Throat mass

[crookedhalo1]

Took my 10 month old male boxer, Trigger, to the vet for trouble breathing and weight loss. She found a mass in his neck/throat that is obstructing his breathing. My dumb self thought we were dealing with a soft pallett. He, more or less, sounds like an old man clearing his throat and hacking when he eats/sleeps/excercises. He has been placed on antibiotics until Thursday and will undergo a biopsy and xray, at which point I will need to sign over the rights to my first born child. But hey - to me its not an option! I am a basketcase right now and just curious if anyone has experienced anything similar that didn't turn out to be cancer. The vet, of course, gave several options but I don't know if she was just trying to be an optimist. Lodged sharp object which has become infected, mass that has developed since birth, tumor, etc. Thank you for any advice or experiences you can offer.

 

[Austin's Mom]

I don't have any advice but want to send your baby lots of positive vibes and hope that it isn't anything serious.

 

[Gruntsmom]

No advice from me either, but sending lots of healing and positive vibes to Trigger. Please keep us posted on how he's doing.

 

[joeys mom]

So sorry no advice either but sending lots of healing and postive vibes! please keep us posted on how the biopsy and x-rays go!

 

[atlasmom911]

Sending lots of positive healing vibes for your baby.

 

[GDOGS1]

sending Trigger some of those good ol' boxer healing ((((((vibes))))))and hope everything turns out well.will keep you in our thoughts and prayers




MoM & DaD of GDOGS 8/18/05 Brindle,Docked,Floppy and full of Zest

 

[EAO76]

I don’t have any advice either except that at 10months I’d be surprised if it is cancer…but anything is possible. I sure hope it is something easily remedied. Please post the results of the biopsy so that it may help someone dealing with this in the future.

We are sending many healing ((((((((((vibes)))))))))))

 

[laurelheebsh]

I'm sorry to be a bearer of bad news but I do have experience in this area. When we adopted Duke at the age of 10 years from the Humane Society he had a small mass in his throat. They sent out a fluid sample, which came back just blood and no "suspect" cells. We hoped that it had been for an injury or (even more horrible) a fight while living with the previous owners. Apparently people use boxers around here to fight against pitbulls, because they fight back.
Unfortunately, it continued to grow. He hacked and coughed increasingly, making this horrible throat-clearing noise after he ate. We did an ultrasound a few months later and, while they couldn't identify what type of tumor it was, we also found out that he also had serious problems with his heart and liver. At that point we decided that surgery in such a delicate part of the body, with all of the blood vessels, nerves, windpipe, and throat, just wouldn't be worth it. We took him home and loved him and spoiled him until the mass was really interfering with his breathing and swallowing. Then we let him go to the Rainbow Bridge.
My advice to you, with Trigger being so young, is to do that biopsy and look into surgery to reduce the size of the mass. Also, with swallowing being a problem, there is a liquid like Ensure called Dog-sure. It is very expensive at the pet store but can be found cheaper online. Duke loved that at the very end.
My thoughts and prayers are with Trigger, you, and the rest of your family!

 

[ELubas]

Sending gentle boxer wiggles to you and Trigger. I woud only say that at his young age cancer would be unusual. I will say a prayer that this is something easily remedied. PLease let us know what you hear

 

[crookedhalo1]

Good News

The antibiotics that the vet put Trigger on began to dissolve the mass, indicating it was nothing more than an abscess. Unfortunately, surgery will still be required to move this foreign body out of his mouth and the area is full of dangerous blood vessels. The vet has drained it twice and already he is able to eat, yawn, chew on bones, and annoy the crap out of his two boxer sisters. And he doesn't sound like a pig in the process! It's like a completely different dog. Now - what in the WORLD did he chew on to do this to himself!!!!