Hi All! On May 31st, my husband took our two dogs on a long walk. When he got home he snapped a picture of Moby on his dog bed looking very happy. A short time later, I noticed what looked like a large swelling on his hind left leg. It didn't feel like swelling, or like any of his fatty tumors. I was worried.

I took him to the vet the next day. They did xrays, and asprirated it. From what they could tell it was a fatty tumor, but the vet said the way it wrapped around his whole leg, she was uncomfortable removing it. She referred us to surgeon specialist. Three days later we met with the surgeon. She did a thorough check up, and also found a small tumor in his mouth. While she was doing the physical exam, every time she paused, my husband would say, that's a fatty tumor, that's a skin tab, and so on. After she finished she said she thought it was an infiltrative lipoma and wanted to run more test and get the oncologist on site involved. She told us she thought amputation at the hip was the best option.

We were shocked. I don't know why we never thought of amputation in all scenarios we had run through. So they did blood work, an ultrasound of his abdomen, and a radiograph with three views, did apirations in numerous spots.  She returned to tell us it was not cancer, but they were very sure it was infiltrative an again recommended amputation at the hip. She said that they could debulk it, but it would come back, and it could come back quickly. She was kind, informative, and very straight forward.

I was ready to agree to amputation right then, but my poor husband took it very hard. Moby is his first dog, his baby. We rode home in stunned silence. Neither one of us liked the thought of amputation, but both agreed it is our best option. I know it will be more traumatic for us than for Moby.

I called back the next day and left a message that we agreed to a ct scan immediately before surgery, removal of the tumor in the mouth and biopsy, and amputation at the hip. We are hoping that it hasn't inflitrated into the pelvis, but won't know for sure until the ct scan. Monday the surgeon called me back and we schedule the surgery for the following Monday (june 15).

Moby showed no sign of trouble before this. Since Monday we believe the tumor has grown. His leg seems to occasional give out. He stumbled getting in his sandbox and coming up the steps because he did not lift his leg high enough to clear them. Last night we could tell the leg was moving much more stiffly.

The surgery can't come soon enough for me, I am very worried. I am sure now we are making the right decision. I am so thankful for this site. It has given me hope and information. thank you all! Moby loves to swim, the vet said he would be fine to on our vacation in August. I am already looking to purchase the k-9 float  Keep us in your thoughts as we go through this. It's wonderful to know we have support! oh, lol, can't figure out how to edit the topic typo, sorry.