Histiocytoma- Still here after 2 months

[axp113]

Our Harley has had a histiocytoma for 2 months now. The vet said that it should go away and didn't give any remedies for it. We spoke to some other people who have had boxers and they suggested putting peroxide and then cortizone cream on it 2 times a day and it should go away, but it hasn't gotten smaller. Do you have any suggestions on how to help him with this? SHould we have it surgically removed?

 

[KonaKoffe]

Our older dogs had lumps and moles that we just kept an eye on. Unless it is changing in anyway I would just keep an eye on it.

 

[Net45582]

Was a biopsy done to make sure it is a histiocytoma?

 

[axp113]

there was no biopsy done. it looked like other histiocytoma's or button tumors.

 

[Net45582]

I would go ahead and get a biopsy done .

 

[Ozzie]

It sounds like Harley's veterinarian is pretty sure it's a histiocytoma. Then again, a biopsy would certainly confirm it one way or the other...

A few months ago, Ozzie had a histiocytoma on his muzzle that was about the size of a pencil eraser. At the time, the local veterinarian did do a fine needle biopsy that was negative, and he prescribed a synotic solution that I applied to the lesion 2X a day.

I'm still not sure if that solution really did anything, but after about 6-8 weeks the bump did go away. Maybe it was just time that made it eventually go away...I'm not really sure.

Regarding surgical removal, I think the approach with histiocytomas--assuming that's what this bump really is-- is to wait and hope they just go away. I certainly wouldn't want to have any surgery done for a bump that still may go away over time, but again, you may want to consider eliminating the guesswork and having the biopsy done.

I wish you guys the best. Hopefully, time will run it's course and the bump will just go away.

Bob.

 

[crazychopper]

histocytoma

Chopper had 1 on his leg and that thing stayed for about 4 1/2 months it bled scabbed over opened up everything then one day it just dried up and went away.

 

[GoCougs]

Patience. It will go away. No matter what you try to treat it with, it will go away on it's own. I've tried all the voodoo magic on hystios, with very inconsistent and mixed results.

One of ours had a hystio for over 7 months. One day you wake up, and TAH-DAH...it's gone. Usually after you've given up on treatment.

If you want to biopsy it, or have it removed, go ahead. Your vet would gladly take your money. However, if your vet said it's a hystio and it will go away, it probably will. If you don't feel comfortable with that diagnosis, it's probably time to find a new vet.

 

[SuzanneC]

Keep an eye on it. Almost every histiocytoma will go away, it just takes time. However, a very small percentage of histiocytomas will suddenly start growing. My Bullmastiff had one on his foot that was pencil eraser-sized for two months, then suddenly blew up to the size of a quarter and had to be surgically excised. When my vet saw what was happening, he mentioned seeing a Boxer several months ago with a histiocytoma on her side that grew to be fist-sized, and was difficult to remove. So, generally leave them alone, but if you notice sudden growth, get it removed ASAP.

 

[Albie]

Jack had a histiocytoma removed in January. His started out looking like a scrape or bug bite, and eventually grew to about the size of a quarter. From the time we first noticed the spot, until we had it removed was probably about 2 months. Jack's histio was on his back leg and after he would play for a while, it would just start bleeding everywhere. The vet said that histios are very vascular which is why it would bleed for no reason. Jack was scheduled to be neutered which was why we had it removed when we did. I probably would have given it a bit more time if he wasn't already going to be under for the neuter.