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- Jun 3, 2008
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You''ve probably heard that saying "when it rains, it pours," right? Well, I''m here to tell ya, it''s the truth!
Many of you are aware that we very recently lost our Great Dane, Caesar. On the same day that Caesar passed away (Sunday, April 26), we discovered a problem with one of our two remaining dogs, Biko (pronounced "BEE-ko"). He''s a black lab/pit bull mix, and he''s about 14 years old. DH''s ex-wife adopted him from the SPCA before she and DH got together, so we''re not 100% certain of his age, but 14 is probably pretty close. We''ve been very lucky, though . . . he doesn''t act like he''s 14 at all! He runs around and plays like a dog half his age, and his appetite is wonderful. He does have a good bit of gray around his face, but that''s really the only way you''d know he''s 14! He walks with a tiny bit of a limp sometimes, but I think that''s because he had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his knee a few years ago. He walks much better since the surgery, but he still has a little bit of a limp from time to time.
Biko has quite a few fatty tumors all over him, just under his skin. Most of these are not visible, but you can feel them when you pet him. Generally, they''re about the size and shape of a small grape, and you can move them around a little bit under his skin. The vet has checked all of these, and says they''re completely normal for a dog of his age, and absolutely nothing to worry about. The vet said he would only worry if we find something like that on him, but it DOESN''T move around and feels like it''s solidly anchored in place. We haven''t found anything like that, thank God.
However, the lump we found most recently is MUCH larger than the rest. It''s probably about the size of my fist. (Granted, I have pretty small fists, but still!) It does move around like the rest of them do, but it''s in a funny spot . . . in the hollow where his hind leg attaches to his body. He lets us mess with it and it doesn''t seem to cause him any pain, so I guess that''s a good sign (hopefully).
I called the vet''s office and made an appointment for him on Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. (That was the first available appointment with our regular vet.) The vet tech I spoke to said we shouldn''t worry as long as he''s acting normal (eating, playing, etc.), which he is. She said we should call the office immediately if any of that changes, or if the lump gets any bigger or seems to be painful, because the vet will want to see him the same day.
So, here''s hoping that he continues to act like his usual self, and that the appointment on May 13 goes well! Needless to say, I''m worried.
Many of you are aware that we very recently lost our Great Dane, Caesar. On the same day that Caesar passed away (Sunday, April 26), we discovered a problem with one of our two remaining dogs, Biko (pronounced "BEE-ko"). He''s a black lab/pit bull mix, and he''s about 14 years old. DH''s ex-wife adopted him from the SPCA before she and DH got together, so we''re not 100% certain of his age, but 14 is probably pretty close. We''ve been very lucky, though . . . he doesn''t act like he''s 14 at all! He runs around and plays like a dog half his age, and his appetite is wonderful. He does have a good bit of gray around his face, but that''s really the only way you''d know he''s 14! He walks with a tiny bit of a limp sometimes, but I think that''s because he had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his knee a few years ago. He walks much better since the surgery, but he still has a little bit of a limp from time to time.
Biko has quite a few fatty tumors all over him, just under his skin. Most of these are not visible, but you can feel them when you pet him. Generally, they''re about the size and shape of a small grape, and you can move them around a little bit under his skin. The vet has checked all of these, and says they''re completely normal for a dog of his age, and absolutely nothing to worry about. The vet said he would only worry if we find something like that on him, but it DOESN''T move around and feels like it''s solidly anchored in place. We haven''t found anything like that, thank God.
However, the lump we found most recently is MUCH larger than the rest. It''s probably about the size of my fist. (Granted, I have pretty small fists, but still!) It does move around like the rest of them do, but it''s in a funny spot . . . in the hollow where his hind leg attaches to his body. He lets us mess with it and it doesn''t seem to cause him any pain, so I guess that''s a good sign (hopefully).
I called the vet''s office and made an appointment for him on Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. (That was the first available appointment with our regular vet.) The vet tech I spoke to said we shouldn''t worry as long as he''s acting normal (eating, playing, etc.), which he is. She said we should call the office immediately if any of that changes, or if the lump gets any bigger or seems to be painful, because the vet will want to see him the same day.
So, here''s hoping that he continues to act like his usual self, and that the appointment on May 13 goes well! Needless to say, I''m worried.
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