Good news from the clinic! It isn’t a bone tumor. Those are dangerous indeed due to the limited scope of action: amputation is hardly ever possible and sadly, it is the only surgical intervention that could be performed anyway. In reality, the sole treatment available for bone tumors is radiotherapy.
A FORTUNATE DIAGNOSIS
31 January 2024
We would like to share a medical intervention that we did last year in Bulgaria to illustrate the kind of surgery the Vets are performing, beside mass-neutering.
Every time we have a neutering campaign there is a variety of cases we see outside our target group. We don’t work only within the confines of the local municipality but have a reach well outside of it. There are many shelters in the country as well as other animal welfare organisations that are familiar with what we do and seek out our help. We are honoured to be trusted for our commitment and our work – and we always do our very best to respond.
We receive a phone call about a dog from Sandanski town, currently housed in a local shelter. Our last campaign included the animals in that shelter and we even neutered our future patient. We are told the dog has a large tumor under its lower jaw. It’s impossible to diagnose the case over the phone – it may very well be a bone tumor. So we ask the concerned staff who called us to bring the dog to our clinic.
All signs point to the growth having the characteristics of a benign tumor. It has become very enlarged rapidly and now it gets aggravated each time the dog bows its head to eat. It could grow hugely in size and fill our friend’s life with agony. We are going to remove it immediately.
While another dog gets its ultrasound examination wrapped up we determine how the tumor is attached to the tissues.
Once we have completed our scheduled neutering interventions for the day we have time for the tumor removal. It is pre-op time.
If everything goes as expected and we don’t encounter unforseen obstacles, the surgery should go smoothly and is supposed to take a little over an hour.
A very satisfying post-op checkup on the following day. The swelling we observe is normal after this kind of intervention and will dissipate within a few days. The common problem post-surgery in such cases is whether there will be enough skin to close up the spot where the incision to remove the tumor is. Thankfully, the spot here won’t present a challenge in that regard.
Another day later, our patient is released from our care with an excellent prognosis for full recovery. It may be a stray but a stray born under a lucky star, for there are kind people to look after it in such time of serious need. It is our calling in life to provide the necessary help.
