It's A Berner-ful Life: Surgery

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Sunday, March 29, 2009

Surgery

I was not going to blog about this until I knew more, but . . .

Maggie had surgery this morning.

About 6 weeks ago, I found two tiny lumps on her belly. I had the vet look at them when we were in for one of her splint changes. He didn't seem too concerned and said that they were too small to do the needle biopsy that I asked to be done. The little lumps seemed to be getting bigger and they were really bothering me, so I had them looked at again by a different vet. This vet is fairly certain that the lumps are mammary tissue and that they should be removed and sent away for a histopathological examination. During the surgery, she found a third lump that was just starting to develop. The risk of mammary cancer in dogs that have been spayed before their first heat is very low, but, Bernese have an alarmingly high rate of cancer overall, so I am worried. We will have the pathology tests back in about a week.

6 comments:

Paws on the RunMarch 30, 2009 at 2:41 PM
my fingers are crossed for you and maggie!!

amanda not wendy :o)
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onecollieMarch 30, 2009 at 7:26 PM
oh Kim, I hope Maggie will be ok....my thoughts are with you!
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Paws on the RunMarch 30, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Poor Maggie. If it isn't one thing, it is another. We'll be thinking of her!

Wendy not Amanda :0)
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SarahMarch 31, 2009 at 9:19 AM
hugs to you and maggie :)
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AnonymousMarch 31, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Oh Kim, this is the worst type of worry. Our thoughts and hearts are with you and Maggie while you wait for word.
Rick
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AnonymousApril 3, 2009 at 1:19 PM
keeping our fingers crossed here for you, you can see she's an amazing dog just by following the blog x
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An Extraordinary Dog For Extraordinary People

"The Bernese Mountain Dog is different from most other dogs in many respects. Take his size, for example. Everything about a fully grown Bernese is big and strong, massive and mighty; his body, his paws, his teeth , his tongue, his tail,his emotions, his responses, his will, his good, and when they exist, not-so-good habits. Anyone who wants to adopt a Berner needs to think large. A Berner cannot be carried to the vet's in a basket; a struggling Berner cannot be pulled along on a leash; a fully-grown Bernese cannot be forced into a down position by the use of a hand-or even two. A Berner cannot be bathed in a sink, scooped up with an arm, or lifted across a puddle. A Berner slurps water with a bigger tongue from a bigger bowl (and thus slobbers more water on his folks); his coat takes longer to brush; he must go for longer walks. A Berner's paw leaves bigger , deeper, muddier tracks in the house, in flowerbeds, in the car, and on clothes; he shakes off more water upon entering the house after a hike in the rain; his tail wags with greater strength at a higher lever; he barks less frequently, but louder. A Berner bounces more merrily, mourns more deeply, sulks more sadly, resists more strongly, clings more closely, and loves more intensely. A Berner Sennenhund requires more than the little finger. He needs the whole hand, no both hands; no, still not enough. A Berner needs the total person."

---excerpt from"The Bernese Mountain Dog A Dog of Destiny" by Bernd Guenter.