{"id":2518,"date":"2024-06-04T16:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T20:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/?p=2518"},"modified":"2024-06-04T16:00:08","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T20:00:08","slug":"when-should-my-pets-tumor-be-removed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/when-should-my-pets-tumor-be-removed\/","title":{"rendered":"When should my pet\u2019s tumor be removed?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As much as I enjoy a challenge, I would rather remove a small tumor than a big one.
There are at least 15 reasons for that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. A smaller mass means a less invasive surgery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. A smaller mass means a shorter incision<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. A smaller mass means a shorter anesthesia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. A smaller mass means a less expensive surgery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. A smaller cancerous mass usually means fewer chances of spreading to other organs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. A smaller mass means fewer chances of rupturing\/bleeding\/infection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This was mammary (breast) cancer in an 8 year old unspayed Doxie<\/strong>. The head is to the left, the tail is to the right.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

7. A smaller mass means fewer complications related to surgery (fluid build-up, failure of the stitches, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. A smaller mass means fewer complications related to the tumor (increased calcium levels, decreased sugar (glucose) levels, seizures etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. A smaller bone tumor means fewer chances of a fracture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. A smaller tumor means fewer chances of losing a body part (leg, tail, eye)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. A smaller tumor means less pain before AND after surgery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. A smaller tumor means fewer chances of a life-threatening emergency (e.g. inability to pee or breathe)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. A smaller mass may mean a shorter recovery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. A smaller mass usually means a better outcome<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. A smaller mass removal means a safer surgery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Oh sure, we can remove giant tumors, but why wait so long? <\/strong>
This was a cancerous mass (fibrosarcoma) in a 12 year old pitbull<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although some of the above reasons may seem obvious, we regularly remove large tumors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can still help these patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the outcome is still good, and sometimes it\u2019s much worse than it could have been…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also please don\u2019t fall into the trap of assuming:<\/p>\n\n\n\n