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Discussion on Care for stitches?
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Jun 6, 2008 - 10:25 am:
Hi Dr. O, Brave had another lump taken off his wither/neck area yesterday. It's been five years I think since the last one, diagnosed as apocrine carcinoma.
Vet said to bute for three days, hot/warm compress it, neosporin on the stitches with swat around it. But I'm wondering, after a few days, if cold hosing it to clean it would be a good idea. Or if you could direct me to the proper article that would be great too  Thanks!
ps... if you have any insight as to why this would come back when the last lump had clean edges I would love your opinion. It was small with small veins reaching out, not long rubbery ones like before. It reappeared on his old scar... vet was stumped, we'll get the report back on the biopsy Monday if you'd like to wait to ponder until then. Thanks!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jun 6, 2008 - 11:19 pm:
If the stitches are clean and dry, and they should be, I don't see a real need for any care. I like nitrofurazone spray if flies are present but the Neosporin will do fine and again whether either necessary uncertain.
Concerning why this lump is present we will have to wait for the labs to speculate.
DrO
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 7, 2008 - 1:26 pm:
Thanks Dr O!
Vet just called. Said it was a melanoma, edges were clean but only 2mm margin around it. (he said evidently they think he should have taken more) May represent recurrence of previous melanoma. pops up in same site. I asked him if it was cancer and he said it's a tumor a skin cancer of local origination. 99% does not metastasize. Woohoo!!! That was the big scare with the last one, that it would metastasize. He said there was no mention of apocrine carcinoma though!! So he said basically this is good news
I'll have them fax me the report on Monday along with his blood test results.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 7, 2008 - 5:00 pm:
Good news Aileen, stuff like that can be very worrisome. I'm glad it sounds like Brave will be fine (especially after all you have been through)
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 8, 2008 - 8:33 am:
I notice in the above photo that your horse is not a grey Aileen. Melanomas in non-greys can be more prone to metastisis than in greys however the path report should have some indication of malignancy and it sounds like the veterinarian felt this one is pretty safe.
DrO
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 8, 2008 - 10:25 am:
Thanks Diane and Dr. O! Once I get the report I'll let you know I would love your opinion along with any additional steps I should take, if any. I'm hoping that since he is such an easy keeper that he'll be ok. Isn't one of the first signs of real trouble not being able to keep weight on with cancer?
Vet just shook his head in amazement when I tell him how little I'm feeding him - but he COULD feel A rib ... lol ... said he wasn't too bad but still needs to lose weight.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 12, 2008 - 1:49 pm:
Hi Dr. O,
Finally got the fax.
"A small cluster of melanocyte cells is evident in the deep dermis. The mass consists of irregular streaming bundles, nests and sheets of fusiform to angular cells. The cells have a moderate cytoplasm, often containing abundant granular brown to black melanin pigment. Nuclei are monomorphic, ranging from round to oval or fusiform. Minimal to mild anisokaryosis is apparent. No mitotic figures are seen."
It also says:
"This may represent a recurrence of the previous melanoma"
So it may be the apocrine?
We also tested his insulin and glucose, just to see:
Insulin: 50
Reference Range 29-179 pmol/L
Glucose: 4.9
Reference Range: 4.2 - 6.4 mmol/L
Insulin Glucose Ratio: 10
Somehow the CBC results haven't come yet.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jun 13, 2008 - 6:41 am:
The statement is confusing Aileen an apocrine carcinoma is not the same thing as a melanoma.
DrO
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Jun 13, 2008 - 11:18 am:
Ok, thanks Dr. O, I'll ask my vet about it. Evidently there was a miscommunication and the CBC didn't get done. Could you let me know if you think it's necessary now, or can it wait until November? I'm wondering if it could wait since he's feeling great, fat, sound and sassy. But I have to ask since my dog was diagnosed with Leukemia and he's taking most of my funds right now and I don't want to make the wrong decision because of money.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 - 8:34 am:
Aileen such decisions need to be made by the examining veterinarian. I see no need from the posts above but the final decision is with your vet.
DrO
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Member:
frances
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 - 6:22 am:
Hi Aileen, so sorry to hear about your dog. Hope he makes a full recovery.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 - 10:50 am:
Thanks Dr.O, I talked to the vet yesterday but was asking about Brave's warm leg, forgot to ask about the cbc but he didn't mention needing to do it when he left me the message about insulin/glucose results. Should never have said he was sound... lol
Thank you LL, my dog is doing great, is almost back to normal since being on pred. I'm hoping we caught it early, I find out this week.
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