[M&J]

With a big smile on my face,

I am happy to report an original biopsy of my Lilly's two skin tumors were wrong, and the final dx is acanthoma--benign! Both were removed (a third one can waitto e removes now that we know it's benign).
Does anyone have any experience, or know of something I can do--supplements etc--to prevent new ones from forming?

What a week of waiting..........Whew. We were preparing for a completely different outcome.

 

[dd]

Great news for Lilly!

 

[M&J]

Yes, I am still a little stunned---thrilled---since the first results pointed to cancers. Plus there is no emergency to put her under anesthesia again to remove the third one.
I wonder if there is a supplement, shampoo, or topical I can use on her to prevent new ones? Maybe something holistic that helps with skin problems.

 

[LisaT]

Great news, congratulations -- woo hoo!!

Was the lump tiny and almost look like a warty thing?

 

[M&J]

It was less than tiny.......there is a 3rd one the vet couldn't find when Lil was under or she would have removed it when the other two were.
Not warty, they were too small to even get to that stage, but Lilly has had those ones in the past. I use Vetskin to get rid of those. These were just maybe the size of one hair follicle. I thought they were ingrown hairs. They had a pinprick black center.
Since she is prone to skin issues, I want to give her some sort of supplement, shampoo, or topical to try to prevent more things from cropping up. From what I have read, Norwegian Elkhounds and keeshonds are very prone to these specific skin tumors. They can get up to 50 a year. We always suspected Lilly was gsd mixed with husky, but maybe she is elkhound or keeshond? Her littermate looks more german shepherd.
Here she is (fresh from the groomer) what do you think? The 3rd pic is a picture of one of the tumors that was removed, if you can see the black dot there. Pic was taken after two needle aspirates so it was even smaller than in the picture when I brought her in.
Thanks so much for the help!

 

[LisaT]

she's a pretty girl

Max gets these goofy things, and when they start, I think they look like what you describe. But as they get bigger, they change in all sorts of weird ways. And they BLEED.... ALOT.

When he had several of them, that is when I decided I had to start him with acupuncture. So far, that has helped, but he still gets them on a rare occasion.

I figure that the skin is one of the largest filtering organs in the body, and it needs to be supported, but I haven't figured out what I can give him since he is allergic to so many things. If you figure out, let us know!

 

[M&J]

Lisa, in the past when my dogs have gotten weird skin things, I used Vetskin. I always have the vet check things out before I use it. That's how this all came about. This skin thing looked different than ones in the past so we biopsied.
Vetskin is a mix of rubbing alchohol and aspirin. I put a little on those warty things for a few days. They turn black and fall off. The area around the warty thing scabs up a little. I have used it for at least ten years on my dogs.

Again, I always have the vet check lumps first to make sure they are not cancers.
http://www.vetskin.com

Accutane is sometimes prescribed for these things, but no way are we doing that. The vet said no, as well. There is a sulphur shampoo I was reading about.
If I find a supplement to support the skin I will let you know.

 

[kshort]

Great news Mary! It's so rarely that the news comes back BETTER than expected. Yay Lilly!!!!

 

[LisaT]

I remember the vet skin. But there is a reason why dogs like yours and mine get these things on a regular basis, and are probably susceptible to other more terrible skin problems.

I just don't know what that reason is

 

[M&J]

My silky terrier was always getting these things, too. He even had a bout with mast cell cancer. Surgery cured it and it never returned. He had many, many warts and cysts after the cancer--all benign.
I get all kinds of things, too. I guess we just have to be more vigilant in checking our dogs over. Hey, as long as they keep turning out benign, I'll take it.
There must be a good immune booster for the skin, though. I am going to meet with a holistic vet so I will tell you what she recommends.

Interesting about acupuncture. I will look into that, as well.