Originally Posted By: Jax08.....She said "Because it's one of your dogs it has to be something we don't see very often" Of course it is!

This just might be the forum where people like us congregate!!

At least a mast cell tumor has been eliminated (no need for more benadryl!!). I hope it's the follical thingy.

I've found lots of references to some melanoma in the skin and horses and tagamet being very effective for that. This sounds like it's deeper and definitely not the same thing, but just something to consider maybe?

Hope this gets resolved quickly!

 

The one vet is cheaper because they are $100-$150 cheaper on the anesthesia. Not sure how that can be. I'll have to ask my vet the difference on the meds. I'd rather pay more than use a cheaper (or inferior) anesthetic and never see my dog again.

She said that she did not htink it was a tumor at all but they couldn't say for sure that is was NOT a mast cell tumor because maybe they just didn't get a good enough sample in teh aspiration. I think they don't think it is (I could hear through the door..hehehe) by that statment is just a CYA in case it is. She did say she could clearly see the black melanin granules and they did not see anything else.

 

I'm voting for the hair thingee!

 

yes...it amkes sense to me also. They did not see any bacteria in the lumps. I did hear one vet, I think the one we saw, say "I've never seen that much before."

 

awwww...Oct 20th is the first they can get her in to remove it.

 

That's a month away....I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with that.

(some days I can't spell or type, btw!!)

 

I'm not sure I am either but she told me it would be ok. Not sure why it's so packed.

Have you heard of anesthetics call dermator or teletol? I think that's what she said. The dermator is a reversable and teletol knocks them out cold. That's at the cheaper vets.

 

I don't know much about anesthesias. I bet someone here will though....

If this thing is benign, yes, a month probably won't hurt. What if it's not? Are they saying it's that busy, or just that they don't think it's that much of a priority?

 

I think that they are that busy. It was the first appt with that doctor and nobody seemed to excited about it.

 

I talked to a friend yesterday that is a vet tech at a different hospital about Jax's lump. She said a month is way to long and is getting an estimate and approximate date of removal for me from her clinic. I should hear back from her today.

 

I would have had it removed already.

 

That's what she said. I've always trusted my vet so I'm a bit confused on the lack of concern about a bump that by their own admission "is not something we see alot of". If they don't know what it is, shouldn't that be enough of a concern?

 

This is one of those situations where you have to override your vet - waiting doesn't make sense if there's any concern whatsoever of malignancy.

 

I haven't heard from my firend yet but she had today off so I'll call her in a bit. If they can't get her in, but I think they can, I could call Cornell. Ithaca is only 20 minutes from where I work.

When I said melanin granules to my friend she got a pretty funny look on her face that wasn't good.

 

I came on here tonight because Heidi has a lump on her neck and I was hoping for opinions. Before I posted about it, decided to scan the other recent posts and lo and behold here is this thread. The lump Heidi has is on the right side of her neck and it is about the size of a nickel. I'm not sure how long it's been there, but I think not long, as I'm pretty hands on with her. It doesn't seem to be hurting her and it feels like it's not anchored to anything. I read all the posts that came before, but any other thoughts are welcome. I will call the vet in the morning, but in the meantime, should I be scared?

 

Sorry I don't mean to run away with this thread. It just seemed like maybe all the "lump" posts ought to be together.

 

Bridget, the first thing would be for the vet to aspirate it and get a look at the cells. If just a bunch of fatty white stuff comes out, then you are often looking at a fatty cyst. Other cells mean different things.

For Jax, these are malanin granules, and aren't quite sure what that means. In my thinking, when in doubt, get it out, (quickly) unless there are good reasons not too (older pet not tolerating a surgery or anesthesia, heart issues, etc.).

Because there are all sorts of lumps that aren't serious, I wouldn't be scared yet. Concerned enough to act quickly, but not yet scared.

that both Jax and Heidi have nothing to be scared about.

 

waiting this morning for my friend to call about getting Jax in with her vet...

Heidi, Jax's lump is "anchored" in her skin. It will have to be removed and sent out for pathology (probably to Cornell).

 

I hope Jax's lump turns out to be non-serious. I have an appointment to take Heidi in tomorrow afternoon.

 

Heidi's too!!! I should hear shortly when Jen can get her in for the surgery and what they think the melanin granules could be.

 

I did a little search. Melanin Grandules are stored in skin cells.


http://www.i2k.com/~suzanne/ZINC%20melanin,%20tissue%20repair,%20brain%20fuction-page%205.pdf

Quote:Melanin Granules
*Zinc is the main element found bound to melanin, (a dark brown substance) in pigmented
cells and tissues of the skin, hair, parts of the eye, and certain nerve cells. Melanin is synthesized
and stored inside melanosomes (specialized organelles also referred to as melanin granules) of
melanocytes that are located in the epidermis and connective tissue of the skin (Borovansky J,
1994). Melanocytes transport melanin granules to parts of the eye and ear, and to certain nerve
cells of the brain. They also transport melanin to keratinocytes (karatin producing cells of the
skin) during wound healing. Melanocyte activity is influenced by environmental factors (eg: sun
exposure) and the pituitary hormone, alpha-MSH (alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone).
Sunlight darkens existing melanin granules, causing increased pigmentation (tanning), and then
stimulates more melanin production (via the enzyme, tyrosinase). This creates a greater layer of
zinc-bound melanin granules within the skin to provide increased protection against oxidative
damage of the underlying tissues from further exposure to solar radiation. Dark-skinned
individuals have been found to have higher alpha-MSH activity and a greater ability to
accumulate melanin in melanocytes compared to fair-skinned individuals under the same conditions.
Dark pigmentation is known to be a strong defense against sun damage and the development
of certain skin neoplasms such as melanomas (Bandyopadhyay D, 2000). Zinc's antioxidant,
re-epithelialization, and proliferative regulatory properties within melanin granules help explain
this association (Borovansky J, 1994 & 1995). Numerous zinc-containing melanosomes are also
found in the choroid, iris, and retina of the eye, particularly in the retinal pigmented epithelium
(RPE) of the retina (Sarna T, 1992, Head KA, 1999). The delicate rods and cones (eye photoreceptors
that detect light and color), located adjacent to the RPE, also require high amounts of zinc to
provide protection against their oxidative damage and consequent apoptosis (Carmody RJ, 1999,
Hirayama Y, 1990). This is true of other cells high in zinc such as those in the prostate, brain, hair,
and inner ear (Karis A, 2001, McFadden SL, 1999, Shambaugh GE Jr, 1989).

http://casweb.cas.ou.edu/pbell/Histology/Captions/Cellmethods/62.melan.100x.html


Val

 

I felt for Heidi's lump at lunch time today and it seems to be gone. I am going to have my husband feel around for it before I cancel the vet appointment. I started her on Comfortis day before yesterday and she had never had it before. I wonder if she could have just been having a little bit of a reaction to it?

Have you heard from your friend yet?

 

no. but Jen has a life even more hectic than mine so who knows what may have gone on at work. She said she would do it first thing this morning and she probably did by may not have had time to call me.

 

Jax should have the surgery next week sometime. I told my friend to make the appt and tell me when to show up. I'll drop Jax off at her house and pick her up from there that nite. She thinks the surgery days are pretty clear next week and if not then they will do it on Friday.

 

Oh good! It will be good to get those outta there!