I mentioned in a recent thread that our 15yo pug, Sophie, has been struggling lately -- she has had a mast cell tumor on her leg for years (not recommended for surgical removal because it would have been impossible to get good margins). The tumor has grown at an alarming rate over the last 2-3 months, and she went in for surgery today. The veterinary surgeon recommended this course of action to remove the tumor, even if margins are not possible, because the tumor has gotten so large it's impeding her ability to walk and use the bathroom without difficulty. If it grew more, which seemed likely at this point, it likely would rupture soon.

She had the surgery today and came through it OK. The surgeon called me and told me that he removed the original tumor and several other smaller tumors from further up her leg and her groin area. They will send them to a lab for biopsy. We suspect the growths are malignant, but there is always a chance they are not. At any rate, we were simply aiming to give her more quality of life for whatever time she has left, whether it's a couple of months or a couple of years. If the growths are malignant, it means that at some point, they will return, so we're basically buying her some time. She's an old girl, but has seemed happy and feisty enough that my husband and I agreed that she deserves a chance to have a bit more time with us.

She is staying overnight at the surgery center, and I'll probably bring her home tomorrow. Hoping that recovery is not too hard for her (or for us). It's been really a challenge dealing with her mobility issues (and the resulting potty disasters), so I'm a little anxious about what's ahead for her, but hoping for the best.

Thank you to everyone who sent good vibes and wishes! Keep 'em coming.