Glenfiddich has a tumor

[Boondox]

Glenfiddich (Fiddy), our most perfect golden retriever (the white masked 9 year old asleep in the chair in the recently posted photo of my six companions) had a noticable lump on his right ribs this week when I checked him. Based on my admittedly dated medical experience it had me worried. Irregular base. Seems to be wrapped around a rib. Couldn't get my fingers under it.

Took him to the vet today and the moment the vet's fingers probed the mass I could see in his face he was worried as well. We scheduled a lumpectomy for next Thursday, and the hardest part was keeping our concerns from Tamara. She doesn't handle worry well.

But jeez, this wonderful dog is everything a golden should be! All the fingers, toes and paws in our household are crossed for the little guy!

Pete and Tamara
Molson, Harley, Glenfiddich, Tetley, Tuppence and Canisius

 

[DUMBDOG]

Hope that everything will be ok. He is a great looking golden.

 

[Inspector507]

Pete,
Fingers, toes and paws crossed here as well my friend.

 

[RichZ]

Pete, we have everything crossed for Fiddy, too!!!! Let's all think positive thoughts, send positive energy, and all the prayers possible for Fiddy!!!

 

[kevincook]

We are praying here also.

Good Luck,

Kevin

 

[sweettractors]

What a beautiful Golden /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif--Our thoughts will be with you. We have a 4 year old Golden (Jake) that is also very special to us.--Ken Sweet

 

[GaryE]

I understand what you are going through......

Hang in there....

Best wishes,

Gary

 

[GaryM]

Fine looking Golden. Hope everything turns out well.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Here's to hoping it's just a fatty lipoma. Best of luck.

Cliff

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

We are currently going through a similar situation and I understand how hard it is. I hope that everything works out...

 

[Junkman]

I am in there pulling for him also. Hope that all turns out well. Junk...

 

[jpr62902]

I'm no vet, but I wanted to offer you and Fiddy some encouragement from a fellow dog lover with similar experiences.

I'm willing to bet ole Fiddy's gonna be just fine. Whether it's just a lipoma, or a malignancy, sounds like you caught it before metastasis. We're all just waiting to here the good news next week! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[slydog]

Best of luck to you and your friend, hope all turns out well.

 

[alan40]

Best of luck to you and Fiddy. What a beautiful friend you have. Take care

 

[JayC]

I wish you and Glenfiddich luck. Hopefully it won't be anything to be concerned over. I know the feeling. A tumor is what killed our golden retriever back in '98.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I sincerely hope for the best for your beautiful pup.

Lost my Golden last November, still finding his hair on stuff since moving. Brings back a bit of grief, but I just remember funny little things he did.

I bet you have a hard time wearing fleece garments with all those beautiful dogs of yours. Good luck...Kyle

 

[dmccarty]

Dang Pete,

That stinketh!

Kelly has had some very small lumps which have not been a problem. But she is a GSD. Chase our last Golden had alll sorts of tumors. Thorpe had them as well but they where benign. Our neighbors Golen who is a spitting image of Thorpe has them as well but they have not been a problem.

Chase on the other hand did have problems. The first turmor she had was cut out and she was put on Pregnason(sp). This was a really bad tumor. We had her treated by some very good vets and they where very concerned about Chase. But all went well and the tumor went away. I can't remember the turmor's grade but it was up there and bad. It was not the worse but pretty close.

Chase had a couple more good years and then we found more tumors. The vets did exploritory surgery and after a short time came out and said cancer had spread and there was anything they could do. Do you want us to put her to sleep. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

We talked and told them to put her back togather and we would take her home. My wife kept that dog alive for something like 9 months. That dog just lived to be with us. By her last month it we could see that she was not herself and the time was coming for the Rainbow Bridge....

Hopefully this is not depressing. Even with the bad tumers Chase still had quite a bit of time left. And it was quality time. Hopefully things will be fine.

My wife was on a list to get a new Golden but we have to hold off until we are more settle with the new house, jobs, kids, and schools. Its driving her nuts not having a Golden around. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good Luck!
Dan

 

[Boondox]

Thanks Dan and all of you for the words of encouragement. Fiddy has always been an affectionate dog, more so than the other goldens in our pack so you get an idea of how special he is. I groom the dogs daily, so thought I would catch something like this early, but the stripping comb just ran right over the lump. It's deep inside and firm, definitely not a lipoma, and seems to involve a rib. Not good! Now I make it a point to run my hands over the dogs daily, which they love.

Fiddy is a really sensitive dog. He's always the first one to notice when we don't feel good, and to offer a wet nose in the ear. He gives Tamara one lick across the chin when she goes to bed, then comes over to my side to say goodnight before crawling under the bed to sleep. And he fetches like a champ! Not tennis balls or frisbees. He brings tools, slippers, papers and floppy disks. If I'm under the truck and need a wrench he brings it to me. Eventually. Along with everything else in the toolbox!

A very special dog. We'll baby him this week with all the attention he can handle, and after talking about it we've decided that if the tumor is cancer and has spread, we'll just bring him home like you did and let him enjoy what life remains. He's nine, and has had a wonderful life with us. But all paws are crossed that it's nothing horrible!

Pete

 

[Moon]

Late to the party (as usual), but wanted to wish you the best of luck with him Pete. Wish I had more words of wisdom to share, but I'm at a loss right now.

Moon of Ohio

 

[dmccarty]

Pete,

Don't feel too bad about missing the tumor. After Chase's First Round of cancer we checked that dog constantly for lumps and bumps. The second one that we found popped out of no where. These things can grow very fast.

Later,
Dan