Histiocytoma (Finn's vet visit)

[finn's mom]

I took Finn to the vet today to get heartworm and flea preventatives. My vet said he could stand to lose about ten pounds, which is what I figured. He's about 88 right now. I'm going to cut back on his meals and exercise him more. If I don't see results, I'll take him for some testing on his thyroid, just to be sure. So, wish us luck on his new weight loss regimen. He also has a benign tumor called a "button tumor" or Histiocytoma on his right front foot, between two toes. Poor thing, when I noticed something was wrong, his foot was about twice the size of the other paw, but, I couldn't see anything visibly wrong. So, I worried that he may have broken a toe or sprained his foot or something. But, later that night, I noticed a red, strawberry looking bump there. So, I was relieved, actually, because I thought maybe it was just a bee sting or some other kind of insect bite. Which still stinks, but, better than a break! I drained it for him a couple of times that night and a few times yesterday throughout the day. When I took him in today, she said it was actually a Histiocytoma. It is already in regression, and, she said it's common in younger dogs, and, she sees it often in labs. Anyway, his vet visit today went very well, it's good to see our vet again (she's been my vet for over ten years). I mostly wanted to post this so if anything like that comes up on your dog, you might know better what it is. It totally looked like a strawberry when it first came up, it was red, raised, and, sparsely haired. My vet said she usually sees them on the dog's face, but, they can basically pop up anywhere. Finn's, being between his toes, was pretty uncomfortable for him. But, everything is great! Just gotta lose those few pounds, and, we'll be back to a leaner Finn!

[RobiLee]

Well, all things said it sounds like the vet visit went well. Does the hystiocytoma just clear up on its own? I hope it doesn't give Finn too many problems. I can't believe he needs to lose 10 pounds. He has always looked like such a lean and healthy boy in all his pics, but I don't think I've seen him for awhile. Wishing him all the best on losing the extra pounds. You can do it, Finn!

[finn's mom]

Well, all things said it sounds like the vet visit went well. Does the hystiocytoma just clear up on its own? I hope it doesn't give Finn too many problems. I can't believe he needs to lose 10 pounds. He has always looked like such a lean and healthy boy in all his pics, but I don't think I've seen him for awhile. Wishing him all the best on losing the extra pounds. You can do it, Finn!

I'll bump up the most recent thread so you can see, but, yeah, he has always been very lean and I like him that way, and, it's just healthier. Even though people gave me crap all the time about him being too small. But, i think once he's around 75 pounds, he'll be in perfect condition. I'm going to get up with David in the morning and jog Finn about half a mile. It's so much cooler then. And, David runs in the afternoons, too, so, that will be a mile a day, split up into two runs. It is so hot in the afternoon, though, and, it's only going to get hotter. That's why I want to do the morning thing, because I think the afternoon ones will stop very soon.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I was so sick this winter, and, the water was so cold, he didn't get as much exercise as he should have, teamed with my parents giving him more junk treats than I would have liked. I'll be posting his progress in pictures!

As for the tumor, it's already not bothering him at all. It bothered him for the majority of Sunday, he wouldn't even put his foot down at all. I gave him some baby aspirin to help some with the pain. And, then when we saw the lump and thought it was a bite or sting, we gave him a couple benadryl. I'm glad to know it's not uncommon, and, not dangerous. It's already drying up and, as my vet said, regressing! So, yeah, the vet visit went well, he loved up on everyone there!

[CagneyDog]

As for the tumor, it's already not bothering him at all. It bothered him for the majority of Sunday, he wouldn't even put his foot down at all'

Poor guy At least it's getting better.

Keep us posted on his weight loss. I'm sure it will come off quickly with the morning jogs and less food. Is he still able to swim a lot now?

Anyways, give him a hug for me!

[anna_66]

Good to hear that it was nothing serious, I almost got a bit scared when I seen the title because I didn't know what it was
I'm sure once Finn gets to moving the pounds will just fall off him in no time!

Lots of hugs and kisses to your big guy (no pun intended)!!!

[Daisy and Delilah]

Feel better Finn!! We don't like it when our big, beautiful, boy has anything wrong. We hope you get better soon sweetheart and glad it's nothing to worry about. We don't think you're overweight either cause you look like a real hunky hunk to us. Tell Mom to keep us posted on how you're doing and we send extra kisses for you from us here in Florida. We ♥ you Finn!!

[finn's mom]

Poor guy At least it's getting better.

Keep us posted on his weight loss. I'm sure it will come off quickly with the morning jogs and less food. Is he still able to swim a lot now?

Anyways, give him a hug for me!

i hugged him just from you already! i took him for a morning half mile jog today. well, i probably jogged just over half of that, and, walked quickly the other. i've never jogged before in my life, blech, so, it wasn't easy! it was a breeze for finn, though, especially since he's been jogging with david several times already. we're jogging him a half mile at a time, and, we'll gradually increase him as he gets acclimated to the weather and the exercise. He got to really swim at the lake on Saturday. And, there's an open range park, a couple hundred acres!, that we take the dogs to a couple times a week where he can play in the stream. But, he's just getting wet, not really swimming! But, I plan to learn how to load the boat and drive the truck with the boat and all that, so that I can take him out during the week, too! For now, he swims mostly on the weekends. And, I'm still working on getting a bike and a Springer for him. So, that will be something else we will do together.

[finn's mom]

Good to hear that it was nothing serious, I almost got a bit scared when I seen the title because I didn't know what it was
I'm sure once Finn gets to moving the pounds will just fall off him in no time!

Lots of hugs and kisses to your big guy (no pun intended)!!!

hahaha, that's ok! even when he's a little lighter, he'll still be a big guy! no offense taken at all! i'm sure it won't take long to get him to where he should be, he's enjoying the jogs and has really taken to it. so, that's good! and, yeah, i'm not worried at all about the tumor on his toe. dr. ballard assured me it was nothing to worry about and she is one of the very few people in my life that i trust 100%. but, yeah, i can see why the title might sound scary, it is a big, ugly word! dr. ballard didn't mention the word til she told me that it was common and not anything to worry about. sorry i scared you!

[finn's mom]

Feel better Finn!! We don't like it when our big, beautiful, boy has anything wrong. We hope you get better soon sweetheart and glad it's nothing to worry about. We don't think you're overweight either cause you look like a real hunky hunk to us. Tell Mom to keep us posted on how you're doing and we send extra kisses for you from us here in Florida. We ♥ you Finn!!

Thanks, Terry! Finn loves your girls, too! And, I know, many people don't think he looks like he needs to lose at all, I know my parents didn't really see it. But, you'll see, he'll look like a strapping big lab once I get him to a good place, as far as his weight goes. But, he is quite a hunk, either way. xoxoxoxo from Texas!