TAZ'S STORY - MAST CELL TUMOUR
**warning - graphic images **
Meet Taz, a handsome young boy who went off to his new home in the summer of 2005. All was well in Taz's life, he lived the life of luxury and was totally spoilt.
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He really thought life couldn't get any better for him, and then along came Rosie in the summer of 2007. Now his life was complete, he was loved and had the bestest best friend in the world.
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Then the worst happened. Taz's Mum and Dad found a lump on his leg. Here is Taz's story, in his Mum's own words in her emails to Boxer Welfare Scotland.
4th January 2008
Dear Lorraine,
Just to let you know that poor Taz has been diagnosed with a mass cell tumour that the vet says is quite aggressive I'm waiting for an appointment to see a specialist to have it removed (its just by his elbow on his front right leg) He will need skin grafts after but hopefully we have caught it early enough so he'll be ok (fingers ,legs & toes crossed) I'll keep you informed as to how he gets on.......Thank goodness for insurance.....Rosie is happy and settled now and I just hope that being parted whilst he has surgery will not upset her too much (do dogs fret for each other??) As you can probably guess we are devastated but trying to think positive.
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10th January 2008
Just a quick update Taz had his op yesterday to remove the lump on his leg and is heavily bandaged up and feeling really sorry for himself (well he is male) He is under orders to have no walks until further notice so I had him crying at the back door when Rosie went out this morning. The vet says that for all his toileting he has to out in the garden on a lead so he cannot run around but Taz has never toileted in the garden since we have had him so it was a case of in the car to the canal towpath out the car let him have a pee back in the car and back home which we will have to do twice a day at least he has started eating again today which is good as he had nothing at all yesterday and just slept off the anaesthetic its going to be a long haul and even worse when he has the skin graft but were up to the challenge will keep you posted and take photos of a little BWS baby that is definitely not at his best I have also took some photos of the lump to let everyone see just how small it was to make everyone aware of just how a tiny lump can be so much of a problem.
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16th January 2008
Dear all
Taz has been given another week before the vet will look at doing the skin graft.I have took some photos of him with the lump then in his bandage and finally of the wound itself I'll get them down loaded and send them to you so you can see just how much of his skin they have taken for such a small lump. While we were there yesterday (we go for redressing every day) another boxer came in with a lump and he was being tested for a mast cell tumour so it must be more common than we thought. We are just hoping that it doesn't come back as it's very hard to keep him in and for him to see Rosie going for walks without him.. As she is now on her walks alone she is not running around like she does with Taz as they chase each other all over the place, usually after a ball, and even if they have one each they still want the same one. They are also putting on weight as we feel sorry for him and he gets extra bonio's and we can't leave Rosie out so she gets them too, hopefully when he is fully fit the running around will burn it off, if not it looks like both will be on a diet as we don't want them to get too fat as it's not healthy for them...Will keep you update as and when we hear more......
22nd January 2008
Dear all,
Taz is booked in to have his skin graft on Monday 28th Jan. The vet says it has took so long to be ready as he has very muscular legs so the gradients he needs for the skin graft to attach to have taken longer to form,so fingers crossed it all goes well and works first time, I'll be having all next week off to nurse him through it and try to keep him as calm as possible luckily his favourite pastime is snoozing so it should not be so bad if it had been Rosie then we would have been in trouble and would need tranquilisers to keep her calm ha ha...
28th January 2008
To All
Taz has come through his skin graft which was taken from his chest, he needs to go back on friday for a redress under sedation, thanks for all your support, attached is a pic of the small lump that has been the cause of the problem.
31st January 2008
These are the latest pictures of Taz since his skin graft op. I'm off to see the vet on Friday 31st Jan and will hopefully be told that it has taken and we can soon get him on the way to recovery. He is not a bad patient until his collar goes on then he is moaning and crying and will not settle at all.
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1st February 2008
I have just picked up Taz from the vets after his redress, and although the vet says we should not get too excited at the minute the skin graft is ok it could still all go wrong but i'm just glad that at the moment all is well so we must be doing the right thing which is comforting to know....His next appointment is on Wednesday for another redress and the vet says we still have a long way to go.
6th February 2008
We've just picked Taz up from the vets after his redress under sedation and although the vet says it's not the best skin graft he's seen it will not need re doing so all the fingers crossed seems to be working,he's back in on Monday when they will also remove the stitches from his back.So all in all it's looking good so we are really pleased. Taz at the minute is laying fast asleep on his memory foam bed that Lorraine sent him he absolutely loves it and as he does sleep alot it will certainly get used.....
7th February
GOOD NEWS the vet rang us last night to let us know how Taz's skin graft is going he says the sides have all taken and its only the middle piece that is a bit soft, still he's hopeful that the next 2 re dresses (1 Monday and 1 Sat) should find it fully attached, (if not he might need to do another skin graft but it will only be a tiny one) He will then go onto a smaller,lighter dressing. I forgot to ask him how long after that can we take him for a walk as it's been about 5 weeks since he went out and it must be driving him crackers. His fur is starting to grow back now and he's all stubbly instead of the smooth skin he had after he was shaved. I'll send some more photos after he has his stitches removed on Monday, although they usually come out between 7 to 10 days he needs to leave Taz's another 5 days as he has some puckered skin and they could come open again.
13th February
Here is the latest picture of Taz, his stitches have now been removed and the vet says one more of the stiff bandages which will be changed on Friday should be enough.The vet says that although it is not the best take of a skin graft it is ok and even if the middle doesn't take he's going to leave it to heal on its own, so it looks like we are coming to the end finally and hopefully he can start to go out for walks again very soon. If i get the chance to help with the softer dressings i will take a picture of the skin graft so you can see how it's all healed.
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18th February
Just a quick update on Taz we have had a bit of a set back..On Friday Taz had a softer bandage fitted instead of the more solid one after the skin graft. Obviously we have not seen the wound since the graft was done and was just being updated by the nurses and the vet as to how it was all going. Kev took him today for a concious dressing so was allowed to help, he said the graft looks fine but in addition to this he has developed a pressure sore the vet says it is from the bandage rubbing his skin, it is quite bad as it has completely took the top layer of skin away and is almost as big as the original wound. The vet has dressed it so it should soon heal. He is back on Wednesday for a redress so hopefully it wont set him back too much.
21st February 2008
As promised this is the picture of Taz's skin graft 3 weeks after it was done it looks a bit gruesome but the vet is happy with it and says it is coming on well.
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This is what happened while he had a hard cast on his leg it is from the constant rubbing and although it looks very sore and painful the vet assures us it will heal very well as only the top layer of skin has been worn away. He is coping very well at the moment even though he must be fed up as this has been going on for 5 weeks now and still more to come.
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2nd March 2008
Hi, another update on Taz. At the minute we are taking Taz every couple of days to the vets for a redress and we only see the Nurses, so far they are saying that it looks fine but we will know more on Wednesday when the vet will see him again. He still has the sore at the top of his leg but it is starting to heal over slowly and now the skin graft is getting more hairy so that means it has taken.His body hair has grown back remarkably quickly even the vet was surprised. I'll take some more pictures on Wednesday so you can see the results...Taz is becoming more mobile and it's getting harder to keep him still so he must be feeling better, he keeps trying to chase Rosie around and we have to stop him so his bandage doesn't slip (which it has on more than one occasion so we have to go back for another redress)
5th March 2008
Hi, I've just back from the vets and we've had good news and bad,the skin graft is all done now and if it was not for the pressure sore the bandages would have been left off but as it is he has now got to go everyday for a very light bandage redress to try and get it to heal as although it did seem to be healing, today it is worse than it was on Monday so he must wear the buster collar now at all times,because he will lick as much as he can even though we do watch him.Problem is Rosie has started to grab hold of the edge and thinks it's great fun to drag him around with it and when told to leave him alone looks up with a "it wasn't me" look on her face...As you can see from the photo's his hair is growing back very well so with daily visits and keeping him in his head collar over the next week we should be able to see the end in sight.....
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14th March 2008
Hi Karen I remembered the camera today and took these photo's as you can see the wounds are healing really well now and soon we will no longer be going everyday to have his dressing changed. Its been a long time and we cannot wait for the day the vet says that he can go out for walks again
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19th March 08
At last Taz is now without his bandages, but will still have to wear his lampshade, he can finally go out in a couple of days but we need to be careful as his foot will get sore very quickly as he has not used it for 2 1/2 months. He is no longer on any antibiotics and does not need to see the vet until next Wednesday.The vet told me to wash his foot especially between his toes (they absolutely stink) and twice a day I have to rub Aloe Vera into the skin graft. So we have finally come to the end and next week I will give a complete run down of all the costs incurred and let you know how his walks are going..I had to send the picture of Taz's last bandage which was put on yesterday, the veterinary nurse was bored so got the letters cut out spelling out "TAZ" and "WOOF" to stick on his leg not that he appreciates it. With going everyday we have got to know the nurses quite well and Taz is always glad to see them so what we are going to do at nights now I don't know.....
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28th March 08
Well Taz's treatment has finally come to an end its been a long hard journey but we've managed to get to the end at last. It seems an age ago when on the 31st of December 2007 what seemed like a little trip to the vets with a tiny lump turned out to be the start of nearly 3 months of treatment and it has carried on until Wed 26th March when Mr. Smith said that it was all over (He does want to see him in a months time and then again after 3 months to check the lump or any other has not returned) it has took a total of 87 days and has cost a whopping £2,888.66p made up of £1,982.19 in Fees £476.37p in Drugs and finally £430.10 in Vat..... I would like to say a big thank you to all at the Park Veterinary Group who have looked after Taz so well,from the receptionists to the nurses and vets with a special mention for Melissa and Jolene the 2 nurses that did all his bandages for him. Also a huge thank you has to go to Mr. Mark Smith the vet who carried out all the surgery and got the skin graft to take first time (which doesn't always happen)....Finally a thank you to "More Than" insurance company with out them this would have been an even bigger nightmare and of course a massive thank you to all at BWS who have been a great support to us both and especially to Karen who has done a great job with Taz's diary.
So please if you find a lump no matter how small get it checked and have a happy out come just as we have and the pictures attached show 2 happy dogs especially now the bandages and the lampshade collar has gone its just our bruises from it to heal now.
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THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR DOG!
Mast Cell Tumours are fairly common in boxers and can appear rapidly and grow quickly. These two photos show a histiocytoma and a mct, but could you tell them apart on your boxer?
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If you are ever in any doubt about a lump you find on your boxer, please take them to a vet immediately. In fact, why take the risk, always get any lumps checked out thoroughly by a professional.
We received the following email on 12th March 2008
Dear Boxer Welfare Scotland
I just wanted to thank you for your invaluable advice regarding MCT's. Our lovely 5 year old white boxer girl Mya is currently receiving treatment for MCT's.
Although Mya is not a Boxer Welfare girl, I am a frequent visitor to your web-site and was devastated when I saw Taz's blog as Mya had a small pink lump on her back leg and had had it for about 7 months. I had gone to my vet about it but was told just to keep an eye on it and come back if it changed.
I immediately made another appointment for Mya and after more poking and prodding of her found another 2 small lumps on her front leg and shoulder. I took her to the vets to have the lumps removed 2 weeks ago and unfortunately, the lump on her back leg was a grade 1 MCT and the one on her shoulder was a grade 2 MCT. The lump on her front leg turned out to be a fatty cyst.
Unfortunately, the vet didn't get enough clean margin on her shoulder and she is scheduled for further surgery on Friday 21 March which we are dreading but realise it needs to be done.
Up until I saw your information, I was completely ignorant concerning MCT's in Boxers and I can't thank you enough for highlighting it to boxer owners like myself. Unfortunately for Mya, we have had to learn about this terrible disease the wrong way.
Kind regards.
Jennifer & Marc and Mya of course.
Informational Links on MCT