I posted this in FB and Twitter updates but not here. A few weeks ago we found a hard bump on Cassie’s side. It wasn’t irritated and she wasn’t bothering it so we decided to do the wait and see. Suddenly they were popping up all over. Very hard, not movable as one would think of a typical cyst. She has several on her side, two on her nose that popped up overnight and one on her leg.
We just got back from the vet. The vet, who has many years experience, said she hadn’t seen anything like these bumps. First she thought it might be a reaction to something though we can’t figure out what. I asked if she could suddenly be developing a problem with peanut butter which she gets in bones/kongs/etc and she shrugged and said she wouldn’t think so but also anything is possible.
She took a sample from the largest one and said she got some material out that looked like it was a cyst. She’s sending out and we’ll get the results tomorrow. She’ll also do a consult to try and figure out next steps, if we should remove one and inspect it, just watch or what.
More waiting.
On the plus side, it doesn’t seem to be slowing Cassie down at all. She pays no attention to them. I’m the one who is a nervous wreck.
On the way home from the vet we stopped at the pet store so she could pick out a new toy and a treat (why yes, she is incredibly spoiled-LOL) and some kids were there looking at guinea pigs. She went up to sniff the guinea pigs but turned away, waiting not-so-patiently until the kids themselves paid attention to her.
Fingers crossed that everything’s okay!
Thanks. I’ve got everything crossed over here.
Here’s hoping the cysts are nothing major. Keep us posted! Hugs to you! xo
Thanks…these are just so weird. I’ve had lots of dogs with cysts before but these aren’t like that. Even the vet was surprised at what came out of the one.
I just hope they can figure out what it is or what is causing it. Sigh. My poor baby.
Some years ago, I had a shepherd mix (pictured in the LJ icon–I still miss him terribly) who popped up with little hard bumps out of nowhere. It took some time to figure out, but we discovered he was allergic to Program, the flea preventative medication (also found in Sentinel, I believe, which is combo flea preventative and heartworm preventative.) When we stopped giving him Program, the bumps went away.
So, if Cassie is on Program or Sentinel, consider switching to Frontline or Advantage and some other heartworm preventative.
If not, then my fingers are crossed for you both that this turns out to be something equally harmless.
Oh thank you SO MUCH for posting this. I told the vet that the only thing I could think of different was we had just started Sentinel and she said no, that wouldn’t be it. I just called back and told her your experience so she can share that with the consult tomorrow. It was almost time for us to give her another dose so we won’t and see if they go away.
Thank you.
And the reason we had her on Sentinel was for the extra flea prevention.
My vet originally said the same thing. It couldn’t be that. We tried treating the bumps several other ways before I decided on my own to discontinue the Program. Then when they disappeared right after, he said, “Clearly your dog is just allergic to Program. Don’t give it to him anymore, and he should be fine.” As if I wasn’t the one that figured it out. *eyeroll* They all went away and never came back, so I assume I was right anyway.
I left him on Interceptor, but used Frontline and Advantage after that for fleas. (This was before they had the Interceptor/Program combo in Sentinel.) The bumps never came back, but I don’t think Program was his only allergy. Until the day he left me, he would always throw up oa little tiny bit of yellow bile once a month (usually on the carpet *sigh* Oh, and sorry if this is TMI) about three or four hours after I gave him his Interceptor. But all the vets I spoke to said that was enough time for him to digest the pill, and if that was the only reaction, not to worry about it. Better an upset tummy than heartworms. I share this not to gross you out, but just in case the information is useful in any way.
No, this is all good info. thank you so much. It doesn’t cost a thing to not give her the Sentinel next week. A few weeks to check on that and if they are still there, we can go forward.
and I agree…better an upset tummy than heartworms. My border collie used to throw up yellow gunk on a regular basis and she lived to a ripe old age just fine.
Fingers (and Echo’s paws) crossed for Cassie.
Thanks.
Here’s hoping it’s an alergic reaction. The waiting’s gatta be the toughest part. Good luck.
Yes. I hate the waiting. Now that someone else said it happened to their dog I am really hopeful it was just the Sentinel.
I hope they are just cysts.
Me too. I actually I’m hoping it is a reaction to the Sentinel.
Wishing good, benign news for you and Cassie.
Thank you.
Hugs galore to Cassie and her humans.
Please let this be nothing.
Please keep me posted.
Thanks, Allie! I hope it is nothing too.
((vibes vibes vibes)) to the entire household, but especially to Cassie.
I hope the results show an allergy to the flea meds and nothing more serious!
Me too. Though this morning I am wondering if it possible to have a reaction several weeks after ingesting it? Why not instantly?
Fingers, eyes, and toes crossed that Cassie’s only allergic to the Sentinel!!
thanks, Jama.
I’ll definitely send some good mojo vibes to Cassie!!!
Thanks Barb. How is Phoebe doing?