03/16/2025
🐾 We are happy to share a recent case (with the owner's permission) and large quality of life improvement for a senior patient of ours, Finley. Finley was recently rescued by his new family over the summer time with a mass that was rapidly growing in size on his side, which resulted in significant mobility issues.
🩺 At Finley's visit, Dr. Perkins scanned the 20 cm diameter mass with an ultrasound and aspirated fluid from it for cytologic analysis and culture to come up with the best plan. The preliminary diagnostics were consistent with a cyst-like mass and Dr. Perkins recommended surgical debulking (essentially removal of as much of the tissue as safely as possible) of the mass to improve quality of life. Surgery of a mass of this size can have greater risks for complications, including dehiscence (suture rupture), infection, and hemorrhage (bleeding), so our pre-surgical evaluation was especially important to craft the best surgical approach. Finley's pre-operative lab work was unremarkable, and he was deemed appropriate to undergo surgery!
💉 Dr. Perkins drained the mass and then carefully resected in surgery, weighing in at over 10 lbs! Due to the size of the mass, multiple layers of tissue were carefully closed with internal sutures, and a drain was placed to minimize internal fluid accumulation and infection. Finley was monitored post-op and sent home. Within 48 hours Finley's owners noted he was already rearing to go and had much more pep in his now much lighter step! So much so, we had to prescribe some calming medications to make sure he did not do any damage to his incision site while it healed.
🥳 At his suture removal appointment, Finley RAN into our treatment area, a large difference from pre-op when he needed to be supported and have special matting placed down for him to walk. In a few weeks time, his fur will regrow and cover the surgery site like it never even happened. We are so happy to see this wonderful quality of life improvement for the older fellow and his new owners!
