My dog was diagnosed with mast cell tumor?

I'm so sorry to hear this my Pekingese died 6 moths ago from a mast cell tumor it was between his toe on his back left leg..So the vet could not just remove the tumor he would have had to remove the leg and my dog was 14 years... I told my vet no because my dogs was to old so he put my dog on some pills and sent me home he told me that my dog wold love about 5/6 months... I was not going to give up I called my friend and she told me of a pet holistic nutritionist she came out met my dog told me to take him off those pills because it would damage his liver.. To make a very long story short we got my dog on some holistic powders that I put on his food.. Took my dog in for acupuncture...That 5/6 moth my vet told me that my dog would live well he lived a year and 10 moths after being diagnosed... I did lots of research on the Internet about this kind of tumor... There's is allot of information about it on the Internet... I feel your pain I wish all the best for your dog I will your pup in my prayers..don't give up hope

She's a young, healthy dog, otherwise, right?

Then sweetheart, you probably don't have anything to worry about. I have a twelve year old shih-tzu who also had a mast tumor, It was large, so large that they would have had to take out muscle and bone to get everything they needed. And obviously, small and old as she is they couldn't. They removed what she could.

Within a week, she was running around and playing like a puppy again. We have her on benedryl and tagamet and its like she's two again.

She came through the surgery absolutely fine, woke up fine, everything. The fact that your dog is larger is a wonderful thing, the anestethic probably wont effect her as much.

With a mast tumor, you have to remove a larger area than the tumor itself because its like a venomous spider bite, and it spreads.

What a mast tumor is is a collection of mast cells, the cells that produce histamine, the thing that causes an allergic reaction. It makes you feel sick and can cause fevers, lethargy, vomiting, that sort of thing.

Assuming that all goes well with the surgery, and since she's rather young and a larger dog, its likely it will, I promise that she'll bounce back just fine. You may have to keep her on medicines for her entire life, but it wont slow her down.

As for dealing with your emotions, just try to keep calm. You being worried is going to worry your dog. Keep a positive outlook on life, don't let her know that something is wrong. A mast tumor can be triggered by stress or irritation to the area, and it will being producing histamine rapidly. We took our girl, Muffin, in to the vet and she hates it, she got so stressed that her tumor swelled and turned red and she began to get sick that night. She was whisked into emergency surgery the next morning.

So its very important to keep her calm and safe. Don't treat her any different than you normally do, just play with her and love her.

First of all, I'm sorry about your dog.

Here is some info on mast cell tumor:

A mast cell tumor is a type of tumor consisting of mast cells that is found in many species of animals. It is also known as a mastocytoma, which in human medicine can refer to an accumulation or nodule of mast cells that resembles a tumor.

A mast cell originates from the bone marrow and is normally found throughout the connective tissue of the body. It is a normal component of the immune system and as it releases histamine it is associated with allergic reactions. Mast cells also respond to tissue trauma. Mast cell granules contain histamine, heparin, platelet-activating factor, and other substances. Disseminated mastocytosis is rarely seen in young dogs and cats, while mast cell tumors are a common malignant tumor of the skin in older dogs and cats. Up to 20 to 25 percent of skin tumors in dogs are mast cell tumors, with a similar number in cats.

My Dalmation had to be put down due to lymphoma. Its been about 2 years and I still sometimes cry that he's gone. Just try to enjoy the time you have left. Dogs don't respond well to chemotherapy.

:( I understand how you feel. I had to put my poodle down almost 10 years ago. I didn't take him to the vet but when I saw something else I knew he had cancer. My heart is with you. :)

I have a lab chow too! he's so cute!

I hope that it will be treated and healed! i wouldnt like it if sampson (my dog) had one =[ Good Luck =]

The best person to answer your question is a veterinary oncologist.