My old dog has a mast cell tumor. Should I operate or monitor?

Question

My Pug has a Mast cell tumor on the tip of his prepuce. If this were removed with a margin, how would he fair with the tip of his penis exposed? What would i need to do to look after him should i chose to opt for surgery? Or is it best to leave him be as most of his other Mast cell tumors have been low grade ones and he is 14 years old. Thank you! Pet's info: Dog | Pug | Male | neutered | 13 years and 2 months old | 24 lbs

Christie Long, DVM · Accepted Answer

It's a bit of a tough call, but I can see 2 potential options. You could have your vet take the tumor with conservative margins - i.e. leave enough to keep the penis covered - then biopsy that in order to get the grade of the tumor, so that you know what you're dealing with. After that, you might elect chemotherapy, or as you say simply monitor the site, since many are low grade. Your other option would be to consider a course of Palladia, which is a chemotherapeutic drug that is often used in mast cell tumors. It can significantly shrink them, so that they are easier to remove with margins.

My old dog has a mast cell tumor. Should I operate or monitor?

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