Hard Lump on a Border Collie's Shoulder With Abnormal Cells
We just had our border collie to the vet to have a lump on his shoulder looked at. The vet did a biopsy and checked the results. She didn't like the looks of the cells (there are extra white blood cells and they are dividing). The other symptoms are that the mass on the shoulder is hard but not painful. It is solid and does not move. The dog has not lost weight, is not coughing or sneezing and is eating well. He is restless in the night and changes his sleeping position as few times throughout the night. I was just wondering what kind of cancers I could read up on to know a little bit more about what we are dealing with. The vet took a second sample to send away to a lab and we should get the results next week. Thanks for your time.
Waiting for the lab result is the hardest part, and it will tell you much more than the first sample. A firm, fixed, painless lump on the shoulder could be several types, including soft-tissue sarcoma, mast cell tumor or, if it is an enlarged lymph node, lymphoma. It could also turn out to be inflammation rather than cancer.
When the result comes back, ask the vet for the tumor type and grade, whether it has spread, and what the treatment options are. Being bright and eating well is a good sign. The restlessness at night is worth mentioning, as it can be a sign of discomfort.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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