StacyinTN
Registered: 06/26/08
Posts: 52
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Posted 06/27/08
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#1
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Hello all,
Any one out there have a mastiff with nailbed cancer? I didnt even know there was such a thing until yesterday. My mastiff, like all mastiffs, when he plays he plays HARD. So he has this brick that he plays with...yes i buy the expensive toys, but he prefers the brick. Anyway so for the past few days he has been licking his paw and i notice something is not right with his pinky toenail. So i think he injuried it with the brick. The next time i look at his paw the toenail is GONE and the whole toe looks a bit swollen. So off to the vet we go. Now he was just at the vet last month because he hurt is paw, this same paw, in a creek bed playing. The vet put him on antibiotics and antiiflammatories and it got better. So this trip to the vet she said, well since it is the same paw, we need to make sure it is not toe cancer. Toe cancer? She said, yeah, we remove quite a few toes because of it. So she wants him to come back on monday for a biopsy and possible removal if the biopsy is positive. So i have done some googling and i cant find any mastiffs that are predisposed to this and it seems it usually strikes older dog. I am just hesitant to do all that. Doing the biopsy would entail, putting him to sleep, xraying the toe, and taking a chunk of tissue from the affected area. I am really leary of putting any mastiff to sleep even for a short time unless absolutely necessary. So what would you all do, what do you all think? Is the vet overreacting or is a missing toenail really a big deal that is probably cancer? He is only 4 yo and he is not limping or favoring it in any way. Infact, i had to take the brick away from him or he will continue to mess up other toenails. Whats your take?
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. -Ghandi
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sarahk2
Registered: 04/17/07
Posts: 948
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Posted 06/27/08
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#2
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Stacy - I had a yellow lab that had toe cancer. He was diagnosed at 8, had the toe removed and lived to almost 11. We did not lose him to cancer. If they catch it soon enough and the tumor is encapsulated...prognosis is good. I don't know if Mastiffs are prone to it...but I think it is somewhat common in labrador retrievers (maybe even goldens)
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Sarah
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StacyinTN
Registered: 06/26/08
Posts: 52
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Posted 06/27/08
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#3
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Good to know Sarah. Did your boy with the toe problem seem like his toe hurt? Did he limp? What caused the vet to think to check for that? Sorry bout all the questions.
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. -Ghandi
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sarahk2
Registered: 04/17/07
Posts: 948
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Posted 06/27/08
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#4
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Stacy - I tried to add another message and it didn't work. Anyway, the signs were very subtle....he didn't have a limp...but occassionally, he would hop. He also showed signs of being a little more tired and maybe not eating as much. Again, it was very very subtle. Fortunately, I am a bit obsessive about my dogs and watch them carefully...I couldn't put my finger on it, but I could tell there was something wrong.
I hope this helps...my vet was able to find a nodule in his toe so that was something too
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Sarah
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