Jamie the Cocker Spaniel and her Mammary Tumors

She was spayed two weeks ago. Because she is 11 years old and hadn't been spayed, she had mammary tumors like crazy. Unfortunately, I did not have the forethought to take pictures of her stomach before the surgery, but the original story can be read if you click on the following link.

I have no idea why, but I was nervous taking her in. What if the stitches hadn't helped her heal? She is 11 years old. Had her old lady body healed okay? I worried that the vet would see more problems, or that they would tell me I hadn't done something right, and then they'd have to do something else to the poor dog.

I'd calmed myself down by the time we pulled into the parking lot, and Jamie seemed content about going for a ride. I clipped the leash on her and led her inside. Sniffing happily, Jamie wandered around the lobby as she tried to take in all the smells at once.

When the vet took the leash and tried to get Jamie to follow her into the back, however, Jamie bulked. She must have remembered the last visit and how she'd had to stay overnight! Now I was worried that her nerves would make her snap at the vet as she took out the stitches. The vet knew what she was doing though. She calmly picked Jamie up and walked into the back. I sat down.

I don't think it even took a full 5 minutes before the vet was walking Jamie back into the lobby. As soon as Jamie saw me, she started to wiggle and darted at me as if to say, "You didn't leave me! You're still here!" I asked how she did, and I swear her body started to wiggle even more. The vet said she lied there like a good girl.

Jamie came back home with me, and I'm sure she was just as relieved at the short visit as I was. I noticed her spotting some blood, but I figured that was probably just because her stitches had just been removed.

Today, though, I gave her a bath and saw the real problem.

I cleaned her stomach of tiny scabs and such as I gave Jamie a bath today, and I saw that there is yet another lump on her upper abdomen. It is a little above her highest wound from the stitches, but it is close enough and big enough that it has been pushing out at the end of where the stitches had been.

This is why Jamie had bled a little yesterday. Where the lump is, it was pushing at the stitches. So when the vet snipped and removed the stitches, the lump pushed at the wound and opened it a bit. It's healing and hasn't bled again, but it's obvious where it had been gaping open. I made sure to clean it well to fight off any type of infection.

Worried, I called the vet. She hadn't noticed the lump yesterday, and I hadn't noticed it in the last two weeks since Jamie's surgery. Are the tumors really growing that fast? I've no idea, but I've scheduled another visit for Jamie this Friday, as the vet said she'll have a look. I don't see any alternative except another surgery if it is indeed another tumor, and I'm not sure my mother can afford another one. Let's hope the vet has some other news on Friday!

I will make sure to put up another update after Jamie's visit on Friday. Please keep this old lady dog in your thoughts! I'm sure she will be unhappy about another vet visit, and any type of well wishes and prayers will be appreciated!