Lacey - UPDATE Pg 2, #19; had her mastectomy today.

[Freedom]

Lacey is home! As the vet said, this was not one of her better days. Things do look good, in spite of the info below. If you get squeamish, do not read further!

I hadn't noticed, but by the time the vet saw her this morning, that nipple was oozing. yucky Bad sign. When I went in to pick her up, I was told, "The vet wants to talk to you." OK now I get really nervous.

There is a lot of bruising around the surgical site. Much more than normal, more than the vet would like. Lacey was there long enough that, if there was internal bleeding, the vet feels she would have seen it by now. One area, she did have a lot of trouble stopping the bleeding and had to put in a LOT of stitches. I have to watch the site for swelling or oozing. Either one, get Lacey to the vet ASAP, the ER vet if mine is closed. Lacey came out of the anesthesia and surgery fine. Later, Lacey did vomit once and got herself really nervous and worked up. They gave her both IV fluids and sub cutaneous fluids (neither a normal part for this type surgery). They changed pain meds to something less hard on the stomach and hope that and giving her some food this evening will help settle her. The vet said she expects getting Lacey home will be the best thing for her at this point.

There were no fingers or threads, the tumor was self contained. The vet was able to take some fatty tissue from all around it, feels confident she got all of it. Now we just need the biopsy results, probably next Wednesday.

[lizbud]

I hope Lacey heals up quickley. It is really amazing what Vets are
able to do for animals these days. I hope she is able to get comfortable
and get the rest she needs.

[chocolatepuppy]

What an ordeal for Lacey. I hope she heals quickly and that the biopsy results are good news.

[Moesha]

I hope things go better for her recovery than for the surgery. Keep us posted when you get the biopsy results please. Does she have to have a cone?

[Freedom]

Yes, she is wearing the E collar for at least 10 days, possibly 14 days. And I have plenty of pain meds for her for 5 to 8 days. The sutures are mostly internal, and the rest are dissolvable, so she does not have to return.

Lacey has been sleeping since she arrived home. I've offered food but thus far she is only interested in sleeping -- here on the sofa in the family room with all of us. The effects of the anesthesia can leave her groggy for 1 to 2 days.

She is on leash walks for bathroom business only, for 10 to 14 days, no long walks until she is fully healed. She is not "supposed" to jump, but she hopped up on the sofa when we first got home before I could stop her.

[Karen]

I'm glad she is home, and feeling well enough to jump on the sofa, even if she's not supposed to. We'll say a prayer that she heals quickly and completely.

[Freedom]

Biopsy results are in. Not the best news, but not the worst, either.

Low grade malignancy. Seems entire tumor was excised, there is a border a the way around with no "bad" cells in that border.

Recommend closely watching patient for possible recurrence, and recommend chest x rays. That is because this stuff moves NOT to the other nipples, but to the lungs. I asked what happens if we do the x rays. Either we find nothing (GREAT) or we find something and start chemo IF that is what I want to do. I already know I am not putting Lacey through chemo. So no reason to do the x rays.

I had Lacey in to the vet this evening. She is not recovering as expected. She won't eat or drink, barely takes 2 bites hot dog per day. She has lost 1.5 pounds since Friday. The vet checked her all over: no temp, no tenderness, so discoloring, no signs of internal bleeding, no signs of infection. We did give Lacey a long term antibiotic shot, just in case there IS an infection, which we can't find.

Other options include: redo the blood work -- all was well before the surgery and there really should not be anything other than, perhaps, an infection. Appetizer pills to encourage her to eat. Fluids, although Lacey is not "clinically dehydrated" at this time. (How come? I haven't seen her drink at all since she came home Friday at 4 PM!)

Vet admitted she is stumped. Also said it was obvious to her when Lacey walked in that she is not at the point the vet would have expected her to be at by this time.

Going to wait another day or 2, and then maybe try the appetizer pills.

[chocolatepuppy]

I'm sorry not better news. Hopefully Lacey will be fine for years.

[cassiesmom]

Oh, Lacey! On the one hand I am very glad the margins were clean and I hope nothing ever shows up on a chest x-ray. On the other hand, sweety, please drink and eat something, please, pretty please?

Hugs from your fan,
Elyse

[MonicanHonda]

I hope Lacey gets better. That is a long time to not eat or drink. Poor baby. I hope she starts getting better poor thing.

[caseysmom]

Sending some good thoughts for Lacey.