Yesterday Scott had yet another trip to the vet only this time, for a change, without a pot of wee. On Sunday I noticed he started to occasionally lick the top of his front leg. Not excessively, only enough for a neurotic owner like me to notice. I kept checking his leg looking for a wound especially as Scout would have a sniff after he'd licked. I couldn't find anything. Yesterday I realised it wasn't his leg it was a sore lump just below his bottom lip about 1cm in diameter that he was using his leg to rub and lick it on. Panic !!! How the hell does a vet examine the lip of a dog that needs muzzling ?!?! I rang the vet and was lucky enough to get a cancellation with Hillary. Scott was very good while we waited in the car and we waited at least twenty minutes. When Hillary came out he barked but stopped quickly. When she took a step nearer to look at his mouth he absolutely roared in her face. She took a step back, telling him she wasn't looking, she wasn't interested and he calmed down. She is very good with my dogs. He then let me show her. She knew straight away it we a histiocytoma (button tumor) Usually benign but possibly malignant. She said benign ones are very common on gundogs head, face, legs so she was expecting it to be that but could'nt say for sure. Murphy had had a few over the years so I did know about them. She then asked me how brave I was and if I thought I could scape it and get some cells on a slide then she could find out what it was. No problem. I'm not sure if she thought my dog wouldn't let me do that or if I was squeamish. Luckily although my dogs won't let anyone else touch they'll let me do anything. She went and got a cotton bud and three slides. On her return Scott barked again then sat nicely while I collected cells. First I swabbed it which Hillary wiped onto a slide. Then I held a slide to the lump which left a bit of a mark. She asked if it was bleeding at all which of course it wasn't now.
I asked if I should try and make it bleed she agreed. Scott was so good while I scratched the sore and got the smallest smear of blood. It had no problem bleeding when I found it. 
Then Hillary popped off to check it under the microscope. Result nothing nasty, no cancerous cells, bacteria because it's his mouth, bit of infection and a few round cells which suggests an histiocytoma rather than a cyst. She explained they prefer to treat them topically rather than with antibiotics but obviously we couldn't use cream because he'd lick it off so she suggested using gum wipes that they prescribe for gum infections. I told her I have medical grade Manuka honey which I use if they get a sore or small wound and while I can't be sure I do think it's saved me going to the vet a few times. Obviously it doesn't matter if he licks the honey. She thought that was a good idea as it will kill the bacteria so I have to clean with gum wipes and apply Manuka but just incase she's put some antibiotics on his notes and if it hasn't started to improve in a few days I can ring and get them. All in all quite a successful trip. Scott, considering his fear and nerves, was very good. He only barked to tell her to keep back and was then as good as gold while I did what I had to while she stood very close really. I got the results straight away and nothing to worry about. If it should flare up again I know what it is, can start to Manuka it and only go to the vet if no improvement. Just need to keep my fingers crossed the wipes and Manuka work. Thank goodness for Hillary and the cancellation. I can't imagine another vet asking me to collect the cells myself from a histiocytoma and then checking them straight away for me.
I asked if I should try and make it bleed she agreed. Scott was so good while I scratched the sore and got the smallest smear of blood. It had no problem bleeding when I found it. Then Hillary popped off to check it under the microscope. Result nothing nasty, no cancerous cells, bacteria because it's his mouth, bit of infection and a few round cells which suggests an histiocytoma rather than a cyst. She explained they prefer to treat them topically rather than with antibiotics but obviously we couldn't use cream because he'd lick it off so she suggested using gum wipes that they prescribe for gum infections. I told her I have medical grade Manuka honey which I use if they get a sore or small wound and while I can't be sure I do think it's saved me going to the vet a few times. Obviously it doesn't matter if he licks the honey. She thought that was a good idea as it will kill the bacteria so I have to clean with gum wipes and apply Manuka but just incase she's put some antibiotics on his notes and if it hasn't started to improve in a few days I can ring and get them. All in all quite a successful trip. Scott, considering his fear and nerves, was very good. He only barked to tell her to keep back and was then as good as gold while I did what I had to while she stood very close really. I got the results straight away and nothing to worry about. If it should flare up again I know what it is, can start to Manuka it and only go to the vet if no improvement. Just need to keep my fingers crossed the wipes and Manuka work. Thank goodness for Hillary and the cancellation. I can't imagine another vet asking me to collect the cells myself from a histiocytoma and then checking them straight away for me.
