2336. An 11-year-old Golden Retriever has a large ear tumour

Monday, October 19, 2015

54. An old Golden Retriever has a fast-growing ear tumour. What to do?

Oct 19, 2015 I got an email today. Dear Judy, Thank you for taking time off your busy schedule to look at this email. I am writing to understand about the possible procedure that can be administered on my golden retriever.

He is a 11 year old boy and has got a large cyst/growth on his right head, near to the ear area (3cm In diameter). I understand from another vet that his condition will require him going through GA and he might not wake up due to his age. Therefore the vet suggested us to not do anything. However, the growth has been growing day by day and it is a worrying scene. I am hoping that you guys can assist to see if there are any possible medical treatment for him. Please see attached photographs for his Cyst/growth.

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The young man's 11-year-old Golden Retriever has a large growing ear tumour. His family vet said that the dog was too risky to operate when consulted one month ago. "In my experience," he said, "Golden Retrievers live up to 15 year at the most. So risky to operate as the dog may die under anaesthestic." But the ear tumour doubled its size to a fish-ball now. The young man googled "veterinary surgery Singapore" or some words and consulted me. "It is risky if the dog is in poor health," I said. "If not, short surgeries are safe. Have you done as blood test?" "Yes," he said. "One year ago by this vet. Nothing abnormal." There is no guarantee of no-death anaesthesia in old dogs. So, he has to decide. "Presently, the ear tumour does not bother the dog," he said. "When it grows much bigger and ulcerated," I said. "The irritation and inflammation will cause the flies to buzz onto it and lay eggs forming maggots. The dog will be bothered."


I met the young man on Oct 19, 2015.
The family vet had warned him about death of old dogs on the op table and so the tumour, from a small pea size became a golf-ball size and he sought other vets via the internet and chanced upon Toa Payoh Vets.

"There are anaesthetic risks for old dog surgeries," I said. "However, old dogs with good health do not die from this short anaesthesia to remove the ear tumour. No vet can guarantee no death on the operating table. The owner has to make the decision."

The alert and active dog was small sized but his heart was good and his femoral pulses were strong. The rectal temp was 39.9 which was slightly higher

He decided on the surgery to be done today Oct 21, 2015. I operated on the dog after 2 days of antibiotics. 0.1 ml domitor + 0.15 ml ketamine IV and isoflurane gas maintenance. The surgery took around 17 minutes and the dog was smoothly anaesthesized.

Electro-surgery sliced off the big tumour measuring at least 5 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm. The owner did not want histology. 

Antisedan 0.1 ml was given to reverse th e effect of domitor. The dog woke up.The ear was bandaged and the dog went home with medication and painkillers.

FOLLOW UP
Sunday Oct 25, 2015
I tel the owner. "Everything is fine," he said. "The bandage of the ear came loose on the  evening of the day of discharge." He will email to me the image.