump at the base of her ear. Last night I noticed it had opened. She has an appt for a FNA tomorrow. I can only pray it’s not a MCT. I don’t think it would be able to removed. She starts Chemo (Vinblastine) next week. I also put her on low carb kibble. I have done everything to help her. I also worry about the genetic component, as my aunt adopted one of her puppies who is 6 1/2. I am hoping the chemo helps without making her sick. I guess time will tell.
Dear Megan,
I am sorry you have been through so much with your sweet girl this past year. I understand your worry with this new lump and hope it is not a MCT. What did the FNA reveal? I applaud you for taking such an active role in advocating for your dog’s health and wellbeing. You have done everything you can up until this point to make sure your pup has a long and happy life. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying for a positive outcome and many happy days ahead.
Reese is 11yo Red Nose Pit. She is the Princess. She started having Mast Cell Tumors come up about 3 ago. We had one surgery to remove a few that we could see, but decided after that we would not put her through another surgery. We did not know then that was what she had. She has been on a Benadryl regimen for about 2 years or so after a trip to the emergency vet, and that vet was the one that really narrowed down the issue with the lumps. She has had several come up all over her now, but what makes us nervous are the ones we cannot see. Now, when she lays down to sleep she does some moaning. I fear it’s time and that she is uncomfortable, however, my husband thinks she may just need arthritis medicine. He is probably right about arthritis, but I think its a temporary fix, like the Benadryl. I believe it is far more progressed than we think or he wants to believe. She still has more good days than bad but those are fading quickly these days. Thank you for the article.
Hi Nikki,
I am sorry you are seeing Reese’s health start to decline. It is never a bad idea to talk to your vet about palliative care should you decide to forgo testing and just focus on making your pup comfortable. Also, the arthritis pain may be playing more of a role in Reese’s condition that you might think. I highly recommend you look into starting a joint supplement and discuss possible pain medications with your vet. You never know how her quality of life might be impacted by a simple medication unless you give it a shot. Even if treating the arthritis doesn’t take away all her struggles, it could make her last days a bit more comfortable. Best wishes to you and yours.
Our sweet Aussie was dx with MCT on her nose a little over 1yr of age. She is 2 1/2 now and has gone through 2 rounds of Palladia and during the second round she had 4 radiation treatments. She is now at 3.5 months since the 2nd round finished. While we do not see the return of the tumor on her nose yet, she has been fighting diarrhea and in recent days we noticed she is drinking a lot more water. Different TX for the diarrhea have been unsuccessful including diet changes. we are back to chicken and rice. She is still eating, still loves her walks and going to the dog park but I’m seeing other subtle changes in activity level. of course the diarrhea could be zapping her energy but it’s time for another vet visit. 🙁
Hi Mary,
I am sorry your sweet girl is struggling with GI issues and lethargy. I agree, another vet visit seems to be the best way to proceed. I hope you find out there is an easy fix, and your girl can quickly start feeling more like herself. You have been through so much this past year. Praying for relief and smooth sailing in the future. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers!
Bucky, our 10 yr old German Shorthaired Pointer had surgery a month ago for a tumor on his pupis, the vet could not get it all due to its location around his urethra. He is grade II, #8. We have not yet gone to an oncologist, and feel torn about that treatment.. He is currently being treated with 75 mg benedryl every 12 hours, he healed well from surgery and acts relatively normal.
Hi Carol,
I am sorry the pathology results were not what you had hoped, and the tumor could not be completely removed. I understand your concern with additional treatment and testing but think it might be a good idea to go ahead with the oncology consult. Just because you have Bucky evaluated by the specialist doesn’t mean you have to put him through any additional procedures. They can give you more detailed information about your dog’s specific situation and let you know what options are available. This way you can make a fully informed decision and be at peace with the choices that are made. I am glad Bucky is feeling good and has healed well from his surgery. I hope his days are happy and he is surrounded by the ones who love him most.
My pitbull terrier Ava is 11 y/o now and has had 5 surgeries to remove tumors on legs, head and belly. The most recent was a MCT on hind upper leg. I have decided NOT to let her have any more surgeries. We are waiting for the staging from the evaluation from the removal presently. She has had skin allergies since forever it seems on apoquel for years. My Ava has been a trooper through all of the excision but this is definately the last time I will put her through that. Come what may, we will keep her happy and comfortable for whatever time God gives us with her. She is our princess.
I cannot stand to give her benadryl long term. But it seems the mainstay of treatment. I pray for all you and please enjoy your pet everyday as I will do.
Hi Beverly,
I can only imagine the stress you have been through trying to deal with these recurring tumors and skin issues with Ava. I don’t blame you for choosing palliative care and I would make the same choice for my own pup. I hope Ava can live out her days happy and surrounded by the ones that love her most. Praying for good news from the pathologist. Bless you both!
Our American Bulldog, Finch, is a rescue. He was left tied out at a home when his owners moved out. When found, he was ematiated, dehydrated, had skin infection (weepy, crusty skin), double ear infections, numerous insect bites and had large areas of missing hair. He also was heartworm positive. Completely emotionally shut down. He was around a year old, not quite finished growing. I first saw him at the shelter just hours after he was brought in, and applied to foster him through his hw treatment and neutering. Of course he became a foster fail.♡ Finch is a sweet and energetic boy. He has struggled with allergies since day one. I took him to a holistic vet, who helped me devise a proper diet for him. I have fed him a raw low carb diet ever since, and it has helped. I also give him Zyrtec every day, and Benedryl as needed. He also gets cortisone shots as needed for skin inflammation. He also has had a few recurring ear infections. However last year, I had a marble size lump removed from his hind leg (thigh). It was a grade II MCT. I have continued his diet and meds, and now he has a new lump on the same back thigh. My vet said it probably is a MCT. Finch is only 3 years old. I am trying to figure out cost of treatment vs. quality of life. Finch seems happy, but is often itchy. I hate putting him through surgeries. He loves his diet, and takes his pills like a champ. But as a young dog, he has a lifetime of medical costs associated with such an early diagnosis of MCC. Is his quality of life moving forward going to make the expenses and effort worth it? He also is not our only dog. I am struggling to weigh out our options. My husband is supportive of whatever I decide. My vet agreed that euthasia is on the table of options at this point, as he will most likely require many more surgeries at this rate. Any advice? Feeling pretty heartbroken at this point, but Finch’s health and well being is number one, and prolonging his suffering is not ok.
Hi Lori,
Finch sounds like such a sweet boy. He was lucky to have found you to get a second chance at life. I understand the cost and burden that comes with a dog that has allergic skin issues. Since I haven’t examined your pup myself, it is hard to make conclusions and recommendations on his quality of life and how to proceed with treatment. When the previous MCT was removed, did the pathologist’s report say if there were clean margins? If the entire tumor was removed, then I would be surprised if this new MCT was related to the previous one. Some dogs are just more prone to this type of mass than others but that doesn’t mean that removal can’t be curative. If you are trying to decide between surgery and euthanasia, it might be a good idea to get a second opinion from an oncologist. Your guy might be a candidate for treatment with Stelfonta as mentioned in the article. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for you and Finch. If saying goodbye turns out to be the most loving option, I pray you find the strength needed to make these emotional decisions. Best wishes and bless you both.
We had a Boston Terrier that would frequently have mast cell tumors after a stressful change, After we went on vacation whether came with us or was at home with a dog sitter.. He also got them if we had frequent severe storms. The last one he had was after a family move to a new home at the time he was 11 years old and a tumor came up within 2 weeks of the move. After the surgery the vet recommended he take a benadryl as a daily supplement and he never had another one. He lived to be 15 and other than sight and hearing issues was in good health for a Boston Terrier.
Hi Darlene,
This is so interesting! What a blessing to have had 15 wonderful years with your sweet boy. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Best wishes!
This is the most thorough article on mast cell cancer for pet owners that I’ve found! Our yellow lab, now 14, had mast cell cancer 5 years ago. It was on the mouth. One young and inexperienced vet said she thought it was a foxtail. So 6 months went by before we saw our vet in another state. That one immediately said we needed to test for MCT. Even though 6 months had passed, they thought we had caught it early, so we went ahead with radiation and then chemo. Those were some of the most difficult times for her and for me as her guardian. I don’t know if I could do it again and def will not put her through that again. I feel that the prednisone really did a number on her joints. That being said, she is still with us and still loves life. Technological advances are also making radiation more targeted and not requiring so many rounds of anesthesia. A new MCT popped up on her hind leg recently and we are thankful it was a grade one. One thing I would like to share is that daily, full body massage really has been so helpful to me in keeping track of what is showing up on her body and detecting it as early as possible. She is nuts about our sessions and it is a great bonding time.
Hi Vivian,
I am so glad your Lab was able to completely recover from her previous MCTs. What a blessing to still have her by your side after 14 years of love and devotion. Daily massages are a wonderful idea and something I highly recommend for all dogs no matter their age! Thank you for the kind words about the article. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your story with our readers. Give your sweet girl a hug for me. ♥
Vivian what level was your labs mast? My dog. Is only 5 and she has a few sores on her…..she’s always had allegies so our vet just kept giving us treatments for that. I decided to visit. a dermatologist vet and one visit/ biopsy determined she has mast cells. She said surgery is not an option. I’m heart broken. Wtg to get a call back from oncologist.
Our 14-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, Lou, had a mast cell tumor appear suddenly on a back leg around Thanksgiving in 2021. We were referred to an vet oncologist who followed a traditional path. She didn’t know about (or at least did not offer) stelfonta injections, which we understand now are an excellent option when a tumor is caught early. She also did not offer FidoCure – genetic testing that predicts which chemo medications your dog will respond to better (note that it is expensive, about $1,500, but we would still have welcomed the option). The vet said she would not amputate because the tumor would just grow back at the site (we have since learned that this very rarely happens). As a result, Lou had a variety of chemo treatments for about 6 months which at times held the tumor at bay, and at times did not. At some point, the vet said “well, we knew it would come to this.” Lou was feeling fine and doing fine, other than the tumor. We were not ready to give up on him and sought advice from a veterinary surgeon who removed Lou’s back leg in May. He did really well, they managed the pain with a patch and he has learned to maneuver easily as a tripod, using his tail for balance. We also found a different vet oncologist and did the FidoCure testing. We are going to start a specialized chemo that was recommended after this genetic testing. So far, Lou is all clear, no additional tumors and no sign of spread to other organs. His tumor was an aggressive grade, so we are going to try chemo as a preventative. However, since he’s older, if the chemo makes him feel ill, we will just take him off it and enjoy him. It has been a long haul with Lou, but we are glad for the extra time with him. Just wish we had been presented with better options at the outset. We would have done the surgery sooner.
Hi Janet,
Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. I hope your story will help someone else in a similar situation with their senior pup. I am sorry this past year has been so difficult for Lou and you. It makes my heart happy to know that he is doing well since the amputation and is enjoying some extra time with the ones who love him most. I hope the chemo will keep the cancer from spreading. Praying for many happy days ahead with your sweet boy.
My lovely girl Gracie is a golden retriever mix rescue, she’s 5 and she’s my world. About 18 months ago the vets removed a lump from her back that turned out to be a grade 1 MCT, she was fine after, healed really well and got on with her life… all the way up until this Christmas when I spotted another much faster growing lump very close to the scar from her first removal, quickly followed by another lump on her back leg. They removed both just over two weeks ago with clean margins, and they came back as grade 2 mct this time.
I could tell something wasn’t right with her though, despite her recovery going well, she just wasn’t herself… and when she started to show signs of pain in her stomach. I whisked her straight to the hospital… that was yesterday, they did an ultrasound and then a needle aspiration on her liver and spleen. Today I found out they found an mct in her spleen and they’re concerned about her liver too. I’m completely devastated, she’s such a soft gentle soul – I hate that she’s hurting and I can’t fix it for her. and I feel so guilty for putting her though such an intense surgery when this was clearly brewing in the background.
Dear Lo,
My heart is breaking for you as you come to terms with this devastating diagnosis Gracie has received. I think you made the right decision to have the lumps removed, even knowing what you do now. I would have done the same for one of my own. How is Gracie feeling? I know you will be facing some difficult decisions in the near future about your sweet girl’s quality of life. I am praying for your strength and for comfort for your pup. Bless you both. ♥
How much did that cost in the long run?