My dog's mast cell tumor vanished on prednisone. Is it cured?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Twix. Mast cell tumors are one of the most common forms of skin cancer in dogs. If the margins were clean (meaning all of the cancerous cells were removed), then the mass should not recur. However, mast cell tumors are one of the more unpredictable types of cancer. I recommend closely monitoring his incision site at home for any regrowth. It is best to see his veterinarian at least every 6 months for an examination. At this visit a thorough physical examination will be performed to search for other masses or enlarged lymph nodes. Blood work should be monitored as well. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you or your veterinarian can do to prevent further growths from forming. If any new new growth is observed, a fine needle aspirate should be performed as soon as possible to determine the type of mass. If it requires surgical removal, it is always best to have it done while small for the best chance of achieving clean margins. I hope this information helps!

I believe I provided you with the answer to this question before regarding the tapering. Now that I know that he is being treated for MCT, I would recommend speaking to your vet regarding the treatment. Prednisone is not generally considering the gold standard treatment for this condition. If he has not offered you a referral to an oncologist, I would request one if you are looking to pursue any other therapies. One of the best therapies available right now for Mast Cell Tumors is a drug called Palladia. I would love to consult with you concerning Hachi's condition including this drug and a possible tapering schedule if you were not clear on the answer I provided you earlier. Just let me know or one of the other experts here so we can try and find a way to make Hachi more comfortable.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This depends on many factors. It depends on where the main tumor is located, if it has spread to other organs, among many other factors. Even high grade tumors can have a good longterm outcome of years of survival when treated aggressively with surgery and chemotherapy if there is no evidence of metastasis to internal organs. However, if there is already spread to internal organs like the liver and the spleen, the survival times tend to be closer to 3-4 months even with chemotherapy. Staging to check for metastasis usually includes thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound and assessment of the local lymph nodes. At the very least, I recommend medications like Pepcid, Benadryl and prednisone that can help with these cases when there is still evidence of a mass present. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could potentially be due to a nodule or mass, especially if it appears to be getting smaller with the administration of Benadryl. Mast cell tumors can be somewhat responsive to the administration of this medication due to the substances that these tumors can release. It could also be a benign growth or even a skin infection. I encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. A test called fine needle aspirate can be performed to try to get a diagnosis. Good luck and have a good night!

Ticks can leave a bad rash and create a lot of inflammation at the attachment site. Without seeing what you pulled off, it is hard to tell if it was a tick or not. I would be concerned about it being related to the mast cell tumors due to the intense reaction that was created after the removal. Mast cells can typically get very red and swollen one day after being pushed on then turn calm the next day. It is best to save the piece you removed if possible and have yirbvet check that area to be sure

Poor Wyland ! I would keep a close eye on it to ensure he isn't licking it and to ensue it isn't continuing to bleed. I would start him on Benadryl and continue it long term since he has a history of mast cell tumors. Mast cells release histamine so Benadryl is just a good preventative to help with any future outbreaks from any underlying mast cells. If the bleeding continues or the area doesn't look like it is healed, I would have your vet take another look at it. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear that Fudge has a mast cell tumor. There are a few options that I typically recommend for a natural means of treating mast cell tumors. The first is called Oral Neoplasene. This is a liquid type medication that is derived from the bloodroot plant that is used to treat cancer in dogs. The dosging for this product is based on body weight and is usually given prior to feeding two times per day. The second natural remedy I recommend is called Max's Formula. This is a blend of herbs that treats tumors in dogs, cats and horses. It is a blend of eight different herbs that have been carefully chosen to treat tumors. There is a bulk powder you can buy and also capsules. The third product is called Stasis Breaker. Like Max's formula, this also is used to treat tumors in dogs, cats and horses. This is meant to go after the root cause of the tumor. As with any alternative medicine, there is a chance that these products will not work at all. However, if deemed safe, which all 3 of these are safe to use, there is no harm in giving any of these to Fudge. You can order these 3 products online quite easily. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.