Help, I am so worried about my girl.....:(

[GreyhoundGirl]

I think it's getting smaller. I noticed it wasn't stopping the brush as much today.

What would get smaller by itself. Cancer wouldn't. Would cists?

[Dorothy39]

Greyhoundgirl, I don't know.

Jenny may have simply had a reaction to a "bite" ( insect, ? bee?)

As far as cysts, no, I don't think a cyst, left un detected/treated, would go away on its own. But, I have no experience with cysts on dogs either.

Cancer? Again, a NO, lumps and bumps that are cancerous will grow, and , spread .

I am wondering about this "bump" on your Jenny!!!!

I am glad that you have noticed it is smaller!

[GreyhoundGirl]

I'm really . None of my dogs have had this sort of things before. ( Phew ! ) It's an odd-ball. I'm pretty sure it IS smaller, though....

Does anyone else have any ideas as to what it might be?

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Does anyone else have any ideas as to what it might be?

The only way to know for sure is to have a vet examine it. Ask around, I'm sure you can find a vet who is more affordable than your current one. I would take her to the vet.

[Glacier]

What would get smaller by itself. Cancer wouldn't. Would cists?

Mast cell cancer would. The hallmark of a mast cell tumor is that it changes size regularly. My Paxil has had mast cell cancer twice. The first tumor would go from the size of my fist to a the size of my thumb in the course of a day or two. The second time she had two tumors, much smaller ones, but they grew rapidly, especially once they were touched. The tumors were removed and Paxil is fine now.

The only way to know for sure is to get her to a vet and get a biopsy done asap. If it is cancer or something serious, the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to treat successfully.

[GreyhoundGirl]

I don't think it's growing and shrinking THAT fast.

[Glacier]

I don't think it's growing and shrinking THAT fast.

Doesn't matter. Paxil's tumors would stay the same size for long periods of time. Then they would grow like crazy and shrink again. They were still cancerous and life-threatening. Mast cell tumors can respond to stress and being touched. If I had left them longer, they would have gone from just under to her skin to invading her internal organs. She would no longer be with me. She got proper treatment and is thriving.

Regardless, your dog needs to see a vet. You aren't going to get an answer posting on the internet. A real, live, trained vet needs to see her and the sooner the better.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Doesn't matter. Paxil's tumors would stay the same size for long periods of time. Then they would grow like crazy and shrink again. They were still cancerous and life-threatening. Mast cell tumors can respond to stress and being touched. If I had left them longer, they would have gone from just under to her skin to invading her internal organs. She would no longer be with me. She got proper treatment and is thriving.

Regardless, your dog needs to see a vet. You aren't going to get an answer posting on the internet. A real, live, trained vet needs to see her and the sooner the better.

I know...... I've gotta see a vet. But I thought that if it were getting smaller, that it might be getting better. ( what's wrong with hopeful thinking ?! )

Does ( the part I bolded ) mean that it would be touch-sensitive? Because she'll let me touch it, pull it, squish it and try and examine it at length.

[Glacier]

Does ( the part I bolded ) mean that it would be touch-sensitive? Because she'll let me touch it, pull it, squish it and try and examine it at length.

It may not cause her pain to touch them. Paxil never seemed to be in any pain from them. The cells themselves react to being touched. Mast cells are part of everyone's immune systems, including cats and dogs. The tumors are a serious over-reaction of the immune system, basically. My vet has told me that as soon as he confirms a lump is mast cell cancer, it needs to come off asap. As he puts it, "they get ticked off" and become more aggressive.

Have you checked other vets in your area for their prices? Your vet's seem ridiculously high! My vet is pretty much the only game in town where I live. There is another clinic, but I wouldn't trust them with a goldfish! He could charge whatever the heck he wants and people would have no choice but to pay it. I pay 40 bucks for an exam. Paxil's treatment has cost a total of about 1000 dollars, including surgery, bloodwork and biopsies.

[luvofallhorses]

please take her to the vet. Its better to be safe than sorry.

[Bronx'sBower]

I have had a hard time not following this post, originally I wasn't going to say anything but...since I'm here ...I just wondered if you had a chance to call the vet and if so what they would or did say? I hope your baby girl is alright and most importantly I hope you and/or your parents can find the funds necessary...I am thankful my baby hasn't gotten too sick but I did have him neutered a couple weeks ago and that cost me $165-with meds. I understand that sometimes in life it's hard to survive and sometimes it's hard to have extra money to save. We have no children but I am a full time college student so my DH works full time to support both of us and Bower...sometimes we go without food or cable to make sure he is fed and maintained properly~but that is the sacrifice we made. Years ago I got a dental credit card and it just so happened I could also charge vet services. It's been a blessing because when we adopted Bower we knew we got a $50 deposit back, we just didn't know it would cost almost $200 (and I work for a vet!). My point is maybe your parents can look into Care Credit? Or even some type of pet insurance...pet ins. usually runs at most $20 a month and thats usually the best plan. I just pray your baby turns out alright and hopefully you can get either of the above and if anything ever happened again you would be saved a lot of heartache and stress....This is my opinion and I don't mean to come across harsh-I just like to stress how expensive our beautiful furbabies can cost....