Yes, I'm glad that everything is still good, we do tend to worry over our four legged friends, I think that comes partly because they can't tell us what's wrong, but with Roxy nothing is so big sigh of relief all round.

And it's so nice to read that she is liked by all at the vet school, I expect they get some difficult dogs to deal with so having Roxy must have been a pleasure.

Thank you so much for you kind words, Deb.

Roxy is doing remarkably well. Her wound is looking fantastic and the black bit gradually going away now. Will upload another picture of it tonight.

Yes, Harvey, they must get some difficult dogs right enough so at least they have been able to enjoy Roxy as she really is such a lovely wee dog.

As posted on the other thread, here is a picture comparison...

Before picture is 12 days ago, second picture is tonight.



Stitches to be removed on Tuesday.

Looking good! Her fur is growing nicely as well!

She is healing super well.

I asked Dr Chiara Penzo ( DVM PhD Dip.ECVIM-CA (Oncology), MRCVS European Veterinary Specialist in Oncology ) if she was aware of any 'causes' of Mast Cell Tumours in dogs or if it was just down to genetics and luck. This is what she said.....

"Dear Nicola, there is a proven genetic predisposition in certain breeds eg Boxers, etc. Genetic mutation of c-kit, the receptor for a growth factor have shown to be mutated in many dogs with mast cell tumours, and there are new targeted chemotherapy tablets that have been developed to inhibit this receptor. Moreover certain breeds are predisposed to more or less aggressive forms of this disease. For other dogs it is "down" to individual genetics and luck as far as current state of scientific knowledge; in fact cutaneous mast cell tumours are the most frequent skin cancer and can occur in dogs of any breed and age, also very young dogs.".

So, as far as Roxy goes, she has been very lucky that hers has been low grade and removal of the tumour has been enough to contain it as it has not spread. I obviously had no part in her breeding as she's a rescue and I have no idea EXACTLY what is in her breeding and how much of certain breeds. Therefore, it appears that it has been down to Roxy's genetics and and luck, or lack of it!

Just thought some of you might be interested.

She also gave me this link which I'll be having a good look at:

http://www.ccogc.net/mastcell.html

Obviously I would not swap Roxy for the world!

Thanks for posting that, yes I was interested to read her reply to you, she certainly seems to know her subject although it didn't mean a lot to me If I get time tonight I might open that link but probably won't understand most of it I was never any good at biology, my biology teacher at school was always throwing bits of chalk at me

Your before and after photos convinced me that Roxy is making a good recovery and after the stitches come out it will look even better.

Harvey, I didn't have you down as a rebel at school.

If you do decide to read it if you haven't already, it's not huge screeds of stuff. It's a paragraph that actually sums it up really well regarding the gene that is believe to play a part in causing MCT's. It's not that long and is quite interesting.

Roxy is doing really well still. I'm amazed at how quickly she appears to be recovering.

Yes Nicola, in biology at least I was a bit of a rebel
But, because it's you I have read it now and you are right, very interesting especially as I now think that our dear Labrador of many years ago might also have had an MCT on her lower side, she certainly had radiation treatment as I remember vividly taking her to Addenbrokes in Cambridge. In those days there were very few veterinary hospitals, Addenbrokes is of course a well known human hospital so we had to take her round the back and in through the goods delivery entrance

I noticed in that link that they say Labradors are one of the breeds prone to getting these things, I've only ever thought of it as a cancerous lump but you've helped me to know precisely what it was. She was about two at the time and went on to live to thirteen, I hope that is some consolation to you as well.

Sounds very positive, Harvey. Hopefully Roxy will be the same as your Lab and have a few years of good life yet.

Yes, unfortunately Labs are more prone to some cancers than other breeds, unfortunately. In fact, there was a Lab at the Vet School yesterday being treated for a cancerous tumour.