As many of you will know I have a rescue dog called Whiskey who was very badly abused by his last owners. Whiskey is now 9 yrs old and although I've had him for 7 yrs he has NEVER really learnt to trust strangers and hates to be handled.
Two years ago Whiskey developed a lump on his foot and it was removed very quickly and was found to be clear of cancer. About a month later he had a lump removed from his shoulder and again it was clear. After having 2 lumps removed Whiskey became even worse for handling and I made the decision that as much as I love him, I would not have any other lumps that developed removed. I feel that I would rather he had 6 months of happiness than 2 + yrs of being at the vets and pulled around and cut open.
Just before christmas 2001 Whiskey developed a lump on his side and I stuck by my decision that we would just enjoy him for as long as we have him. Over the next few months he has developed lumps along both sides, on his chest, his stomach and on the back of his skull. They do not point out, they are not attached to the skin they feel like liquidy lumps that aren't attached at all, but are below the skin. He now has about 30 of them. They are probably about 1 inch in diameter maximum.
I know its hard without feeling them but are they likely to be old age lumps, I've never met a dog with so many lumps!!!! or could this be something horrid.
I have discribed them to the vets but they say they need to see him, however it will take Whiskey about 3 mths to get over the fear of going to the vets and he can't have 30 lumps cut out anyway.
Please don't think this is a money issue, Whiskey is insured with Petplan but I feel it is in his best interest.

Why don't you get the vet to come out to your house. That way it will be less stressful for Whiskey and at least then it will put your mind at rest. It might cost a bit more but...

Lucy

Whiskey will be worse if someone comes to the house. Even the vet we have used for 7 yrs cannot get near him. If he has conjuntivitis they just give me the cream etc. They used to insist on seeing him but even muzzled and with a halti on he used to go mental at them.
It is extremely difficult with a dog like this but he was made into this by his last owners. With people he knows he is the sweetest dog alive.

That is awful for poor old Whiskey. It makes you so angry that people can treat dogs the way the previous owners did. At least he has had a good few years with you having lots of love and attention. Perhaps making up for the unhappy start to his life.

Could you not get some sedation tablets for him so when the vet comes round he will be zonked out ? Just clutching at straws ?

Lucy

Just what I was going to suggest. Maybe dope him up a bit and then take him to the vets.

Stinky fat dog has similar lumps of fatty tissue all over her. Vet says they're nothing to worry about.

But, best bite the bullet ( :D ) and get them checked out.

Could you not get some sedation tablets for him so when the vet comes round he will be zonked out ?

That made me laugh cause when we had the last lump taken out he had been sedated and the nurse removed his muzzle saying he would be fine now. He was basically on the floor and looked like he was out for the count. Next thing we knew he had jumped up and was trying to kill her. Not funny really but she was so sure he was safe.
Once he had had the GA thats when he was safe.

As for his last owners, poor Whiskey still cowers if you go anywhere near where he used to live. Put them in a room for 10 minutes with me and see how they feel afterwards. Not that I'm violent.

Poor old thing he must have been terribily badly treated to end up being so nervous. Do you know what they did to him?

Do you know whether they gave him the maximum dosage as they could have got it wrong ?

Lucy

His last owners kept him in a shed and threw his food in through the window. The only time he was taken out of the shed was to be tied to the washing line and beaten. They kicked his teeth in and broke his legs. Then at around 14 months of age he turned around and bit the women. Her husband took him up to the rescue centre and just said he was too big for them. The centre rehomed him 3 times and each time he was back in 24 hrs. So he really has had a hard time.
He is a very happy dog in familar surroundings and you do get glimpses of what he would have been like if he had not been abused sometimes.
At 9 years old he really does act like a 2 yr old. My mum always says he's enjoying the puppyhood he was never allowed.

Oh dear Nicolla. After reading about his past I can hardly see now for tears! :(

I keep picturing my own dog as he was maltreated and rescued just before he was 2. When the breeders got him back they weren't able to handle him for 2 weeks but I'm glad to say, 15 months later, he's now such a happy soul you'd never know. I'm so proud of him, he loves people now and eveyone comments on what a happy dog he is. His breeders saw him at SKC on Sunday and they're delighted.

I find it's so rewarding to be able to help a dog enjoy the life it deserves. It's just disgusting that anyone treats them in such a way in the first place. As you say, give us 10 minutes with the owners...............
Dot

If the lumps that you feel are fluidy they are more than likely just fatty lumps. My Brook has three now and the first one appeared in March. Working in a vets doesn't half give you paranoia cos I was screaming tumours, biopsies and I want his ashes back!!! Even if you get them removed they will probably grow back. I'm leaving the ones Brook has until they either start to annoy him or impede his movement in any way.

The rule of the thumb is that if the lumps are not attached and if they are clearly defined, (You can feel distinct edges to the lumps) they are in all possibilities just fatty tissue. If they are attached and if the edges are blurred then that is more likely to be a problem.

So saying, at 9 years old he is not that old yet and you really should get him to the vets. I would call in on your vet and ask for a strong sedative and an appointment. That way he will not be stressed and your vet will be able to examine him properly. He will no doubt draw a little off in a syringe and be able to do a biopsy on the sample.

Regards, John

Do you think the vet would just take some fluid off one lump or would he need to do it on all lumps?

When I spoke to my vet they said just to leave him alone if he was bad tempered!!!!!!!!!

If that was the attitude of my vet I think I would be changing Nicolla! After all, a wild animal at the zoo still needs a vet from time to time! With a good sedative examination should be no problem. I would imagine they would take him in and put him under to do it so would have plenty of time to check as many lumps as they felt necessary. My guess is they would only do one or two though.

Regards John

I'm afraid John I have already changed vets after the first ones told me he really wasn't worth worrying about with a temperment like that!!!!!!!!

Another vet told me he was a wild animal and should be shot!!!!!!!!!!!!

If he was like this because of something I did fair enough but he is like this because of abuse. I used to work with abused children and they were very similar it's just that most didn't bite!

It's such a shame when you have put in so much work to rehabilitate him. I really don't know what to recommend. Literally there is nothing you can do without a vet getting involved. There is so little a lay person is allowed by law to do to a dog. (Not that I’m saying that the average dog owner would be able to take a sample.) The restrictions are rather more than for any other animal. I think the veterinary profession have tended to look upon the dog as a meal ticket!

Sorry I can’t help you more!

Best wishes, John

Have spoken to a vet today that is out of my area and I'm going over to meet him next week. They are supposed to be very good.

So hopefully we can sort something out.

Hope you get something out of meeting this new vet.

Lucy

My Lurcher Merlin is covered in fatty lumps from tiny ones on his feet to much larger ones on his side. His mother was the same and went on to be 16 years old. Merlin is 12 now and the lumps will be left alone unless anything more serious happens. He is quite happy and smelly and affectionately known as the old git. At times the lumps seemed to appear overnight but for the most part have grown gradually. I have him checked out occasionally when I take another dog to the vet and so far all is okay. Hope it is the same for your boy. Good luck Jan

Hi Nicola

I adopted an old (approx 13-14) mongrel from our rescue centre just over a year ago. He is full of lumps and warts. One is almost as big as my fist on his side. He also has lumps of varying sizes everywhere else, including a few warts for good measure.

They don't seem to bother him, and I wouldn't put him through the hassle of any veterinary treatment (he is also deaf and partially blind). We've decided to just live with them. The only time I would have them removed is if they became too big and interfered with other bodily functions, or with his movement.

Katrina