My Alaskan Malamute

My female alaskan malamute is 9 years old,she will be 10 in November. We have noticed in the last few months that she is starting to develope arthritis in her back end.  We started 6 months ago giving, under the advice of our vet, 1000mg of glucomine, which has really started putting the pep back into her.  

My concern and I don't think this has anything to do with the meds, but we have found a lump on her chest area, about 5 months ago, It is spongy and you can move it.  My husband was feeling it yesterday to see if it had grown and it hasn't and the dog didn't cry out or care that we were touching it.

What possibly can this be, she has a vet appt on May 5th.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

When you visit your veterinarian have him/her perform a test called a fine needle aspirate.  The vet will stick in a needle and suck out some of the cells from the lump with a syringe.  It is only painful for a second.  The vet will then send this cytology sample to a veterinary pathologist who will then analyze the sample microscopically.

It should not be too expensive but it is very valuable.  When the results come back, and it is only a skin mass than it may be nothing more than a fatty tumor (lipoma).  If it comes back as something more serious your vet will probably discuss taking off the mass in a procedure called a lumpectomy.  It is best to be definite and do the tests just in case.  

In addition to the glucosamine I would also use chondrotin supplements and omega 3 fatty acids for the arthritis.  Acupuncture is also very valuable for arthritis.

Let me know how it goes!  Thanks

[krickett]

Definately keep your appointment with the vet but it's probably nothing to worry about. A lot of times as dogs age they can get fatty masses, they are squishy and move around really easily but do not really cause any trouble unless they get very large and are in an awkward place, like right under a leg. But again, have your vet check it out and make sure it's nothing more.

:) Let us know how the appt. goes!

[MomOfTwoGrls]

we actually go into the vet sooner than may 5th.  The lump is a fatty tumor, so the doctor said since it isn't hurting her we can just leave it.

Thanks for the great advice on the  Chondrotin and omega 3, we will deffinately start her on those.  

Vet said for a 10 year old she is really healthy.  Thanks, again.