Mast cell tumor and Antihistamines

[TT_love]

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Hi,

This is my first post, motivated sadly by my 14 year old Tibetan Terrier likely having a mast cell tumor, just waiting on the FNA results.

I have been reading that antihistamines can help as they reduce the histamine that causes the tumour.

I wondered if anyone had experience of this or knew more. I feel a little helpless as we wait. I just don't feel overly confident with the vet, our surgery has many, some great and others not so.

At the moment my TT seems fine, she is eatting well, drinking, going out. She is more sleepy, but at 14 she will be.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[JoanneF]

I've heard that too, but obviously please talk to your vet before doing anything. I couldn't find the source of my information, the page I had bookmarked has been moved.

 

[JudyN]

I'm sorry your Tib isn't well. Could you ask to see a different vet at the practice? You could just say that it's always worth getting a second opinion, or that your dog particularly likes that vet.

 

[TT_love]

I've heard that too, but obviously please talk to your vet before doing anything. I couldn't find the source of my information, the page I had bookmarked has been moved.

I'm sorry your Tib isn't well. Could you ask to see a different vet at the practice? You could just say that it's always worth getting a second opinion, or that your dog particularly likes that vet.

Thank you for the replies. We moved recently back to London and used to have a wonderful mobile vet who would visit the house. Always the same person. I am thinking of maybe calling them, they do have a practice on a farm.
Although I'm not sure if vets are comfortable with a change back out of the area. Although it's only 45mins away.

We have two TT's and we actually took the younger one in the day before I spotted the lump on my older dog. That vet checked her weight, and listened to her heart etc etc.

I had none of this with the other vet we saw. I guess on the plus side they took a sample quickly as I have read on the forum other people were told to wait to see how the lump behaved.

I won't give her anything before speaking to the vet. This lump has appeared quite quickly as I groom her regularly and it wasn't there last week.

 

[Flobo]

I am sorry to hear this, it always the worst time when you don't know. I would give the vets you know a call, if you're prepared to drive to see them I can't think why they would have a problem with it. At the very least it's worth a phone call as this is a vet you trust and knows your dogs. (And I also have to agree with Judy about asking to see a different vet if need be at your current practice)

 

[TT_love]

I am sorry to hear this, it always the worst time when you don't know. I would give the vets you know a call, if you're prepared to drive to see them I can't think why they would have a problem with it. At the very least it's worth a phone call as this is a vet you trust and knows your dogs. (And I also have to agree with Judy about asking to see a different vet if need be at your current practice)

Thank you. I will see what happens when the results come back and then contact our previous vet.

Out of interest does anyone know what the procedure is for removal? Currently it's quite small.

Do they use a general anesthetic?

We caught early pyometra this time last year, so a major op. I hoped they could cut this out with a local.

I don't want to keep putting her through these surgeries.

If it's confirmed as a cancer then I gather they remove it and test it to see how aggressive it is.

As she is 14 I'm not going down the road of any full on treatments

I have my fingers crossed its just a Histiocytoma, but I believe that is more common in younger dogs.

 

[JoanneF]

does anyone know what the procedure is for removal?

Yes, my dog had a MCT a number of years ago. It was removed under GA just as you said, they got clear margins and it has never recurred.

I think you said it came up suddenly, I'd take that as something to be optimistic about. My dog's one developed slowly. Obviously there's no guarantees, I'm not a vet and I haven't seen your dog but fingers crossed. You will let us know, won't you?

 

[TT_love]

Yes, my dog had a MCT a number of years ago. It was removed under GA just as you said, they got clear margins and it has never recurred.

I think you said it came up suddenly, I'd take that as something to be optimistic about. My dog's one developed slowly. Obviously there's no guarantees, I'm not a vet and I haven't seen your dog but fingers crossed. You will let us know, won't you?

Thank you. I guess reading about it tied into allergies, she was scratching a great deal so I treated her for fleas. But I am wondering if it's an allergy now as she is still scratching. But not the area of the lump, in actual fact that doesn't seem to bother her at all.

We also have building work going on, so lots of dust.

I will definitely post an update, once I know. Its one of my irritations. Reading through lots of posts on a topic and then the OP vanishes without trace before posting the outcome .

I hope to know early next week.

 

[TT_love]

Hi,

I just received a call from the vet, the results came back a round cell tumor, so it seems they are still not sure if it's a mast cell or a histiocytoma. They have advised surgery to remove it and then test it.

At first he thought she was a cat so I had to correct him.

If it was a histiocytoma, how long do they take to go?