Has anyone had any experiences of histiocytoma?
Basically the vet has thought that my young dog (19 months old)has one that has
just appeared on the head near the ear.
We've had treatment in the form of antibiotics (ceporex) and anti-inflammatory (Rimadryl).
We are now on day 6 of the 7 day course.
The inflammation side of things has settled down, the lump has not increased in size
but neither has it shrunk :(
We are due to go back to the vets tomorrow, but I have done some research on net and there
are conflicting reports - some say the lump will disappear of it's own accord about 8wks and others
say it's best to get the lump removed.
Is it best to have some drawn off to have it biopsied so we know what we are really dealing with?
Are there any other treatments that could be tried before operating?
(I know that with tumours the earlier they are removed the better the chances are)
Thanks for any advice

Hi Kirstine,
My mum's australian shepherd bitch had one of these on her front paw last year. It started out as a very small lump and got bigger, it didn't bother her at all, but if she caught it whilst out walking, it did bleed quite badly. We took her to the vets and were told at first to leave it but after it grew, we too were prescribed rimadyl which had no effect on it. After 4 months of going backwards and forwards to the vet and it bleeding several times, he agreed to remove it. It was the best thing we could have done. She had to have a general anaesthetic and the area was stitched and she was sent home with an elizabethan collar, some antibiotics and some pain killers. After 10 days, the stitches were removed and all that remained was a small scar. She has suffered no ill-effects at all from it.
Hope this helps a little,
Gabrielle x

We get these fairly regularly on young flatcoats - it almost seems like the doggy equivalent of a verruca. I have had them removed, only to see them returning again afterwards.

I've used Citricidal (neat) on them, and after looking a bit angry for a couple of days, they go. The main complication seems to be that if they're in the position that the dog can scratch and infect them, a course of antibiotics is necessary.

They normally clear up by themselves anyway if they are left alone.

However, if you're worried, go by your vet's recommendations.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Thanks Jo for your info, it's most helpful. :)
I will try the Citricidal and see how we go.

Kind Regards
Kirstine

Chelsea has had 2 of them. The first one grumbled along for a few months - didn't increase in size, but didnt' decrease either (it was on her toe) then all of a sudden is started to grow fast. They treated it, but 3 days later it was twice the size so they did an immediate removal or they wouldn't have had enough skin to repair it if they did it later.

The second one they removed immediately because of the history of the first one. (was in the same place). Apparently young dogs can develop them. Mostly they go away on their own (from what I've been told) but occasionally you get one like Chelsea had.

While I was worried during the ops she came through them both easily.

She had a third one develop a year or so ago, but they did a fine needle aspirate to test it and before the results came back the lump had gone on its own. She's not had any since. (she's 5).

Wendy

My dog Norman has had 2 of these, one went away by itself (on his neck), and the other was removed from his leg. It would not go away, and as it was on the inside of his front leg, it was constantly weeping or bleeding where his legs brushed together, and he also made it worse by licking it. The vet decided to remove it as -like Chelsea above, there would not be enough skin left to stitch it together if it got much bigger.
My vet said that these are very common in young dogs, and occur most often on the feet. The lump was sent off for analysis and was benign.
Liz

My Mastiff has had 2 of them and they both eventually went down but left a black mark. My vet said they are common and are the only tumour which will dissapear on it's own and without surgery.