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

[GreyhoundGirl]

Jen has a huge lump on her side. And I don't know why. I hope it isn't cancer. I am so worried about her that everynight I cry myself to sleep.

I have already taken her to the vet twice since april, it's too bad I hadn't realised it than and I could have mentioned it than.

I really wish I hadn't taken her to the vet to see why she was loosing wieght, because it turned out to be nothing. If I hadn't taken her, I would have had enough money to take her now to see if she has cancer.

It is a medium-sized, hard bump, on the right side of her chest. It's about an inch behind her shoulder. I would include a pic, but you can't see it in pics.

Does anyone have any ideas what it might be? other than cancer. Is there a way I can get rid of it without taking her to the vet?

Please help...

[Lescoop77]

I could be a tick, a cyst anything! I would go to the vet pronto!

[GreyhoundGirl]

I took her to the vet when she was loosing wieght, ( for nothing..... ) So now I don't have enough money to take her again. She has been to the vets twice since april.

[beeniesmom]

My dogs go to the vet almost once a month. They are always having issues.
The joys of dog ownership include vet visits.
For piece of mind. Save up some money and take her in.

[beeniesmom]

Not all lumps and bumps are cancer.
It may be a cist or an ingrown hair.
When did you first notice it?
Does it seem bigger than when you first noticed it.
I would take her to the vet again to get it checked out.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Not all lumps and bumps are cancer.
It may be a cist or an ingrown hair.
When did you first notice it?
Does it seem bigger than when you first noticed it.
I would take her to the vet again to get it checked out.

I noticed it about a week or so ago, at first I thought it was just her shoulder bone,( 'cuz she was lying down in a strange fashion. )

It seems about the same size as it used to be.

I hope it isn't cancer..... It's very hard.

[GreyhoundGirl]

How long would it take for something like this to get serious? I just took her to the vet a couple of weeks ago, so I only have about 30 $. I don't want to waste too much time saving while my girl might be getting sicker everyday.

[beeniesmom]

My bosses dog went from fine to terminal in less than a month.

You can read about her in the memorials. She had bone cancer. Her name was Bella.

It started as a small hard bump but was as big as an apple in a week.

[GreyhoundGirl]

How encouraging...... Is there any noticable difference between cancer and some of the other things you mentioned?

[beeniesmom]

When you do call, tell them the whole situation. That she was just in but you noticed the bump after etc... They may not charge you for a visit.
Ask them if they would give you at least a discount since she was just in.

[GreyhoundGirl]

When you do call, tell them the whole situation. That she was just in but you noticed the bump after etc... They may not charge you for a visit.
Ask them if they would give you at least a discount since she was just in.

That would be nice.

[sanford8916]

Our vet will let us set up a payment plan, it can't hurt to ask if your will let you make a few payments. Good luck!

[sanford8916]

Or maybe if you talk to your parents and tell them that you will work off the bill, or maybe you could babysit to get some extra money to pay back your parents. I know if my kids were so worried about our dogs, I would get the dog to the vet, even if it meant that a bill didn't get paid on time and I would certainly take their commitment to the dog more seriously if they were willing to help with the bill!

[dragondawg]

You have a 4 yr old Greyhound that you have recently noticed has a firm hard mass, which doesn't seem to be connected to underlying tissue. Although later you post a picture and note there are multiple lumps. The dog has been losing weight which the Vet wasn't able to diagnose. Loss of weight is common with cancer. The dog has a good appetite and high energy level, where low energy levels usually are associated with cancer. Thus mixed physical signals: Loss of weight bad, high energy good.

Since the mass is hard and not spongy it's not likely to be a fatty tumor. It could be a possible cyst depending on how long it had been there before noticed. It could be a sarcoma such as Hemangiopericytoma- slow to spread but will eventually. The only way you will know for sure is to get the dog to a Vet and have the Vet send off needle aspirates for all the lumps to a pathology lab. If it's something like Hemangiopericytoma then surgery will be required to remove it. If it turns out to be a cyst(s) then it may be as simple as aspirating them, and then treating with antibiotics, or surgical removal. If a fatty tumor then unless it impeads the motion of the dog, they are left alone.

Given your Vet charges an outlandish amount for visits, you might want to ask your local ASPCA if there is a Vet that would charge a more reasonable rate.

Dogs do not get cancer by running into things. They get injured.

A dog can get cancer at any age. I've heard of Lymphoma cases for 1 yr old dogs.

Get the needle aspirates performed, and determine the nature of the tumors.

[Dorothy39]

I just noticed the picture you posted of your dog, Jenny.


I looked pretty close but could not see the 3 bumps you have indentified.

Since Jenny's Vet charges outragious fees, I'd call other Vets. in your area and inquire what is to be expected for their examination in terms of costs.


But would heed the advice given above because wishing won't make these bumps go away. Compare costs and find out whether they provide a payment plan. I would think that your parents would help out, so long as they know you will pay them back when you can.

Hugs to You and Your Jenny