My dog has a mast cell tumor. How invasive is lymph node surgery?

I'm sorry for your baby going through this! Unfortunately lymphoma requires chemotherapy. Mast cell tumors if completely removed may not require any further treatment. Therefore it is very important to know where the mass removed was lymphoma or not. I would recommend proceeding with the special staining needed to get that answer. If it is lymphoma and chemotherapy is not done most dogs do not survive longer than 30 to 45 days. That is another reason why it is important to get an accurate diagnosis as early as possible.

It could be an accidental finding, enlarged lymph nodes on the intestines for example are common with gastrointestinal infections and other intestinal condition. i am assuming he sent the lump to histologist examination, you should get the results in a few days.

I'm very sorry to hear about Bean's diagnosis! Yes, if you are interested in possibly pursuing treatment for this problem, I would recommend requesting referral to a veterinary oncologist for a more complete evaluation of your pup. There are many treatment options available for mast cell tumors in dogs, even in situations where the tumor may not be operable. The oncologist can discuss all of your options and give you a better idea of what to expect with whatever option you choose.

It's difficult to say without knowing all the details of Einstein's case, but If removal is an option, then this would be a better option than chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is generally used to reduce inoperable tumors, or to kill the unseen tumor cells after a tumor removal. It is true that there are some big nerves and vessels in the neck region where the lymph node is, but in the hands of a skilled surgeon, there is not a big risk of causing damage to these structures. If your vet has performed at CT, then it appears that you are getting top-notch care for Einstein and I'm sure their recommended course of therapy would be based on sound, evidenced-based knowledge and experience. They may have warned about possible damage to the nerves only as a disclaimer in the rare instance that this could happen. I would ask the surgeon what the chances of nerve damage are in this case to give you more of an idea how dangerous this really is. If you are still unsure whether the procedure is the right way to go, then you may seek a second veterinary opinion, or a veterinary oncologist (cancer specialist) opinion. Below is a link to an article that may help you with this decision. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-know-it-s-time-to-see-a-veterinary-specialist/ I hope that helps and Einstein gets better soon.

It depends how deep the tumors go, if they are superficial the surgery will definitely not affect his walking ability. not removing these tumors is pretty much a death sentence to your dog so i don't see any alternative to the surgery anyway.

I’m sorry to hear about Tsunami’s diagnosis. MCTs are quite common in dogs, and unfortunately due to the cell distribution around the primary tumor, incomplete margins are common. If you want to be confident you’re pursuing the best options for the best prognosis, I recommend asking your vet for an oncologist referral. A veterinary oncologist will be the best specialist to be able to present all the options and their given pros & cons, and they have access to chemo medications that most primary vets don’t carry. If you choose not to pursue referral, then I recommend reaching out to your vet again to discuss the next step. If this were my case, I would probably recommend sampling Tsunami’s lymph nodes with a needle to look for evidence of regional metastasis, and based on those findings discuss if a second surgery is appropriate. Hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for your question about Zeus. If the lumps/masses were removed with relatively good margins, meaning that your veterinarian was fairly confident they removed all portions of the tumor, and the mast cell tumor was low grade no additional treatment is required other than close monitoring for recurrence in these areas. Although not as common with low grade mast cell tumors, you could elect to look for any evidence of metastasis, or travel of the tumors. This would likely include chest x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound. However, I believe it is also appropriate to continue monitoring Zeus. Hope this helps, good luck!