Rusty Has A Big Lump on His Back!!!!!

[Taliesyn88]

A couple of days ago, I noticed a small lump on Rusty's back, at first I didn't worry thinking it was a bruise or a mosquito bite. Now, 2 days later, the lump is large and irregular, tender to the touch, and solid. I checked for a bite mark from an insect, but found nothing. I am taking Rusty to the vet Monday, He has had several small histocytomas before, which were shiney, but this lump looks like it is under the skin. I am so scared that it may be a cancerous tumor. Rusty is 9 years old, so you never know what to expect. Please, I value your input on this!!!! If it is indeed cancer, I need to know more about what type boxers can get, and if they ever can get better from chemotherapy. I hope it is just a benign lump, but since it has grown rapidly in such a short time, I am very upset!!! Please say a prayer for Rusty!!!!

 

[Shakira's Ma]

I will definately say a prayer for Rusty. ((((((((positive)))))))) vibes also coming your way. Hope you find out it is nothing to worry about when you take him to the vets on Monday. Good Luck

 

[BeckyNC]

How can you tell the lump is tender? Does Rusty seem as if he's in pain when you squeeze it? What about when you push on it? The reason I ask is cancerous lumps are not usually tender. If you pull the lump up and squeeze it and he is in pain, it should not theoretically be cancerous. Cancerous lumps are usually painless, though they can cause pain when they infiltrate areas of the body.

It could be a fatty lipoma or possibly the manifestation of an infection.

Keep us posted!

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

Mia has a bump on her side that had me concerned and when I touched and pinched it, the bump would blanch but she did not even blink an eye so i nknew it did not hurt her. We ended up at the vet and she is taking a small dose of prednisone (5mg) 3x day and rubbing dermagen ointment on the bump. We believe it to be a spider bite that has not reduced in size and may later need to be removed surgically. The meds have made the bump smller and now more dimpled and pink.

I was panicked when I saw this bump, but now feel better. i hope Rusty's bump turns out to be something simple as wel and hope you are soon feeling relieved and not stressed. Good vibes heading your way!

Dora

 

[Taliesyn88]

Thanks to Everyone!!!

Thanks to everybody that has responded. It helps to know that people do care. I was reading about some very young boxers having cancer, it made me so very sad to realize they are so young, and the pain that the family has to go through in deciding what has to be done. I agree with BeckyNC, saying that if the lump is tender it is probably not cancer. If I barely touch the lump, Rusty winces. The poor guy hardly has any hair on his back anymore, so his skin is exposed to everything. I will still take him to the vet Monday to have it looked at. Thanks again for all of you who care, and I will keep you posted. Good luck with all of your boxer babies!!!!!

 

[SkippyToo]

Samson had a lump on his back once. It was close to his shoulder joints, if that is the correct word for them. It got large very fast and to say the least I was alarmed. The vet took a fluid sample, which was negative, and then determined that the lump was caused by a contact injury. That lump ended up causing Samson to limp for months on end. Antibiotics and careful attention, time, cured the problem. Today he no longer looks like the Hunchback from Notre Dame, I am not exagerrating.

I am wishing you the same luck with your baby. I am glad that you feel that people care, because they do. Please let us know how this works out. Hugs.

 

[BeckyNC]

Yeah, if Rusty is in pain when you barely touch the lump, I would be surprised if it turned out to be cancerous. It could be something like what Skippy Too mentioned or maybe he was bitten by a spider or some other critter? A fatty lipoma (which I mentioned as a possibility) should not cause pain.

 

[Taliesyn88]

The Lump Has Healed!!!!

Sorry I have not been on here in awhile, I have been very busy with work. I took Rusty to the vet, and found out that the lump was an infection, most likely caused by a contact injury. Since Rusty's back is hairless, I think one of the other boxers accidentally clawed him while getting onto the bed. The lump is now completely gone, and I am so relieved!!! Thank you all very much for your concern and caring, and good luck to all of you with your boxer babies!!!!!

Rusty sends you all slobbers and kidney beans, for all of you who have cared. He has been on a diet so he can finally turn in the middle, and do the bean again!!! Although his back has healed, I really have to pay attention to it, as any little injury may cause him to have another lump. He simply has very little hair up there!!! We all appreciate the caring and concern you have shown to us!!!! Thanks again!!!!!

 

[Beausolei]

Glad to hear the positive news. I don't know if you have tried it before or if it has been suggested to you, but my boy Beau had a condition with losing hair when he was very young and it continued until I applied the simplest of cures. Canned dog food. The vet told me he had extremely dry skin causing him to lose the hair and that an increase of oily food in the diet would help. In less than two months you would have never known there was a problem. I also use a oatmeal based shampoo on him. Like I said just a thought. It may very well just be old age, and I am far from the most knowledgeable source on this matter.

Andy

 

[Taliesyn88]

The Lump Is Gone, But There Is No Hair!!!!

today I noticed that where Rusty's lump was, there is absolutely no hair at all(not that there was much to begin with.) NOw the area is hairless, and the skin is bright pink, with a few red bumps in the middle. The poor guy looks funny, as his skin is gray, and the skin on the lump just sloughed off, leaving a bright pink spot. Has this happened to any of your boxers?? And, will any hair grow back???